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. 2011
  2. Published

    Social Conflicts on Agro-Biotechnology: Conflicting Interests and Conflict of Interest in the Debate on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)

    Friedrich, B., Gottschlich, D. & Sulmowski, J. A., 15.06.2011, Conflict of Interest in Central and Eastern Europe. Burdziej, S. & Szalacha, J. (eds.). Zysk i S-ka Wydawnictwo, p. 33-52

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

  3. Published

    Genesis and dating of Late Pleistocene-Holocene soil sediment sequences from the Lüneburg Heath, Northern Germany

    Urban, B., Kunz, A. & Gehrt, E., 03.06.2011, In: E&G Quaternary Science Journal. 60, 1, p. 6-26 21 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Assessment of the environmental persistence and long-range transport of endosulfan

    Becker, L., Scheringer, M., Schenker, U. & Hungerbühler, K., 01.06.2011, In: Environmental Pollution. 159, 6, p. 1737-1743 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Impact of anthropogenic input on physicochemical parameters and trace metals in marine surface sediments of Bay of Bengal off Chennai, India

    Raju, K., Vijayaraghavan, K., Seshachalam, S. & Muthumanickam, J., 01.06.2011, In: Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. 177, 1-4, p. 95-114 20 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  6. Published

    Sustainability as a Driver for Corporate Economic Success: Consequences for the Development of Sustainability Management Control

    Schaltegger, S., 01.06.2011, In: Society and Economy. 33, 1, p. 15-28 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Functional complementarity and specialisation: The role of biodiversity in plant–pollinatorinteractions

    Blüthgen, N. & Klein, A.-M., 06.2011, In: Basic and Applied Ecology. 12, 4, p. 282-291 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Innovation Contests for Sustainability-Oriented Product Innovation: Findings from a Worldwide Shoe Innovation Contest

    Hansen, E. G., Bullinger, A. C. & Reichwald, R., 06.2011, Lüneburg: Centre for Sustainability Management, 33 p.

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  9. Published

    Institutionen für eine transformative Forschung: Zur Gründung der NaWis-Runde

    Schneidewind, U., Ernst, A. & Lang, D., 06.2011, In: GAIA. 20, 2, p. 133-135 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Plant–flower visitor interaction webs: Temporal stability and pollinator specialization increases along an experimental plant diversity gradient

    Ebeling, A., Klein, A.-M. & Tscharntke, T., 06.2011, In: Basic and Applied Ecology. 12, 4, p. 300-309 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Plant–pollinator interactions in changing environments

    Klein, A.-M., 06.2011, In: Basic and Applied Ecology. 12, 4, p. 279-281 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review