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

    Disentangling the Pathways and Effects of Ecosystem Service Co-Production

    Palomo, I., Felipe-Lucia, M. R., Bennett, E. M., Martín-López, B. & Pascual, U., 2016, In: Advances in Ecological Research. 54, p. 245-283 39 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    A coastal and an interior Douglas fir provenance exhibit different metabolic strategies to deal with drought stress

    Du, B., Jansen, K., Kleiber, A., Eiblmeier, M., Kammerer, B., Ensminger, I., Gessler, A., Rennenberg, H. & Kreuzwieser, J., 02.2016, In: Tree Physiology. 36, 2, p. 148–163 16 p., tpv105.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Greenpeace Nachhaltigkeitsbarometer 2015: Nachhaltigkeit bewegt die jüngere Generation

    Michelsen, G., Grunenberg, H., Mader, C. & Barth, M., 2015, 1 ed. Bad Homburg: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften. 263 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  4. Published

    Plant diversity and composition compensate for negative effects of urbanization on foraging bumble bees

    Hülsmann, M., von Wehrden, H., Klein, A. M. & Leonhardt, S. D., 01.11.2015, In: Apidologie. 46, 6, p. 760-770 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Response of saproxylic beetles to small-scale habitat connectivity depends on trophic levels

    Buse, J., Entling, M. H., Ranius, T. & Assmann, T., 01.06.2016, In: Landscape Ecology. 31, 5, p. 939-949 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Butterfly communities in miombo woodland: Biodiversity declines with increasing woodland utilisation

    Jew, E. K. K., Loos, J., Dougill, A. J., Sallu, S. M. & Benton, T. G., 01.12.2015, In: Biological Conservation. 192, p. 436-444 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Change Agents für unternehmerische Nachhaltigkeit

    Schaltegger, S. (Editor), 2015, Lüneburg: Centre for Sustainability Management. 23 p. (CSM-Impulse; vol. 01/2015)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesSpecial Journal issueTransfer

  8. Published

    Der rechtliche Rahmen für die Umsetzung eines Pumpspeicherwerks im Elbe-Seitenkanal

    Maly, C., Meister, M. & Stecher, M., 2015, Pumpspeicher an Bundeswasserstraßen: Technische, wirtschaftliche und rechtliche Rahmenbedingungen am Beispiel des Elbe-Seitenkanal. Degenhart, H., Schomerus, T. & Schulz, D. (eds.). Wiesbaden: Springer Fachmedien, p. 41-75 35 p.

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

  9. Published

    Was wir noch zu sagen hätten - Briefe an unsere Leserinnen und Leser

    Defila, R., Di Giulio, A., Fischer, D., Gölz, S., Kaufmann-Hayoz, R. & Schäfer, M., 2015, Transdisziplinär forschen - zwischen Ideal und gelebter Praxis: Hotspots, Geschichten, Wirkungen. Defila, R. & Di Giulio, A. (eds.). Frankfurt: Campus Verlag, p. 331–341 11 p.

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

  10. Published

    Elektroaltgeräte: Ansätze zur nachhaltigen Verwertung und Wiederverwertung

    Zvezdov, D. & Schock, M., 2015, Lüneburg: Leuphana Universität Lüneburg, 33 p.

    Research output: Working paperProject reportsTransfer