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. 2025
  2. Accepted/In press

    Road Disturbance Shifts Root Fungal Symbiont Types and Reduces the Connectivity of Plant-Fungal Co-Occurrence Networks in Mountains

    Radujković, D., Verbruggen, E., Clavel, J., Pauchard, A., Fuentes-Lillo, E., Barros, A., Aschero, V., Haider, S., Ratier Backes, A., Pergl, J., Vítková, M., Lučanová, A., Nuñez, M. A., Lenoir, J., Nijs, I. & Lembrechts, J. J., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Molecular Ecology. e17771.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Accepted/In press

    Scaling-Up Behavior Settings: An Ecological Approach to Cognitive Institutions

    Bammel, M. & Sanches de Oliveira, G., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Topoi.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    The Concept Benign by Design

    Puhlmann, N. & Kümmerer, K., 2025, Encyclopedia of Green Chemistry: Volume 1. Török, B. (ed.). First Edition ed. Oxford: Elsevier, p. 17-29 13 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  5. Accepted/In press

    The tree growth–herbivory relationship depends on functional traits across forest biodiversity experiments

    Li, Y., Schuldt, A., Bauhus, J., Belluau, M., Berthelot, S., Burghardt, K. T., Bruelheide, H., Castagneyrol, B., Chu, C., Eisenhauer, N., Ferlian, O., Fründ, J., Gebauer, T., Gravel, D., Jactel, H., Li, S., Liang, Y., Parker, J. D., Parker, W. C., Scherer-Lorenzen, M., Staab, M., Verheyen, K., Schmid, B., Ma, K. & Liu, X., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Nature Ecology and Evolution.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Accepted/In press

    Thinking Beyond the Bargaining Table: Negotiators’ Perceptions, Behaviours and Outcomes in Negotiations Affecting External Parties

    Zhang, K., Zhang, H., Aaldering, H., Majer, J. M. & Trötschel, R., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: European Journal of Social Psychology. 19 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Ungleiche Partizipationschancen in heterogenen Lerngruppen: Eine ethnografische Studie in Klassenräten inklusiver Grundschulklassen

    Meyn, J., 2025, Bad Heilbrunn: Verlag Julius Klinkhardt. 322 p. (Forschung Klinkhardt )

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearchpeer-review

  8. Accepted/In press

    Unravelling deep roots in drylands: A systems thinking participatory approach to the SDGs

    Aguiar, A. P. D., Collste, D., Cortés-Calderón, S., Sonetti-González, T., Alves-Martins, M., Castro, A. J., Diallo, A., Eriksson, K. M., Goffner, D., Harmáčková, Z. V., Jiménez-Aceituno, A., López-Rodríguez, M. D., Mancilla-García, M., Olofsson, V., Perez-Marin, A., Silva-Bezerra, F. G., Sinare, H. & Stragier, C., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Global Sustainability. 8

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Why context matters: Understanding transdisciplinary research through the lens of nine context factors

    Tolksdorf, F., Jimenez-Aceituno, A., Frölich, N. M., Amoah, N. A. B., Grauer, C., Baird, J., Ballnat, C., Horcea-Milcu, A. I., König, B., Pedersen, R. L., Costa, M. M., Manuel-Navarrete, D., Martin, D. A., McGlynn, B., Mehring, M., Mühlthaler, S., Schneider, F., Singer-Brodowski, M., Vilalba, L., Weiser, A. & Lang, D. J., 2025, In: Innovation - The European Journal of Social Science Research. p. 1-37

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Wie kann die Nationale Strategie zur biologischen Vielfalt 2030 zu einem transformativen Wandel beitragen?

    Zinngrebe, Y., Cardona Santos, E. M., Brand, U., Hauck, J., Hickmann, T., Hagedorn, G., Henn, E. V., Lakner, S., Lam, D. P. M., Mehring, M., Paulsch, A., Schmid, S., Tschersich, J., Zedda, L. & Wittmer, H., 2025, In: Natur und Landschaft. 100, 1, p. 16-25 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Zur völker- und verwaltungsrechtlichen Einordnung der zivilen Seenotrettung

    Schatz, V. J. & Epik, A., 2025, Archiv des Völkerrechts. Vol. 62. p. 445-465

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapter

  12. 2024
  13. Published

    Transformational ethics to bridge the void between facts and truths

    von Wehrden, H. & Wäger, P., 30.12.2024, In: GAIA - Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society. 33, 4, p. 333 1 p.

