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. 2009
  2. Published

    The economics of biodiversity and ecosystem services

    Perrings, C., Baumgärtner, S., Brock, W. A., Chopra, K., Conte, M., Costello, C., Duraiappah, A., Kinzig, A. P., Pascual, U., Polanski, S., Tschirhart, J. & Xepapadeas, A., 30.07.2009, Biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and human wellbeing: An Ecological and Economic Perspective. Naeem, S., Bunker, D. E., Hector, A., Loreau, M. & Perrings, C. (eds.). Oxford [u.a.]: Oxford University Press, p. 230-247 18 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  3. Published

    The valuation of ecosystem services

    Barbier, E. B., Baumgärtner, S., Chopra, K., Costello, C., Duraiappah, A., Hassan, R., Kinzig, A. P., Lehman, M., Pascual, U., Polasky, S. & Perrings, C., 30.07.2009, Biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and human wellbeing: An Ecological and Economic Perspective. Naeem, S., Bunker, D. E., Hector, A., Loreau, M. & Perrings, C. (eds.). Oxford [u.a.]: Oxford University Press, p. 248-262 15 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  4. Published

    Extent, perception and mitigation of damage due to high groundwater levels in the city of Dresden, Germany

    Kreibich, H., Thieken, A. H., Grunenberg, H., Ullrich, K. & Sommer, T., 27.07.2009, In: Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences . 9, 4, p. 1247-1258 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Legitimacion retorica de la politica clematica: El cambio climatico en los medios alemanes

    Peters, H. P. & Heinrichs, H., 02.07.2009, In: Infoamerica: Iberoamerican Communication Review. 1, p. 59-78 20 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  6. Published

    Öffentlichkeitsarbeit der Deichverbände in Niedersachsen und Bremen

    Lampe, E., Diekkruger, B., Heinrichs, H. & Striegnitz, M., 01.07.2009, In: Wasser und Abfall. 11, 7-8, p. 48-52 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  7. Published

    Das Conservation Reserve Program: Erfahrungen und Perspektiven für die europäische Agrarumweltpolitik

    Groth, M., 07.2009, Lüneburg: Institut für Volkswirtschaftslehre der Universität Lüneburg, 31 p. (Working Papers Series in Economics; no. 133).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  8. Published

    Smelling like resin: terpenoids account for species-specific cuticular profiles in Southeast-Asian stingless bees

    Leonhardt, S., Blüthgen, N. & Schmitt, T., 07.2009, In: Insectes Sociaux. 56, 2, p. 157-170 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Trace metal dynamics in floodplain soils of the river Elbe: A review

    Schulz-Zunkel, C. & Krueger, F., 07.2009, In: Journal of Environmental Quality. 38, 4, p. 1349-1362 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  10. Published

    Enhanced reservoir operation as an instrument for supporting water stress mitigation: the Italian case study.

    Bauer, M., Botti, P., Zaccolo, S. & Olsson, O., 10.06.2009, The Use of Economic Valuation in Environmental Policy: Providing Research Support for the Implementation of EU Water Policy Under Aquastress. Koundouri, P. (ed.). 1 ed. London: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, p. 196-220 25 p. (Routledge explorations in environmental economics; no. 17).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  11. Published

    Temporal trends of polyfluoroalkyl compounds in harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) from the German Bight, 1999-2008

    Ahrens, L., Siebert, U. & Ebinghaus, R., 01.06.2009, In: Chemosphere. 76, 2, p. 151-158 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review