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. 2014
  2. Published

    Plutella xylostella (L.) infestations at varying temperatures induce the emission of specific volatile blends by Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh

    Truong, D. H., Delory, B. M., Brostaux, Y., Heuskin, S., Delaplace, P., Francis, F. & Lognay, G., 2014, In: Plant Signaling and Behavior. 9, 11, 10 p., e973816.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Politische Vorfahrt für biologische Vielfalt: Politikbarometer zur Biodiversität in Deutschland

    Laws, N., 2014, Berlin: WWF, 86 p.

    Research output: Working paperExpert opinions

  4. 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

  5. Published

    Quality System Development at the University of Graz: Lessons Learned from the Case of RCE Graz-Styria

    Zimmermann, F. M., Raggautz, A., Maier, K., Drage, T., Mader, M., Diethart, M. & Meyer, J., 2014, Sustainable Development and Quality Assurance in Higher Education: Transformation of Learning and Society . Fadeeva, Z., Galkute, L., Mader, C. & Scott, G. (eds.). Houndmills: Palgrave Macmillan, p. 131-152 22 p. (Palgrave Studies in Global Higher Education).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  6. Published

    Recalcitrant pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment: A comparative screening study of their occurrence, formation of phototransformation products and their in vitro toxicity

    Bergheim, M., Gminski, R., Spangenberg, B., Dȩbiak, M., Bürkle, A., Mersch-Sundermann, V., Kümmerer, K. & Gieré, R., 2014, In: Environmental Chemistry. 11, 4, p. 431-444 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Recht und Finanzierung von Erneuerbaren Energien: Bürgerbeteiligungsmodelle

    Degenhart, H. (Editor) & Schomerus, T. (Editor), 2014, Baden-Baden: Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft. 123 p. (Lüneburger Schriften zum Wirtschaftsrecht; no. 27)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  8. Published

    Recht und Finanzierung von Erneuerbaren Energien: Bürgerbeteiligungsmodelle: Bericht von der Fachtagung an der Leuphana Universität Lüneburg

    Kahla, F. & Maly, C., 2014, In: NordÖR. 17, 5, p. 215-217 3 p., 4.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransfer

  9. Published

    Reconstructing the “biopiracy” debate from a justice perspective

    Stumpf, K. H., 2014, Concepts and Values in Biodiversity. Lanzerath, D. & Friele, M. (eds.). London: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, p. 225-242 18 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  10. Published

    Regionale Unterschiede der Netznutzungsentgelte: Hindernis für eine faire Energiewende?

    Plenz, M., Meister, M., Doliwa, M. & Obbelode, F., 2014, In: Zeitschrift für neues Energierecht. 18, 6, p. 540 - 543 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Relevante Ansätze zur Vermeidung von Lebensmittelabfällen in der Landwirtschaft, der Lebensmittelverarbeitung und im Handel

    Bräutigam, K.-R., Schomerus, T. & Biesdorf, B., 2014, Von der Verschwendung zur Wertschätzung der Lebensmittel - Wissenschaftliche Erkenntnisse und praktische Umsetzung: Tagungsdokumentation; 21. November 2014, Münster. Ministerium für Klimaschutz, Umwelt, Landwirtschaft, Natur- und Verbraucherschutz des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen, p. 20 1 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksOtherTransfer

  12. Published

    Re-Naturierung: Gesellschaft im Einklang mit der Natur

    Leitschuh, H. (Editor), Michelsen, G. (Editor), Simonis, U. E. (Editor), Sommer, J. (Editor) & Weizsäcker, E. U. V. (Editor), 2014, 1. Auflage ed. Stuttgart: S. Hirzel Verlag. 256 p. (Jahrbuch Ökologie; vol. 2015)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  13. Published

    Schadstoffregime in Auenböden der Elbe

    Krüger, F. & Urban, B., 2014, Klimafolgenanpassung im Biosphärenreservat Niedersächsische Elbtalaue: Modellregion für nachhaltige Entwicklung. Prüter, J., Keienburg, T. & Schreck, C. (eds.). Hamburg: TuTech Verlag, p. 63-70 8 p. (Berichte aus den KLIMZUG-NORD Modellgebieten; vol. 5).

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

  14. Published

    Schutz von Buchenwäldern in einem System von Naturwäldern

    Hehnke, T., von Oheimb, G., Härdtle, W., Kaiser, T. & Scherfose, V., 2014, Bonn: Bundesamt für Naturschutz, p. 1-127, 127 p. (BfN-Skripten; no. 380).

    Research output: Working paperProject reportsResearch

  15. Published

    Sharing Economy: Potenzial für eine nachhaltige Wirtschaft

    Heinrichs, H., 2014, In: ifo Schnelldienst. 67, 21/2014, p. 15-17 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  16. Published

    Social Entrepreneurs and Social Change: Tracing impacts of social entrepreneurship through ideas, structures, and practices

    Ney, S., Beckmann, M., Gräbnitz, D. & Mirkovic , R., 2014, In: International Journal of Entrepreneurial Venturing. 6, 1, p. 51-68 18 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  17. Published

    Soziale Differenzkategorien als Gegenstand der Lehrer*innenbildung: ein empirischer Beitrag

    Budde, J., Offen, S. & Schmidt, J., 2014, Geschlecht und Vielfalt in Schule und Lehrerbildung . Eisenbraun, V. & Uhl, S. (eds.). 1 ed. Münster: Waxmann Verlag, p. 223-237 15 p.

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

  18. Published

    Stadtnatur braucht Bildung

    Stoltenberg, U., 2014, Re-Naturierung: Gesellschaft im Einklang mit der Natur. Leitschuh, H., Michelsen, G., Simonis, U. E., Sommer, J. & Weizsäcker, E. U. V. (eds.). Stuttgart: S. Hirzel Verlag, p. 100-103 4 p. (Jahrbuch Ökologie ; vol. 2015).

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

  19. Published

    Steady-State-Modelle als Grundlage von Betrieblichen Umweltinformationssystemen

    Möller, A., 2014, Konzepte, Anwendungen und Entwicklungstendenzen von betrieblichen Umweltinformationssystemen (BUIS): Tagungsband zu den 6. BUIS-Tagen am 24. und 25.04.2014 in Berlin. Wohlgemuth, V., Lang, C. & Marx Gomez, J. (eds.). 1 ed. Shaker Verlag, p. 83-100 18 p. (Berichte aus der Umweltinformatik).

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

  20. Published

    Sufficiency and Subsistence – On two important concepts for Sustainable Development

    Mölders, T., Szumelda, A. U. & von Winterfeld, U., 2014, In: Problemy Ekorozwoju. 9, 1, p. 21-27 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  21. Published

    Sustainability Management for Start-ups and Micro-Enterprises: Development of a Sustainability Quick-Check and Reporting Scheme

    Halberstadt, J. & Johnson, M., 2014, Proceedings of the 28th Conference on Environmental Informatics: Informatics for Environmental Protection, Sustainable Development and Risk Management. Gómez, J. M., Sonnenschein, M., Vogel, U., Winter, A., Rapp, B. & Giesen, N. (eds.). Universität Oldenburg, Bibliotheks- und Informationssystem, p. 17-24 8 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearchpeer-review