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. 2015
  2. Published

    Changes in butterfly movements along a gradient of land use in farmlands of Transylvania (Romania)

    Loos, J., Kuussaari, M., Ekroos, J., Hanspach, J., Fust, P., Jackson, L. & Fischer, J., 04.2015, In: Landscape Ecology. 30, 4, p. 625-635 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Introducing education for sustainable development into Egyptian schools

    Sewilam, H., McCormack, O., Mader, M. & Abdel Raouf, M., 04.2015, In: Environment, Development and Sustainability. 17, 2, p. 221-238 18 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Linking stakeholder survey, scenario analysis, and simulation modeling to explore the long-term impacts of regional water governance regimes

    Withycombe Keeler, L., Wiek, A., White, D. D. & Sampson, D. A., 04.2015, In: Environmental Science & Policy. 48, p. 237-249 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Model choice and size distribution: a Bayequentist approach

    Engler, J.-O. & Baumgärtner, S., 04.2015, In: American Journal of Agricultural Economics. 97, 3, p. 978-997 20 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Natural habitat does not mediate vertebrate seed predation as an ecosystem dis-service to agriculture

    Schäckermann, J., Mandelik, Y., Weiss, N., von Wehrden, H. & Klein, A. M., 04.2015, In: Journal of Applied Ecology. 52, 2, p. 291-299 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Geschlechtergerechtigkeit und Sprachpraxis in universitären Lehr-Lern-Kontexten: Ergebnisse eines Lehrforschungsprojektes

    Gburzynski, A., Stolzke, L., Strauß, A., Fischer, D. & Weitzel, J., 30.03.2015, In: Zeitschrift für Hochschulentwicklung. 10, 1, p. 199-224 26 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Facilitative-competitive interactions in an Old-Growth Forest: The Importance of Large-Diameter Trees as Benefactors and Stimulators for Forest Community Assembly

    Fichtner, A., Forrester, D. I., Härdtle, W., Sturm, K. & Oheimb, G., 24.03.2015, In: PLoS ONE. 10, 3, 18 p., e0120335.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Nitrogen deposition and drought events have non-additive effects on plant growth – Evidence from greenhouse experiments

    Meyer-Grünefeldt, M., Friedrich, U., Klotz, M., Oheimb, G. & Härdtle, W., 04.03.2015, In: Plant Biosystems. 149, 2, p. 424-432 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Comment on "The environmental photolysis of perfluorooctanesulfonate, perfluorooctanoate, and related fluorochemicals"

    Wang, Z., Cousins, I. T. & Scheringer, M., 01.03.2015, In: Chemosphere. 122, p. 301-303 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  11. Published

    Critical reflection on knowledge and narratives of conservation agriculture

    Whitfield, S., Dougill, A. J., Dyer, J., Kalaba, F. K., Leventon, J. & Stringer, L. C., 01.03.2015, In: Geoforum. 60, 3, p. 133-142 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  12. Published

    Energy transitions in small-scale regions – What we can learn from a regional innovation systems perspective.

    Mattes, J., Huber, A. & Koehrensen, J., 01.03.2015, In: Energy Policy. 78, 78, p. 255-264 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  13. Published

    Long-Range and Regional Atmospheric Transport of POPs and Implications for Global Cycling

    Hageman, K., Bogdal, C. & Scheringer, M., 01.03.2015, Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs): Analytical Techniques, Environmental Fate and Biological Effects. Zeng, E. (ed.). 1 ed. Elsevier B.V., Vol. 67. p. 363-387 25 p. (Comprehensive Analytical Chemistry; vol. 67).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  14. Published
  15. Published

    Telomere length is a strong predictor of foraging behavior in a long-lived seabird

    Young, R. C., Kitaysky, A. S., Barger, C. P., Dorresteijn, I., Ito, M. & Watanuki, Y., 01.03.2015, In: Ecosphere. 6, 3, 26 p., 39.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  16. Published

    Cortisol Effects on Flow-Experience

    Peifer, C., Schächinger, H., Engeser, S. & Antoni, C. H., 03.2015, In: Psychopharmacology. 232, 6, p. 1165-1173 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  17. Published
  18. Published
  19. Published

    Actor Analysis in Case Studies for (regional) Sustainable Development

    Burandt, S., Gralla, F. & John, B., 19.02.2015, In: Envigogika. 10, 1, 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  20. Published

    Emissions of polychlorinated biphenyls in Switzerland: a combination of long-term measurements and modeling

