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

    Irreversibility, ignorance, and the intergenerational equity-efficieny trade-off

    Hoberg, N. & Baumgärtner, S., 02.2011, Lüneburg: Institut für Volkswirtschaftslehre der Universität Lüneburg, 32 p. (University of Lüneburg Working Paper Series in Economics; no. 198).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  3. Published

    Landfills as sources of polyfluorinated compounds, polybrominated diphenyl ethers and musk fragrances to ambient air

    Weinberg, I., Dreyer, A. & Ebinghaus, R., 02.2011, In: Atmospheric Environment. 45, 4, p. 935-941 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Trees in the desert: Reproduction and genetic structure of fragmented Ulmus pumila forests in Mongolian drylands

    Wesche, K., Walther, D., von Wehrden, H. & Hensen, I., 02.2011, In: Flora. 206, 2, p. 91-99 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Early succession arthropod community changes on experimental passion fruit plant patches along a land-use gradient in Ecuador

    Teodoro, A. V., Muñoz, A., Tscharntke, T., Klein, A. & Tylianakis, J., 30.01.2011, In: Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment. 140, 1-2, p. 14-19 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    SMOKE for Europe-adaptation, modification and evaluation of a comprehensive emission model for Europe

    Bieser, J., Aulinger, A., Matthias, V., Quante, M. & Builtjes, P., 25.01.2011, In: Geoscientific Model Development. 4, 1, p. 47-68 22 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    A Review on Higher Education for Sustainable Development - Looking Back and Moving Forward

    Barth, M. (Editor), Michelsen, G. (Editor) & Sanusi, Z. A. (Editor), 03.01.2011, In: Journal of Social Science. 7, 1, p. 100-103 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransferpeer-review

  8. Published

    A framework for evaluating the contribution of transformation products to chemical persistence in the environment

    Ng, C. A., Scheringer, M., Fenner, K. & Hungerbuhler, K., 01.01.2011, In: Environmental Science & Technology. 45, 1, p. 111-117 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    A Inserção da Dimensão Ambiental na Formação de Professores de Química

    Zuin, V. G., 01.01.2011, Atomo. 182 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesBook

  10. Published

    Air concentrations and particlegas partitioning of polyfluoroalkyl compounds at a wastewater treatment plant

    Vierke, L., Ahrens, L., Shoeib, M., Reiner, E. J., Guo, R., Palm, W.-U., Ebinghaus, R. & Harner, T., 01.01.2011, In: Environmental Chemistry. 8, 4, p. 363-371 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  11. Published

    Chemical profiles of body surfaces and nests from six Bornean stingless bee species

    Leonhardt, S. D., Blüthgen, N. & Schmitt, T., 01.01.2011, In: Journal of Chemical Ecology. 37, 1, p. 98-104 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review