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

  14. E-pub ahead of print

    Can we represent future generations in myopic democracies? Analyzing the design, feasibility and viability of institutional guardians of future generations

    Rose, M., 26.12.2024, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Policy Studies. 21 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  15. Published

    Kommunales Nachhaltigkeitsbarometer Niedersachsen 2024: Eine Erhebung zum Stand von Nachhaltigkeit in niedersächsischen Landkreisen, Städten und Gemeinden

    Redenius, P. & Heinrichs, H., 17.12.2024, Lüneburg: Leuphana Universität Lüneburg, 36 p. (Schriftenreihe Nachhaltigkeit, Politik, Gesellschaft; no. 8).

    Research output: Working paperResearch communication reportsResearch

  16. E-pub ahead of print

    Students’ Beliefs About Trigger Warnings

    Sevincer, A. T., Tenbrueggen, L. & Sokolis, M., 13.12.2024, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Psychological Reports. 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  17. Published

    Genome size influences plant growth and biodiversity responses to nutrient fertilization in diverse grassland communities

    Morton, J. A., Arnillas, C. A., Biedermann, L., Borer, E. T., Brudvig, L. A., Buckley, Y. M., Cadotte, M. W., Davies, K., Donohue, I., Ebeling, A., Eisenhauer, N., Estrada, C., Haider, S., Hautier, Y., Jentsch, A., Martinson, H., McCulley, R. L., Raynaud, X., Roscher, C., Seabloom, E. W., Stevens, C. J., Vesela, K., Wallace, A., Leitch, I. J., Leitch, A. R. & Hersch-Green, E. I., 11.12.2024, In: PLoS Biology. 22, 12, 21 p., e3002927.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  18. Published

    Sufficiency as relations of enoughness

    Hartmann, E., 06.12.2024, In: Sustainable Development. 32, 6, p. 7201-7214 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  19. Published

    Orte zum Wohlfühlen: Ein Reiseführer zur kreativen Gestaltung zukunftsfähiger Städte und Gemeinden

    Heinrichs, H., Redenius, P. & Hoernemann, D., 05.12.2024, München: Oekom Verlag. 94 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesBook

  20. Published

    Failed mobility transition in an ideal setting and implications for building a green city

    Andert, M. & Nagel, M., 02.12.2024, In: Npj Climate Action. 3, 1, 15 p., 114.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  21. Published

    Applying the Three Horizons approach in local and regional scenarios to support policy coherence in SDG implementation: Insights from arid Spain

    López-Rodríguez, M. D., Jiménez-Aceituno, A., Quintas-Soriano, C., Miguel Requena-Mullor, J., Garau, E., Alba-Patiño, D., Otamendi-Urroz, I., Aguiar, A. P. D., Cortés-Calderón, S. & Castro, A. J., 01.12.2024, In: Global Environmental Change. 89, 16 p., 102922.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  22. Published

    Effectiveness of a guided multicomponent internet and mobile gratitude training program - A pragmatic randomized controlled trial

    Lehr, D., Freund, H., Sieland, B., Kalon, L., Berking, M., Riper, H. & Ebert, D. D., 01.12.2024, In: Internet Interventions. 38, 12 p., 100787.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  23. Published

    Investigation of the utilization of oat pomace and acid whey in technical scale succinic acid fermentation including downstream processing

    Kleps, C., Schneider, R., Venus, J. & Pleißner, D., 01.12.2024, In: Sustainable Chemistry One World. 4, 7 p., 100028.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  24. Published

    Self-regulatory thought across time and domains

    Sevincer, A. T., Feller, E. & Wallot, S., 01.12.2024, In: Motivation Science. 10, 4, p. 277-289 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  25. Published

    Advancing sustainable chemistry education: Insights from real-world case studies

    Araripe, E. & Zuin Zeidler, V. G., 12.2024, In: Current Research in Green and Sustainable Chemistry. 9, 10 p., 100436.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  26. Published

    Analyzing the political impact of Real-world laboratories for urban transformation in eight German ‘Cities of the Future’

    Kampfmann, T., Lang, D. J. & Weiser, A., 12.2024, In: Environmental Science and Policy. 162, 12 p., 103923.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  27. Published

    Applicability of the European Commission's framework on safe and sustainable by design to the pharmaceutical sector

    Puhlmann, N., Abbate, E., Kümmerer, K., Oomen, A. G., Ragas, A. M. J. & Moermond, C., 12.2024, In: Sustainable Chemistry and Pharmacy. 42, 15 p., 101845.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  28. Published

    A social-ecological approach to support equitable land use decision-making

    Brück, M., Benra, F., Duguma, D. W., Fischer, J., Jiren, T. S., Law, E. A., Pacheco-Romero, M., Schultner, J. & Abson, D. J., 12.2024, In: Ambio. 53, 12, p. 1752-1767 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  29. Published

    Can isometric testing substitute for the one repetition maximum squat test?