    Diefenbacher, P. S., Bogdal, C., Gerecke, A. C., Glüge, J., Schmid, P., Scheringer, M. & Hungerbühler, K., 17.02.2015, In: Environmental Science & Technology. 49, 4, p. 2199 - 2206 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  21. Published

    Pragmatism and new Directions in Social and Environmental Accountability Research

    Baker, M. & Schaltegger, S., 16.02.2015, In: Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal. 28, 2, p. 263-294 32 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  22. Published
  23. Published

    Nachhaltige und demokratische Gestaltung der Energiewende: Der Beitrag sozial-ökologischer Regionalplanungsforschung

    Heilmann, S., 10.02.2015, In: vhw Forum Wohneigentum. 7, 1, p. 49-54 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  24. Published

    Wirtschaftsethik: Vom freien Markt bis zur Share Economy

    Oermann, N. O., 10.02.2015, 1 ed. München: C.H. Beck Verlag. 127 p. (C. H. Beck Wissen; vol. 2845)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearchpeer-review

  25. Published

    Celebrating Bidleman's 1988 "atmospheric processes"

    Galarneau, E., Arey, J., Atkinson, R., Dachs, J., Eisenreich, S., Harner, T., Hites, R. A., Lammel, G., Lohmann, R., Mackay, D., Odabasi, M., Pankow, J. F., Scheringer, M., Swackhamer, D., Tasdemir, Y. & Wania, F., 03.02.2015, In: Environmental Science & Technology. 49, 3, p. 1235 - 1236 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  26. Published

    A modeling assessment of the physicochemical properties and environmental fate of emerging and novel per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances

    Gomis, M. I., Wang, Z., Scheringer, M. & Cousins, I. T., 01.02.2015, In: The Science of The Total Environment. 505, p. 981-991 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  27. Published

    Applying a capitals approach to understand rural development traps: A case study from post-socialist Romania

    Mikulcak, F., Haider, J. L., Abson, D., Newig, J. & Fischer, J., 01.02.2015, In: Land Use Policy. 43, 2, p. 248-258 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  28. Published

    Biodegradation of the Antituberculosis Drug Isoniazid in the Aquatic Environment

    Sasu, S., Metzger, J., Kranert, M. & Kümmerer, K., 01.02.2015, In: Clean - Soil, Air, Water. 43, 2, p. 166-172 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  29. Published

    Clustering Hydrological Homogeneous Regions and Neural Network Based Index Flood Estimation for Ungauged Catchments: an Example of the Chindwin River in Myanmar

    Latt, Z. Z., Wittenberg, H. & Urban, B., 01.02.2015, In: Water Resources Management. 29, 3, p. 913-928 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  30. Published
  31. Published

    Effects of free air CO2 enrichment on root growth of barley, sugar beet and wheat grown in a rotation under different nitrogen supply

    Pacholski, A., Manderscheid, R. & Weigel, H.-J., 01.02.2015, In: European Journal of Agronomy. 63, p. 36-46 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  32. Published

    Hazard assessment of fluorinated alternatives to long-chain perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) and their precursors: status quo, ongoing challenges and possible solutions

    Wang, Z., Cousins, I. T., Scheringer, M. & Hungerbuehler, K., 01.02.2015, In: Environmental international. 75, p. 172-179 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  33. Published

    Photodegradation of the antineoplastic cyclophosphamide: A comparative study of the efficiencies of UV/H2O2, UV/Fe(2+)/H2O2 and UV/TiO2 processes

    Lutterbeck, C. A., Machado, E. L. & Kümmerer, K., 01.02.2015, In: Chemosphere. 120, p. 538-546 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  34. Published

    Correlation of trends in cashmere production and declines of large wild mammals: Response to Berger et al. 2013

    von Wehrden, H., Wesche, K., Chuluunkhuyag, O. & Fust, P., 02.2015, In: Conservation Biology. 29, 1, p. 286-289 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  35. Published

    Innovative Lehrangebote der Leuphana Universität Lüneburg

    Schomerus, T., 02.2015, Hamburger Handbuch: Personalmanagement Erneuerbare Energien. Edelkraut, F., Findeisen, A., Streveld, T. & Warszta, T. (eds.). Hamburg: Erneuerbare Energien Hamburg Clusteragentur GmbH, p. 53-54 2 p.

