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. 2017
  2. Published

    Generalist social bees maximize diversity intake in plant species-rich and resource-abundant environments

    Kaluza, B. F., Wallace, H., Keller, A., Heard, T. A., Jeffers, B., Drescher, N., Blüthgen, N. & Leonhardt, S. D., 01.03.2017, In: Ecosphere. 8, 3, 19 p., e01758.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Innovating Corporate Accounting and Reporting for Sustainability: Attributes and Challenges

    Schaltegger, S., Álvarez-Etxeberria, I. & Ortas, E., 01.03.2017, In: Sustainable Development. 25, 2, p. 113-122 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Innovative Measurement for Corporate Sustainability: Editorial

    Álvarez-Etxeberria, I., Ortas, E. & Schaltegger, S., 01.03.2017, In: Sustainable Development. 25 , 2, p. 111-112 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsOther (editorial matter etc.)Research

  5. Published

    Inside honeybee hives: Impact of natural propolis on the ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor and viruses

    Drescher, N., Klein, A. M., Neumann, P., Yañez, O. & Leonhardt, S. D., 01.03.2017, In: Insects. 8, 1, 18 p., 15.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published
  7. Published

    Separation of lactic acid and recovery of salt-ions from fermentation broth

    Pleissner, D., Schneider, R., Venus, J. & Koch, T., 01.03.2017, In: Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology. 92, 3, p. 504-511 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Methodological Challenges in Sustainability Science: A Call for Method Plurality, Procedural Rigor and Longitudinal Research

    Wehrden, H., Lüderitz, C., Leventon, J. & Russell, S., 20.03.2017, In: Challenges in Sustainability. 5, 1, p. 35-42 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Phenotypic Plasticity Explains Response Patterns of European Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) Saplings to Nitrogen Fertilization and Drought Events

    Dziedek, C., Fichtner, A., Calvo, L., Marcos, E., Jansen, K., Kunz, M., Walmsley, D., Von Oheimb, G. & Härdtle, W., 20.03.2017, In: Forests. 8, 3, p. 1-11 11 p., 91.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Towards a Sustainable Use of Phosphorus: A Transdisciplinary Scenario Analysis for the Administrative District of Lüneburg, Germany

    Sieveking, A., Weber, H., Riewerts, B. & Böhme, M., 23.03.2017, In: GAIA. 26, 1, p. 34-42 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Hochschulen und nachhaltige Entwicklung: Analysen, Konzepte, europäische Perspektiven

    Adomssent, M., Franz-Balsen, A. & Kruse-Graumann, L., 25.03.2017, In: GAIA. 16, 1, p. 78-80 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review