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. 2012
  2. Published

    Internetgestützte Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung: Ein Update zu Trends in der Berichterstattung von Unternehmen des DAX30

    Giese, N., Godemann, J., Herzig, C. & Hetze, K., 2012, Lüneburg: Centre for Sustainability Management, 58 p. (INFU-Diskussionsbeiträge; no. 37/12).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  3. Published

    Justice in environmental institutions - How do frameworks for institutional analysis consider ideas of justice?

    Stumpf, K. H., Hanger, S. & da Fonseca, I. F., 2012, Global Environmental Governance: Papers from the 2012 course. Vatn, A., Kjosavik, D., Kulindwa, K. & Vedeld, P. (eds.). Aas: Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Vol. 2. p. 114-132 18 p. (Student Papers. Thor Heyerdahl Summer School in Environmental Governance.; vol. 2).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearch

  4. Published

    Key competencies for sustainable consumption

    Barth, M. & Fischer, D., 2012, Beyond Consumption: Pathways to Responsible Living. Fricke, V., Schrader, U. & Thoresen, V. W. (eds.). Berlin: Hedmark University College, p. 65-79 15 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Klimaschutz durch Moorrenaturierung: Ansätze zur ökonomischen Bewertung

    Köbbing, J. F., Groth, M., Groth, M. & Oheimb, G., 2012, 1. ed. Stuttgart: Ibidem Verlag. 129 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  6. Published

    Konzept zur Qualifizierung für Bildungsarbeit im Kontext von Zivilcourage und Gewaltprävention

    Offen, S., Schmidt, J. & Hildebrandt, D., 2012, Zivilcourage und Gewaltprävention im Fokus politischer Bildung: Qualifizierungskonzept. Jansen, L. (ed.). Bundesarbeitskreis Arbeit und Leben, p. 35-69 34 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsTransfer

  7. Published

    Künstliche Feuchtflächen in Hochwasserrückhaltebecken – eine Chance für die Reduzierung von Pflanzenschutzmitteleinträgen in Gewässer

    Lange, J., Kümmerer, K., Imfeld, G., Herbstritt, B., Maillard, E., Lefrancq, M., Gutowski, L., Durst, R., Steudten, R., Regazzoni, C., Gassmann, M. & Payraudeau, S., 2012, Wasser ohne Grenzen: Beiträge zum Tag der Hydrologie am 22./23. März 2012 an der Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg. Weiler, M. (ed.). Deutsche Vereinigung für Wasserwirtschaft, Abwasser und Abfall, p. 293-298 6 p. (Forum für Hydrologie und Wasserbewirtschaftung; no. 38).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearch

  8. Published

    Lambarene

    Oermann, N. O. & Suermann, T., 2012, Europa und die Welt. den Boer, P., Duchhardt, H., Kreis, G. & Schmale, W. (eds.). München: Oldenbourg, p. 265-270 6 p. (Europäische Erinnerungsorte; vol. 3).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesEducation

  9. Published

    Landscape effects on bird and rodent communities and seed predation to agriculture in Israel.

    Schäckermann, J., Mandelik, Y., von Wehrden, H. & Klein, A.-M., 2012, In: Verhandlungen der Gesellschaft für Ökologie. 42, p. 147 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsConference abstract in journalResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Large, particular bovids may require localised conservation effort to prevent extinction

    Traill, L. W., Wanger, T. C. & Kidd, D., 2012, In: Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. Supplement 25, p. 111-116 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Lebensplanung, Politik und soziale Gerechtigkeit: Geschlechtersensible politische Bildung zwischen Träumen und prekären Verhältnissen

    Offen, S. & Schmidt, J., 2012, Jungen-Pädagogik: Praxis und Theorie von Genderpädagogik. Chwalek, D.-T., Diaz, M., Fegter, S. & Graff, U. (eds.). Wiesbaden: Springer VS, p. 133-145 13 p. (Kinder, Kindheiten, Kindheitsforschung; vol. 6).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesTransferpeer-review