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

    Literature Review zu konzeptionellem Lernen in Open Inquiry Settings

    Hofer, E. & Abels, S., 2022, Unsicherheit als Element von naturwissenschaftsbezogenen Bildungsprozessen : Gesellschaft für Didaktik der Chemie und Physik, Virtuelle Jahrestagung 2021. Habig, S. & van Vorst, H. (eds.). Essen: Gesellschaft für Didaktik der Chemie und Physik, p. 76-79 4 p. (Jahrestagung der Gesellschaft für Didaktik der Chemie und Physik; vol. 42).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearch

  2. Published

    Liste der Waldgefäßpflanzen Deutschlands: Bewertungskriterium für Artenvielfalt im Wald

    Schmidt, M., Oheimb, G., Kriebitzsch, W.-U. & Ellenberg, H., 2004, In: AFZ, der Wald. 59, 23, p. 1276-1278 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  3. Published

    Liste der Waldgefäßpflanzen Deutschlands

    Schmidt, M., Ewald, J., Fischer, A., Oheimb, G., Kriebitzsch, W.-U., Ellenberg, H. & Schmidt, W., 2003, Hamburg: Verlag Max Wiedebusch. 34 p. (Mitteilungen der Bundesforschungsanstalt für Forst- und Holzwirtschaft Hamburg; vol. 12)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  4. Published

    Liste der im norddeutschen Tiefland typischen Waldgefäßpflanzen

    Schmidt, M., Oheimb, G., Kriebitzsch, W.-U. & Ellenberg, H., 2002, Hamburg: Verlag Max Wiedebusch. 37 p. (Mitteilungen der Bundesforschungsanstalt für Forst- und Holzwirtschaft Hamburg)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  5. Published

    Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis of estrogenic compounds in coastal surface water of the Baltic Sea

    Beck, I., Bruhn, R., Gandrass, J. & Ruck, W., 07.10.2005, In: Journal of Chromatography A. 1090, 1-2, p. 98-106 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Lipids in preventive dentistry

    Kensche, A., Reich, M., Kümmerer, K., Hannig, M. & Hannig, C., 04.2013, In: Clinical Oral Investigations. 17, 3, p. 669-685 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  7. Published

    Linking Transitions to Sustainability: Individual Agency, Normativity and Transdisciplinary Collaborations in transition Management

    Schäpke, N., 2018, Lüneburg, 344 p. (IETSR Discussion papers in Transdisciplinary Sustainability Research; vol. 2).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  8. Published

    Linking transitions to sustainability: A study of the societal effects of transition management

    Schäpke, N., Omann, I., Wittmayer, J. M., van Steenbergen, F. & Mock, M., 03.05.2017, In: Sustainability. 9, 5, 36 p., 737.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Linking Tourism and Conservation on Privately Owned Natural Areas: A Systematic Review of English-Language Literature

    Müller, N., Rathgens, J., Fletcher, R. & Hilser, S., 01.03.2023, In: Society and Natural Resources. 36, 3, p. 306-325 20 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  10. Published

    Linking the multi-level perspective with social representations theory: Gasifiers as a niche innovation reinforcing the energy-from-waste (EfW) regime

    Levidow, L. & Upham, P., 01.07.2017, In: Technological Forecasting and Social Change. 120, p. 1-13 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review