Organisation profile

Sustainability has many facets. Inter- and transdisciplinary research and teaching characterize the School of Sustainability. Scientists in our research projects work together in the laboratory, on the heath, in the grassland, in the classroom, with the city administration, with farmers, with non-governmental organizations, with companies, with students in the lecture hall and of course at their desks.

Furthermore, we work with regional and national political actors, e.g. ministries, as well as international organizations, e.g. UNEP, UNESCO, EU. We are part of national and international bodies, e.g. sustainability advisory boards of companies, member of the German Sustainability Award, World Biodiversity Council (IPBES), in order to contribute to social change with scientific findings.

Main research areas

Vision
Sustainability science investigates on a theoretical, conceptual and empirical level how to promote sustainable development and how to find and implement effective solutions for current social and ecological challenges. The aim is to create a more sustainable future.

Sustainability researchers are called upon to take responsibility for their research, which is anchored in existing scientific knowledge and methods and serves to make the world a better place for everyone.

Mission
We promote change towards a sustainable future by developing theories, concepts and practices of inclusive education for sustainability, research, governance and management.

We acknowledge the diversity and dynamics of values, norms and behaviour and contribute with transdisciplinary methods to ensuring that tensions and differences between different disciplines, methods, topics and standards are fruitfully taken up and used with productive compromises and further developments towards sustainable development.

Principles
The School of Sustainability is guided by the normative concepts of ecological system integrity and social and economic justice.

Ecological system integrity refers to the safeguarding of life-support systems, as well as the maintenance of the well-being of life on Earth.

With social and economic justice we strive for a world in which all people can fulfil their potential without endangering system integrity and the well-being of others.

Information about the School
The School of Sustainability includes...
... ca. 25 professors
... ca. 100 research assistants
... ca. 1000 students in Bachelor and Master courses

In various inter- and transdisciplinary projects we are constantly researching and working together on changes and solutions for current challenges.

  1. 2013
  2. Published

    Broad-scale geographic patterns in body size and hind wing development of western Palaearctic carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae)

    Homburg, K., Schuldt, A., Drees, C. & Aßmann, T., 02.2013, In: Ecography. 36, 2, p. 166-177 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Characterizing and evaluating successional pathways of fen degradation and restoration

    Schrautzer, J., Sival, F., Breuer, M., Runhaar, H. & Fichtner, A., 02.2013, In: Ecological Indicators. 25, p. 108-120 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Fate of Pesticides and Their Transformation Products: First Flush Effects in a Semi-Arid Catchment

    Olsson, O., Khodorkovsky, M., Gassmann, M., Friedler, E., Schneider, M. & Dubowski, Y., 02.2013, In: Clean - Soil, Air, Water. 41, 2, p. 134-142 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Fat or lean: adjustment of endogenous energy stores to predictable and unpredictable changes in allostatic load

    Schultner, J., Kitaysky, A. S., Welcker, J. & Hatch, S., 02.2013, In: Functional Ecology. 27, 1, p. 45-55 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published
  7. Published

    Hydrogeochemical and isotopic characterization of groundwater salinization in the Bangkok aquifer system, Thailand

    Babel, M. S., Gupta, A. D., Rivas, A. A., Evers, M., Kazama, F., Nakamura, T. & Stoecker, F., 02.2013, In: Environmental Earth Sciences . 68, 3, p. 749-763 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Low genetic diversity of a high mountain burnet moth species in the Pyrenees

    Dieker, P., Drees, C., Schmitt, T. & Aßmann, T., 02.2013, In: Conservation Genetics. 14, 1, p. 231-236 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Vorbereitung zur Wiederverwendung: Regelung und Regelungsbedarf - Umsetzungs- und Erfolgsaussichten

    Guerra González, J., 02.2013, Lüneburg: Leuphana Universität Lüneburg, 42 p. (Leuphana Schriftenreihe Nachhaltigkeit & Recht; no. 3).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  10. Published

    Species Identification of Bacteria and Fungi from Solid and Liquid Culture Media by MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry

    Reich, M., Bosshard, P. P., Stark, M., Beyser, K. & Borgmann, S., 22.01.2013, In: Journal of Bacteriology & Parasitology. 4, S5, 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    12. Fachgespräch der Clearingstelle EEG "1. Novelle des EEG 2012"

    Maly, C., 17.01.2013, In: Zeitschrift für neues Energierecht. 17, 1, p. 35-37 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsOther (editorial matter etc.)Transfer