    Warneke, K., Keiner, M., Behm, D. G., Wirth, K., Kaufmann, M., Sproll, M., Konrad, A., Wallot, S. & Hillebrecht, M., 12.2024, In: European Journal of Applied Physiology. 124, 12, p. 3683-3692 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  30. Published

    Collaborative governance and personal relationships for sustainability transformation in the textile sector

    Beyers, F., 12.2024, In: Scientific Reports. 14, 1, 10 p., 13347.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  31. Published

    Digital cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia reduces insomnia in nurses suffering from shift work disorder: A randomised-controlled pilot trial

    Ell, J., Brückner, H. A., Johann, A. F., Steinmetz, L., Güth, L. J., Feige, B., Järnefelt, H., Vallières, A., Frase, L., Domschke, K., Riemann, D., Lehr, D. & Spiegelhalder, K., 12.2024, In: Journal of Sleep Research. 33, 6, 14 p., e14193.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  32. Published

    Fostering students’ participation in the implementation of the sustainable development goals at higher education institutions

    Filho, W. L., Trevisan, L. V., Dinis, M. A. P., Ulmer, N., Paço, A., Borsari, B., Sierra, J. & Salvia, A., 12.2024, In: Discover Sustainability. 5, 1, 24 p., 22.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  33. Published

    How Germany is phasing out lignite: insights from the Coal Commission and local communities

    Radtke, J. & David, M., 12.2024, In: Energy, Sustainability and Society. 14, 1, 18 p., 7.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  34. Published

    Investigating non-inferiority of internet-delivered versus face-to-face cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I): a randomised controlled trial (iSleep well)

    Benz, F., Grolig, L., Hannibal, S., Buntrock, C., Cuijpers, P., Domschke, K., Ebert, D. D., Ell, J., Janneck, M., Jenkner, C., Johann, A. F., Josef, A., Kaufmann, M., Koß, A., Mallwitz, T., Mergan, H., Morin, C. M., Riemann, D., Riper, H., Schmid, S. R., Smit, F., Spille, L., Steinmetz, L., Van Someren, E. J. W., Spiegelhalder, K. & Lehr, D., 12.2024, In: Trials. 25, 1, 17 p., 371.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  35. Published

    Land use intensification causes the spatial contraction of woody-plant based ecosystem services in southwestern Ethiopia

    Duguma, D. W., Law, E., Shumi, G., Schultner, J., Abson, D. J. & Fischer, J., 12.2024, In: Communications Earth and Environment. 5, 1, 10 p., 263.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  36. Published

    Lessons from Ethiopian coffee landscapes for global conservation in a post-wild world

    Hylander, K., Nemomissa, S., Fischer, J., Zewdie, B., Ayalew, B. & Tack, A. J. M., 12.2024, In: Communications Biology. 7, 1, 13 p., 714.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  37. Published

    National ecosystem restoration pledges are mismatched with social-ecological enabling conditions

    Benra, F., Brück, M., Sigman, E., Pacheco-Romero, M., Shumi, G., Abson, D. J., Frietsch, M. & Fischer, J., 12.2024, In: Communications Earth and Environment. 5, 1, 10 p., 731.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  38. Published

    Overcoming the crisis: Social and ecological impacts of the 17th and 18th century Northern Wars on Kazuń village (Poland) and its surrounding area

    Związek, T., Obremska, M., Targowski, M., Sobechowicz, Ł., Siwek, W. A., Gąsiorowski, M., Theuerkauf, M., Kozłowska-Szyc, M., Guzowski, P., Poniat, R., Mulczyk, A., Szewczyk, K., Panecki, T., Solon, J., Zachara-Związek, U. & Słowiński, M., 12.2024, In: Journal of Historical Geography. 86, p. 377-390 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  39. Published

    Psychological interventions to prevent the onset of major depression in adults: a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis

    IPD-PrevDep Consortium, Buntrock, C., Harrer, M., Sprenger, A. A., Illing, S., Sakata, M., Furukawa, T. A., Ebert, D. D., Cuijpers, P. & Lehr, D., 12.2024, In: The Lancet Psychiatry. 11, 12, p. 990-1001 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  40. Published

    (Re)productivity: a category for the critical analysis of bioeconomic approaches

    Biesecker, A. & Hofmeister, S., 12.2024, In: Sustainability: Science, Practice, and Policy. 20, 1, 9 p., 2428465.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  41. Published

    Soil conditions modify species diversity effects on tree functional trait expression

    Davrinche, A. & Haider, S., 12.2024, In: Scientific Reports. 14, 1, 16 p., 17114.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  42. Published