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

  36. Published

    Pollination mitigates cucumber yield gaps more than pesticide and fertilizer use in tropical smallholder gardens

    Motzke, I., Tscharntke, T., Wanger, T. C. & Klein, A. M., 02.2015, In: Journal of Applied Ecology. 52, 1, p. 261-269 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  37. Published

    Response of a shrubland mammal and reptile community to a history of landscape-scale wildfire

    Doherty, T. S., Davis, R. A., Van Etten, E. J. B., Collier, N. & Krawiec, J., 02.2015, In: International Journal of Wildland Fire. 24, 4, p. 534-543 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  38. Published

    The necessity of disinfected toilet brushes - information policy of companies on disinfectants in private homes

    Wieck, S., 23.01.2015, In: Environmental Sciences Europe. 27, 1, 9 p., 3.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  39. Published

    A review on the use of calcium chloride in applied thermal engineering

    N'Tsoukpoe, K. E., Rammelberg, H., Fopah Lele, A., Korhammer, K., Watts, B. A., Schmidt, T. & Ruck, W., 22.01.2015, In: Applied Thermal Engineering. 75, p. 513-531 19 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  40. Published

    Aliens in Transylvania: risk maps of invasive alien plant species in Central Romania

    Zimmermann, H., Loos, J., von Wehrden, H. & Fischer, J., 16.01.2015, In: NeoBiota. 24, p. 55-65 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  41. Published

    Nachhaltigkeit anders denken: Veränderungspotenziale durch Geschlechterperspektiven

    Katz, C. (Editor), Heilmann, S. (Editor), Thiem, A. (Editor), Moths, K. (Editor), Koch, L. M. (Editor) & Hofmeister, S. (Editor), 15.01.2015, 1. Auflage ed. Wiesbaden: Springer VS. 293 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  42. Published

    Environmental chemistry of organosiloxanes

    Rücker, C. & Kümmerer, K., 14.01.2015, In: Chemical Reviews. 115, 1, p. 466-524 59 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  43. Published

    Performance of methods to select landscape metrics for modelling species richness

    Schindler, S., von Wehrden, H., Poirazidis, K., Hochachka, W. M., Wrbka, T. & Kati, V., 10.01.2015, In: Ecological Modelling. 295, p. 107-112 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  44. Published

    Observational natural history and morphological taxonomy are indispensable for future challenges in biodiversity and conservation

    Staab, M., Ohl, M., Zhu, C. D. & Klein, A. M., 02.01.2015, In: Communicative and Integrative Biology. 8, 1, 3 p., e992745.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  45. Published

    The Monster and the polar bears: constructing the future knowledge landscape of synthetic biology to inform responsible innovation.

    Withycombe Keeler, L. & Foley, R. W., 02.01.2015, In: Journal of Responsible Innovation. 2, 1, p. 81 - 84 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  46. Published

    Assessing Online Consultation in Participatory Governance: Conceptual Framework and a Case Study of a National Sustainability-related Consultation Platform in Germany

    Schulz, D. & Newig, J., 01.01.2015, In: Environmental Policy and Governance. 25, 1, p. 55-69 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  47. Published

    Bilingual (German–English) molecular biology courses in an out-of-school lab on a university campus: Cognitive and affective evaluation

    Rodenhauser, A. & Preisfeld, A., 01.01.2015, In: International Journal of Environmental and Science Education. 10, 1, p. 99-110 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  48. Published

    Biodegradation screening of chemicals in an artificial matrix simulating the water-sediment interface

    Baginska, E., Haiß, A. & Kümmerer, K., 01.01.2015, In: Chemosphere. 119, p. 1240-1246 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  49. Published

    Ecotoxicological and Genotoxic Assessment of Hospital Laundry Wastewaters

    Kern, D. I., de Oliveira Schwaickhardt, R., Lutterbeck, C. A., Kist, L. T., Alcayaga, E. A. L. & Machado, Ê. L., 01.01.2015, In: Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. 68, 1, p. 64-73 10 p., 72.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  50. Published

    Elution of monomers from provisional composite materials

    Schulz, S. D., Laquai, T., Kümmerer, K., Bolek, R., Mersch-Sundermann, V. & Polydorou, O., 01.01.2015, In: International Journal of Polymer Science. 2015, 7 p., 617407.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  51. Published

    Historical emissions of octachlorodibenzodioxin in a watershed in Queensland, Australia: estimation from field data and an environmental fate model

    Camenzuli, L., Scheringer, M., Gaus, C., Grant, S., Zennegg, M. & Hungerbühler, K., 01.01.2015, In: The Science of The Total Environment. 502, p. 680-687 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review