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

    To Own or to Use? How Product-Service Systems Facilitate Eco-Innovation Behavior

    Tietze, F. & Hansen, E. G., 2013, In: Academy of Management Proceedings. 2013, 1, 1 p., Article no. 12213.

    Research output: Journal contributionsConference abstract in journalResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Multi-level Governance, Policy Implementation and Participation: The EU’s Mandated Participatory Planning Approach to Implementing Environmental Policy

    Newig, J. & Koontz, T. M., 07.02.2014, In: Journal of European Public Policy. 21, 2, p. 248-267 20 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Führt Bürgerbeteiligung in umweltpolitischen Entscheidungsprozessen zu mehr Effektivität und Legitimität?

    Newig, J., Jager, N. W. & Challies, E., 2012, In: Zeitschrift für Politikwissenschaft. 22, 4, p. 527-564 38 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    A global quantitative synthesis of local and landscape effects on wild bee pollinators in agroecosystems

    Kennedy, C. M., Lonsdorf, E., Neel, M. C., Williams, N. M., Ricketts, T. H., Winfree, R., Bommarco, R., Brittain, C., Burley, A. L., Cariveau, D., Carvalheiro, L. G., Chacoff, N. P., Cunningham, S. A., Danforth, B. N., Dudenhöffer, J.-H., Elle, E., Gaines, H. R., Garibaldi, L. A., Gratton, C., Greenleaf, S. S., Holzschuh, A., Isaacs, R., Javorek, S. K., Jha, S., Klein, A. M., Krewenka, K., Mandelik, Y., Mayfield, M. M., Morandin, L., Neame, L. A., Otieno, M., Park, M., Potts, S. G., Rundlöf, M., Saez, A., Steffan-Dewenter, I., Taki, H., Viana, B. F., Westphal, C., Wilson, J. K. & Kremen, C., 05.2013, In: Ecology Letters. 16, 5, p. 584-599 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Post-dispersal seed predation of three grassland species in a plant diversity experiment

    Pufal, G. & Klein, A.-M., 12.2013, In: The Journal of Ecology. 6, 6, p. 468-479 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Ant seed predation, pesticide applications and farmers income from tropical multi-cropping gardens

    Motzke, I., Tscharntke, T., Klein, A.-M., Wanger, T. C. & Sodhi, N. S., 08.2013, In: Agricultural and Forest Entomology. 15, 3, p. 245-254 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Managing invasive species amidst high uncertainty and novelty

    Larson, B. M. H., Kueffer, C., the ZiF Working Group on Ecological Novelty & Klein, A.-M., 05.2013, In: Trends in Ecology and Evolution. 28, 5, p. 255-256 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  8. Published

    Wild pollinators enhance fruit set of crops regardless of honey bee abundance

    Garibaldi, L. A., Steffan-Dewenter, I., Winfree, R., Aizen, M. A., Bommarco, R., Cunningham, S. A., Kremen, C., Carvalheiro, L. G., Harder, L. D., Afik, O., Bartomeus, I., Benjamin, F., Boreux, V., Cariveau, D., Chacoff, N. P., Dudenhöffer, J. H., Freitas, B. M., Ghazoul, J., Greenleaf, S., Hipólito, J., Holzschuh, A., Howlett, B., Isaacs, R., Javorek, S. K., Kennedy, C. M., Krewenka, K. M., Krishnan, S., Mandelik, Y., Mayfield, M. M., Motzke, I., Munyuli, T., Nault, B. A., Otieno, M., Petersen, J., Pisanty, G., Potts, S. G., Rader, R., Ricketts, T. H., Rundlöf, M., Seymour, C. L., Schüepp, C., Szentgyörgyi, H., Taki, H., Tscharntke, T., Vergara, C. H., Viana, B. F., Wanger, T. C., Westphal, C., Williams, N. & Klein, A. M., 29.03.2013, In: Science. 340, 6127, p. 1608-1611 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Comparative analysis of public environmental decision-making processes: A variable-based analytical scheme

    Newig, J., Adzersen, A., Challies, E., Fritsch, O. & Jager, N. W., 20.02.2013, Lüneburg: Institut für Umweltkommunikation der Universität Lüneburg, 65 p. (INFU Discussion Paper; no. 37).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  10. Published

    Use: What is needed to Support Sustainability?

    Mikkelsen, R. L., Binder, C. R., Frossard, E., Brand, F. S., Scholz, R. W. & Vilsmaier, U., 01.01.2014, Sustainable Phosphorus Management: A Global Transdisciplinary Roadmap. Scholz, R. W., Roy, A. H., Brand, F. S., Hellums, D. T. & Ulrich, A. E. (eds.). 1 ed. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands, p. 207-246 40 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review