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

    Germination changes can restructure communities through priority effects

    Temperton, V. M., 05.2025, In: Trends in Ecology & Evolution. 40, 5, p. 426-427 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  2. Published

    Germination performance of native and non-native Ulmus pumila populations

    Hirsch, H., Wypior, C., von Wehrden, H., Wesche, K., Renison, D. & Hensen, I., 14.12.2012, In: NeoBiota. 15, 15, p. 53-68 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Gesamtkonzept zum Umgang mit Elektro(alt)geräten – Vorbereitung zur Wiederverwendung: Abschlussbericht

    Sander, K., Wagner, L., Jepsen, D., Zimmermann, T. & Schomerus, C.-T., 03.2019, Dessau-Roßlau: Umweltbundesamt, 485 p. (Texte; vol. 2019, no. 17).

    Research output: Working paperProject reportsTransfer

  4. Published

    Geschäftschancen durch Finanzierung Erneuerbarer-Energien-Anlagen

    Schomerus, T. & Degenhart, H., 2008, In: Wissenschaft für die Praxis. 65, p. 12-17 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  5. Published

    Geschäftsmodelle für unternehmerische Nachhaltigkeit

    Schaltegger, S. (Editor), 2014, Lüneburg: Centre for Sustainability Management. 23 p. (CSM-Impulse; vol. 02/2014)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesSpecial Journal issueTransfer

  6. Published

    Geschäftsmodelle und Erfolgsfaktoren von deutschen Bioenergiedörfern: Eine empirische Untersuchung

    Welz, J., 2011, Lüneburg: Centre for Sustainability Management, 152 p.

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  7. Published

    Geschäftsmodell für regionale Direktvermarktung von Strom in einer Modellregion am Beispiel von Greenpeace Energy

    Schmidt, J. C., 2015, Lüneburg: Centre for Sustainability Management, 128 p.

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  8. Published

    Geschlecht als Basiskategorie der Nachhaltigkeitsforschung

    Hofmeister, S. & Mölders, T., 2006, Gender-Perspektiven in der sozial-ökologischen Forschung: Herausforderungen und Erfahrungen aus inter- und transdisziplinären Projekten. Schäfer, M., Schultz, I. & Wendorf, G. (eds.). München: Oekom Verlag, p. 17-37 21 p. (Ergebnisse sozial-ökologischer Forschung; vol. 1).

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

  9. Published

    Geschlecht der Inklusion

    Budde, J. (Editor), Offen, S. (Editor) & Tervooren, A. (Editor), 2016, Opladen: Verlag Babara Budrich. 181 p. (Jahrbuch Frauen- und Geschlechterforschung in der Erziehungswissenschaft; vol. 12/2016)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  10. Published

    Geschlechtergerechtigkeit und Nachhaltige Entwicklung - Konturen einer Verbindung

    Hofmeister, S. & Karsten, M.-E., 2003, Zwischentöne gestalten: Dialoge zur Verbindung von Geschlechterverhältnissen und Nachhaltigkeit. Hofmeister, S., Mölders, T. & Karsten, M. E. (eds.). Bielefeld: Kleine Verlag, p. 9-37 29 p.

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