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. 2010
  2. Published

    Die Erweiterung der Ökodesign-Richtlinie - auf dem Weg zur "Super-Umweltrichtlinie"?

    Schomerus, T. & Spengler, L., 2010, In: Zeitschrift für Europäisches Umwelt- und Planungsrecht. 8, 2, p. 54-61 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  3. Published

    Die globale Perspektive der Bildung für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung: Eine europäisch-lateinamerikanische Studie zu Schlüsselkompetenzen für Denken und Handeln in der Weltgesellschaft

    Rieckmann, M., 2010, Berlin: Berliner Wissenschafts-Verlag. 214 p. (Umweltkommunikation; vol. 7)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  4. Published

    Die Klima-Manipulateure: Rettet uns Politik oder Geo-Engineering?

    Altner, G. (Editor), Leitschuh, H. (Editor), Michelsen, G. (Editor), Simonis, U. E. (Editor) & Weizsäcker, E. U. V. (Editor), 2010, Stuttgart: S. Hirzel Verlag. 248 p. (Jahrbuch Ökologie)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  5. Published

    Die Privilegierung von Biogasanlagenparks im Wachstumsbeschleunigungsgesetz

    Schomerus, T., 2010, In: Neue Zeitschrift für Verwaltungsrecht. 29, 9, p. 549-552 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  6. Published

    Die rechtlichen Vorgaben zur Verstromung von Biomasse

    Schomerus, T., 2010, Klimaschutz durch Bioenergie. Schulze-Fielitz, H. & Müller, T. (eds.). Baden-Baden: Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, p. 207-228 20 p.

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

  7. Published

    Die Relevanz von Ökobilanzen für die Umweltgesetzgebung am Beispiel der Verpackungsverordnung

    Groth, M., 2010, Lüneburg: Institut für Volkswirtschaftslehre der Universität Lüneburg, 19 p. (Working Papers Series in Economics; no. 184).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  8. Published

    Die Waldgesellschaften Luxemburgs: Vegetation, Standort, Vorkommen und Gefährdung

    Niemeyer, T., Ries, C. & Härdtle, W., 2010, Luxembourg: Musée national d'histoire naturelle. 122 p. (Ferrantia; vol. 57)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesSpecial Journal issueResearch

  9. Published

    Die Welt von morgen mitgestalten

    Stoltenberg, U., 2010, In: Kindergarten heute. 40, 6-7, p. 14-15 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  10. Published

    Drei Fragen zu Bildung für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung

    Stoltenberg, U., 2010, Leuchtpol: Projektzeitung 2. Leuchtpol, p. 17 1 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to scientific reportsResearch

  11. Published

    Ecological Impact Assessment

    Lenhart, H., Ahrendt, K., Burkhard, B., Garthe, S., Gloe, D., Kühn, W., Mendel, B., Nerge, P., Opitz, S. & Schmidt, A. S., 2010, Analyzing Coastal and Marine Changes: Offshore Wind Farming as a Case Study: Zukunft Küste - Coastal Futures, Synthesis Report. Lange, M., Burkhard, B., Garthe, S., Gee, K., Kannen, A., Lenhart, H. & Windhorst, W. (eds.). Geesthacht: GKSS-Forschungszentrum Geesthacht , p. 52-54 3 p. (LOICZ Research & Studies; vol. 36).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to scientific reportsResearch