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. 2022
  2. Published
  3. Published

    International student mobility: Pacific Islander experiences of higher education in Australia

    Pearson, J., McNamara, K. & McMichael, C., 01.08.2022, In: Asia Pacific Viewpoint. 63, 2, p. 194-206 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Operationalising the leverage points perspective for empirical research

    Riechers, M., Fischer, J., Manlosa, A. O., Ortiz-Przychodzka, S. & Sala, J. E., 01.08.2022, In: Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability. 57, 101206.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    PragmatiKK: Target Group-specific Approach in a web-based Stress Prevention Platform for Micro and Small Companies

    Engels, M., Boß, L., Engels, J., Kuhlmann, R., Kuske, J., Lesener, L., Pavlista, V., Scheepers, L., Schmidt-Stiedenroth, K., Schwens, C., Wulf, I. C. & Dragano, N., 01.08.2022, In: Gesundheitswesen. 84, 08/09, p. 862-862 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsConference abstract in journalResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Sustainable Statehood: Reflections on Critical (Pre-)Conditions, Requirements and Design Options

    Heinrichs, H., 02.08.2022, In: Sustainability. 14, 15, 14 p., 9461.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransferpeer-review

  7. Published

    Environmental management accounting: development, context, contribution and outlook

    Schaltegger, S., Burritt, R. & Christ, K. L., 04.08.2022, Handbook of Accounting and Sustainability. Adams, C. (ed.). Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing, p. 260-278 19 p. (Research handbooks in accounting).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapter

  8. Published

    Effects of tree diversity on canopy space occupation vary with tree size and canopy space definition in a mature broad-leaved forest

    Georgi, L., Kunz, M., Fichtner, A., Bienert, A., Maas, H.-G. & von Oheimb, G., 15.08.2022, In: Agricultural and Forest Meteorology. 323, 109055.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published
  10. Published

    Curriculum Hannover – webbasierte vs. analoge Durchführung der psychosomatischen Nachsorge und vs. Care as usual

    Dahmen, A., Gao, L., Keller, F. M., Lehr, D., Becker, P. & Lippke, S., 22.08.2022, In: Die Rehabilitation. 61, 4, p. 287-296 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Trade Wars: Past and Present

    Oermann, N. O. & Wolff, H.-J., 25.08.2022, 1 ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 316 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesBook