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

    Practical wisdom and virtue ethics for knowledge co-production in sustainability science

    Caniglia, G., Freeth, R., Lüderitz, C., Leventon, J., West, S. P., John, B., Peukert, D., Lang, D. J., von Wehrden, H., Martín-López, B., Fazey, I., Russo, F., von Wirth, T., Schlüter, M. & Vogel, C., 05.2023, In: Nature Sustainability. 6, 5, p. 493-501 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  2. Published

    Practical critique: Bridging the gap between critical and practice oriented REDD+ research communities’

    McGregor, A., Weaver, S., Challies, E., Howson, P., Astuti, R. & Haalboom, B., 01.12.2014, In: Asia Pacific Viewpoint. 55, 3, p. 277-291 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published
  4. Published

    Potenzialorientierter Naturwissenschaftsunterricht

    Abels, S., 08.2019, Potenzialorientierte Förderung in den Fachdidaktiken. Veber, M., Benölken, R. & Pfitzner, M. (eds.). Münster: Waxmann Verlag, p. 61-78 18 p. (Begabungsförderung : individuelle Förderung und inklusive Bildung ; vol. 7).

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

  5. Published

    Potenziale für Kinder und Gesellschaft: Frühkindliche Bildung als Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung

    Stoltenberg, U., 2014, Krisen- und Transformationsszenarios: Frühkindpädagogik, Resilienz & Weltaktionsprogramm. Wien: FORUM Umweltbildung im Umweltdachverband, p. 47-57 11 p.

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

  6. Published

    Potential supply and actual use of cultural ecosystem services in mountain protected areas and their surroundings

    Crouzat, E., De Frutos, A., Grescho, V., Carver, S., Büermann, A., Carvalho-Santos, C., Kraemer, R., Mayor, S., Pöpperl, F., Rossi, C., Schröter, M., Stritih, A., Sofia Vaz, A., Watzema, J. & Bonn, A., 01.02.2022, In: Ecosystem Services. 53, 12 p., 101395.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Potential of mobility services: Results of a user-oriented survey in Germany

    Grischkat, S., Böhler, S., Hunecke, M. & Haustein, S., 2008, Passenger Intermodality: Current Frameworks, trends and perspectives. Gronau, W. (ed.). Mannheim: Verlag MetaGIS Infosysteme, Vol. 1. p. 91-104 13 p.

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

  8. Published

    Potential exposure of German consumers to engineered nanoparticles in cosmetics and personal care products

    Lorenz, C., Von Goetz, N., Scheringer, M., Wormuth, M. & Hungerbühler, K., 01.03.2011, In: Nanotoxicology. 5, 1, p. 12-29 18 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Potentiale und Risiken der Nutzung von Methan aus Methanhydraten als Energieträger

    Groth, M., 2010, In: Zeitschrift für Energiewirtschaft. 34, 2, p. 129-137 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Potentiale und Risiken der Nutzung von Methan aus Methanhydraten als Energieträger

    Groth, M., 2009, Lüneburg: Institut für Volkswirtschaftslehre der Universität Lüneburg, 20 p. (Working Papers Series in Economics; no. 147).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers