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

    Two degrees and the SDGs: a network analysis of the interlinkages between transnational climate actions and the Sustainable Development Goals

    Coenen, J., Glass, L.-M. & Sanderink, L., 01.07.2022, In: Sustainability Science. 17, 4, p. 1489–1510 22 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Two Decades of Sustainability Management Tools for SMEs: How Far Have We Come?

    Johnson, M. & Schaltegger, S., 01.04.2016, In: Journal of Small Business Management. 54, 2, p. 481-505 25 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Turning hurt into impact (?)

    Fischer, J., 02.02.2016, 1 p.

    Research output: other publicationsArticles in scientific forums or blogsResearch

  4. Published

    Turning Good Intentions Into Actions by Using the Health Action Process Approach to Predict Adherence to Internet-Based Depression Prevention: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial

    Zarski, A.-C., Berking, M., Reis, D., Lehr, D., Buntrock, C., Schwarzer, R. & Ebert, D. D., 11.01.2018, In: Journal of Medical Internet Research. 20, 1, 13 p., e9.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Tsunami: Entstehung, Ausbreitung und Auswirkungen

    Amelung, U., 2005, 33 p. ( Wissenschaftliche Arbeitsberichte des ZWW zur Sonntagsvorlesung)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCompendium/lecture notesEducation

  6. Published

    T-Shirts auf dem Campus: neue Methode der Nachhaltigkeitskommunikation an der Uni

    Stoltenberg, U., 2005, In: Umwelt & Bildung. 7, 3, p. 18-20 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  7. Published

    Tropical forests in the Americas are changing too slowly to track climate change

    Author Collaboration "Tropical forests in the Americas are changing too slowly to track climate change", Aguirre-Gutiérrez, J., Díaz, S., Rifai, S. W., Corral-Rivas, J. J. & Klipel, J., 07.03.2025, In: Science (New York, N.Y.). 387, 6738, p. eadl5414

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Tri‐trophic interaction networks along a tree diversity gradient of BEF‐China

    Staab, M., Blüthgen, N. & Klein, A.-M., 09.2012, In: Verhandlungen der Gesellschaft für Ökologie. 42, p. 175 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsConference abstract in journalResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Triphenylzinn in Gewässern Niedersachsens – Betrachtung der Kompartimente Wasser, Schwebstoff, Sediment und aquatische Organismen – sowie ein Vergleich zu Butylzinnverbindungen

    Steffen, D., 2002, Hildesheim: Niedersächsisches Landesamt für Ökologie . 170 p. (Oberirdische Gewässer; vol. 15)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  10. Published

    Triggering root system plasticity in a changing environment with bacterial bioinoculants – Focus on plant P nutrition

    Baudson, C., Delory, B. M., du Jardin, P. & Delaplace, P., 03.2023, In: Plant and Soil. 484, 1-2, p. 49-63 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review