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. Published

    Democratic innovation and environmental governance

    Newig, J., Challies, E. & Jager, N. W., 05.12.2019, Handbook of Democratic Innovation and Governance. Elstub, S. & Escobar, O. (eds.). Edward Elgar Publishing, p. 324-338 15 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  2. Published

    Democratising platform governance in the sharing economy: An analytical framework and initial empirical insights

    Martin, C. J., Upham, P. & Klapper, R., 10.11.2017, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 166, p. 1395-1406 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Demokratisierung gesellschaftlicher Naturverhältnisse im Spannungsfeld von Politisierung und Entpolitisierungsprozessen

    Gottschlich, D. & Hackfort, S., 2016, Transformation: Suchprozesse in Zeiten des Umbruchs . Brie, M., Reißig, R. & Thomas, M. (eds.). Berlin: LIT Verlag, p. 225-252 27 p. (Texte aus dem Brandenburg-Berliner Institut für Sozialwisschafliche Studien (BISS e.V.); vol. 4).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Den Klimawandel verstehen. Eine Didaktische Rekonstruktion der globalen Erwärmung: Understanding climate change. An educational reconstruction of global warming

    Niebert, K., 2010, Oldenburg: Didaktisches Zentrum Universität Oldenburg. 199 p. (Beiträge zur didaktischen Rekonstruktion; vol. 31)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Den Metallen auf die Spur kommen - das Konzept der Stoffgeschichten

    Weiser, A., 2018, Metalle auf der Bühne der Menschheit: Von Ötzis Kupferbeil zum Smartphone im All Metals Age. Held, M., Jenny, R. D. & Hempel, M. (eds.). München: Oekom Verlag, p. 98 1 p. (DBU-Umweltkommunikation; vol. 11).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksOtherResearch

  6. Published

    Den Wandel begreifen: Szenarien für eine nachhaltige Hochschulentwicklung

    Albrecht, P., Barth, M., Burandt, S. & Rieckmann, M., 2008, "Sustainable University": nachhaltige Entwicklung als Strategie und Ziel von Hochschulentwicklung. Michelsen, G., Adomßent, M. & Godemann, J. (eds.). [Frankfurt/Main]: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften, p. 130-149 20 p. (Innovation in den Hochschulen: nachhaltige Entwicklung; vol. 10).

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

  7. Published

    Deplatziert ! Interventionen postkolonialer Kritik

    Golly, N. (Editor) & Cohrs, S. (Editor), 2008, 1. ed. Berlin: Wissenschaftlicher Verlag Berlin. 307 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  8. Published

    Der Agenda-Prozess an der Universität Lüneburg

    Stoltenberg, U., 2003, Öko-Audit in öffentlichen Einrichtungen. Deimel-Hatzenbühler, J. & Stipproweit, A. (eds.). Landau: Knecht Verlag, p. 25-40 16 p. (Landauer Universitätsschriften. Umweltwissenschaft und Umweltbildung).

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

  9. Published
  10. Published

    Der Beitrag der Kategorie (Re)Produktion zur Nachhaltigkeitsdebatte

    Biesecker, A. & Hofmeister, S., 2007, Theoretische Grundlagen nachhaltiger Entwicklung. Beiträge und Diskussionen: Seminar des Gesprächskreises Nachhaltigkeit der Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung am 17./18. Mai 2006 . Meier, K. & Wittig, E. (eds.). Dietz, p. 186-214 29 p. (Manuskripte der RLS; vol. 64).

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