    Temperate alley-cropping agroforestry improves pest control potential by promoting spider abundance and functional diversity

    Matevski, D., Sagolla, V., Beule, L. & Schuldt, A., 12.2024, In: Journal of Applied Ecology. 61, 12, p. 3079-3091 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  43. Published

    The impact of biodiversity information on willingness to pay

    Hörisch, J., Petersen, L. & Jacobs, K., 12.2024, In: Journal of Industrial Ecology. 28, 6, p. 1641-1656 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  44. Published

    The role of sense of ownership in rural community mini-grid management: qualitative case study from Tanzania

    Ngoti, I. F., 12.2024, In: Energy, Sustainability and Society. 14, 1, 16 p., 63.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  45. Published

    Using cross-recurrence quantification analysis to compute similarity measures for time series of unequal length with applications to sleep stage analysis

    Drews, H. J., Felletti, F., Kallestad, H., Drews, A., Scott, J., Sand, T., Engstrøm, M., Heglum, H. S. A., Vethe, D., Salvesen, Ø., Langsrud, K., Morken, G. & Wallot, S., 12.2024, In: Scientific Reports. 14, 1, 14 p., 23142.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  46. Published

    Verständlichkeit mündlicher Erklärungen von Sportlehrkräften: Zum Einfluss von Kohärenzbildungshilfen auf das Regelverständnis von Schüler*innen

    Heemsoth, T., Krieger, C., Frerichs, R., Schmitz, A., Wallot, S., Härtig, H. & Leiss, D., 12.2024, In: German Journal of Exercise and Sport Research . 54, 4, p. 520-530 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  47. Published

    Web-based occupational stress prevention in German micro- and small-sized enterprises – process evaluation results of an implementation study

    Engels, M., Scheepers, L., Engels, J., Boß, L., Kuhlmann, R., Kuske, J., Lesener, L., Pavlista, V., Schmidt-Stiedenroth, K., Diebig, M., Ruhle, S. A., Zapkau, F. B., Angerer, P., Hoewner, J., Lehr, D., Schwens, C., Süß, S., Wulf, I. C. & Dragano, N., 12.2024, In: BMC Public Health. 24, 1, 22 p., 1618.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  48. Published

    “We cannot escape this”: discussing leverage points for sustainability across scales with the example of Ouvéa, Kanaky New Caledonia

    Riechers, M., Baumann, L., Braun, M., Ganachaud, A., Heeg, P. & Sabinot, C., 12.2024, In: Regional Environmental Change. 24, 4, 15 p., 146.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  49. Published

    Betriebliches Nachhaltigkeitsbarometer Niedersachsen 2024: Einblicke in Nachhaltigkeit und Klimaschutz in der niedersächsischen Wirtschaft

    Hartmann, E., Wilkens, M. & Heinrichs, H., 20.11.2024, Lüneburg: Leuphana Universität Lüneburg, 42 p. (Schriftenreihe Nachhaltigkeit, Politik, Gesellschaft; no. 7).

    Research output: Working paperResearch communication reportsResearch

  50. E-pub ahead of print

    Colonization and extinction lags drive non-linear responses to warming in mountain plant communities across the Northern Hemisphere

    Bektaş, B., Chisholm, C., Egelkraut, D., Lynn, J., Block, S., Deola, T., Dommanget, F., Enquist, B. J., Goldberg, D. E., Haider, S., Halbritter, A. H., He, Y., Jaunatre, R., Jentsch, A., Klanderud, K., Kardol, P., Lachmuth, S., Loucougaray, G., Münkemüller, T., Niedrist, G., Nomoto, H., Seltzer, L., Paul Töpper, J., Rew, L. J., Seipel, T., Shah, M. A., James Telford, R., Walker, T. W. N., Wang, S., Wardle, D. A., Wolff, P., Yang, Y., Vandvik, V. & Alexander, J. M., 20.11.2024, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Ecography. 15 p., e07378.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  51. Published

    Diversity-enhanced canopy space occupation and leaf functional diversity jointly promote overyielding in tropical tree communities

    Ray, T., Fichtner, A., Kunz, M., Proß, T., Bradler, P. M., Bruelheide, H., Georgi, L., Haider, S., Hildebrand, M., Potvin, C., Schnabel, F., Trogisch, S. & Oheimb, G. V., 15.11.2024, In: Science of the Total Environment. 951, 12 p., 175438.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  52. Published

    Assessing the aquatic biodegradation potential of polymeric excipients for pharmaceutical formulation

    Bading, M., Olsson, O. & Kümmerer, K., 01.11.2024, In: Chemosphere. 368, 9 p., 143739.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

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