Institute of Ethics and Transdisciplinary Sustainability Research

Organisational unit: Institute

Organisation profile

In the professorship, we address three main challenges for the fulfilment of this aspiration:

  • Consolidate the epistemological and methodological foundations of transdisciplinary sustainability research.
  • Enhance research at the science/society interface that has both scientific and societal relevance.
  • Enable students, researchers and societal actors to contribute to societal transformation with local and global impact.

We are rooted/embedded in the Faculty of  Sustainability and collaborate with different institutes at Leuphana and research institutions from around the world as well as with different societal actors and institutions from the private and public sector in Lueneburg and beyond. 

We creatively combine conceptual and empirical research with the development of new formats and environments.

Topics

Im Bereich der Forschung liegt der Schwerpunkt von Dissertationen und Drittmittelprojekten im Bereich der Wirtschaftsethik im Zeichen der Globalisierung, in der Staatsphilosophie sowie in aktuellen Fragen der Medizinethik.

Auch hier ist der transdisziplinär verstandene Nachhaltigkeitsbegriff das Band, welches den Umgang mit ethischen Dilemmata in verschiedenen Wissenschafts- und Lebensbereichen miteinander verbindet.

Besonderes Gewicht wird problemorientierten Lernprozessen mit intensivem, wechselseitigem Austausch zwischen Wissenschaftlern/-innen unterschiedlicher Disziplinen sowie relevanten gesellschaftlichen Akteuren beigemessen. Ethik wird in diesem Kontext als eine Begleitwissenschaft verstanden, der eine Schlüsselrolle in inter- und transdisziplinärer Forschung zu Themen der nachhaltigen Entwicklung zukommt.

  1. Published

    Human–nature connectedness as a ‘treatment’ for pro-environmental behavior: making the case for spatial considerations

    Klaniecki, K., Leventon, J. & Abson, D. J., 01.09.2018, In: Sustainability Science. 13, 5, p. 1375-1388 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Rethinking biodiversity governance in European agricultural landscapes: Acceptability of alternative governance scenarios

    Velten, S., Schaal, T., Mildorfová-Leventon, J., Hanspach, J., Fischer, J. & Newig, J., 09.2018, In: Land Use Policy. 77, p. 84-93 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Is ecotourism a panacea? Political ecology perspectives from the Sundarban Biosphere Reserve, India

    Ghosh, P. & Ghosh, A., 15.04.2019, In: GeoJournal. 84, 2, p. 345-366 22 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Jointly experimenting for transformation? Shaping real-world laboratories by comparing them

    Schäpke, N., Stelzer, F., Caniglia, G., Bergmann, M., Wanner, M., Singer-Brodowski, M., Loorbach, D., Olsson, P., Baedeker, C. & Lang, D. J., 01.01.2018, In: GAIA. 27, p. 85-96 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Labs in the real world: Advancing transdisciplinary research and sustainability transformation: Mapping the field and emerging lines of inquiry

    Schäpke, N., Bergmann, M., Stelzer, F. & Lang, D. J., 01.01.2018, In: GAIA. 27, Supplement 1, p. 8-11 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published
  7. Published

    Ten essentials for action-oriented and second order energy transitions, transformations and climate change research

    Fazey, I., Schäpke, N., Caniglia, G., Patterson, J., Hultman, J., van Mierlo, B., Säwe, F., Wiek, A., Wittmayer, J., Aldunce, P., Al Waer, H., Battacharya, N., Bradbury, H., Carmen, E., Colvin, J., Cvitanovic, C., D'Souza, M., Gopel, M., Goldstein, B., Hämäläinen, T., Harper, G., Henfry, T., Hodgson, A., Howden, M. S., Kerr, A., Klaes, M., Lyon, C., Midgley, G., Moser, S., Mukherjee, N., Müller, K., O'Brien, K., O'Connell, D. A., Olsson, P., Page, G., Reed, M. S., Searle, B., Silvestri, G., Spaiser, V., Strasser, T., Tschakert, P., Uribe-Calvo, N., Waddell, S., Rao-Williams, J., Wise, R., Wolstenholme, R., Woods, M. & Wyborn, C., 01.06.2018, In: Energy Research and Social Science. 40, June 2018, p. 54-70 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  8. Published

    The glocal curriculum: A model for transnational collaboration in higher education for sustainable development

    Caniglia, G., John, B., Bellina, L., Lang, D. J., Wiek, A., Cohmer, S. & Laubichler, M. D., 10.01.2018, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 171, p. 368 - 376 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Grenzarbeit in integrativer und grenzüberschreitender Forschung

    Vilsmaier, U., 2018, Grenzen: Theoretische, konzeptionelle und praxisbezogene Fragestellungen zu Grenzen und deren Überschreitungen. Heintel, M., Musil, R. & Weixlbaumer, N. (eds.). 1 ed. Wiesbaden: Springer VS, p. 113-134 22 p. (RaumFragen: Stadt — Region — Landschaft).

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

  10. Published

    Using social media photos to explore the relation between cultural ecosystem services and landscape features across five European sites

    Oteros-Rozas, E., Martín-López, B., Fagerholm, N., Bieling, C. & Plieninger, T., 11.2018, In: Ecological Indicators. 94, Part 2, p. 74-86 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Land Take and Soil Sealing—Drivers, Trends and Policy (Legal) Instruments: Insights from European Cities

    Naumann, S., Frelih-Larsen, A., Prokop, G., Ittner, S., Reed, M., Mills, J., Morari, F., Verzandvoort, S., Albrecht, S., Bjuréus, A., Siebielec, G. & Miturski, T., 2019, International Yearbook of Soil Law and Policy 2018. Ginzky, H., Dooley, E., Heuser, I. L., Kasimbazi, E., Markus, T. & Qin, T. (eds.). Cham: Springer Schweiz, p. 83-112 30 p. (International Yearbook of Soil Law and Policy ; vol. 2018).

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

  12. Published

    Phosphorus status, use and recycling in a Chinese peri-urban region with intensive animal husbandry and cropping systems: Results from case study in a Sino-German applied research collaboration project

    Roelcke, M., Heimann, L., Hou, Y., Guo, J., Xue, Q., Jia, W., Ostermann, A., Huaitalla, R. M., Engbers, M., Olbrich, C., Scholz, R. W., Clemens, J., Schuchardt, F., Nieder, R., Liu, X. & Zhang, F., 01.12.2019, In: Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering. 6, 4, p. 388-402 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  13. Published

    Three principles for co-designing sustainability intervention strategies: Experiences from Southern Transylvania

    Lam, D. P. M., Horcea-Milcu, A. I., Fischer, J., Peukert, D. & Lang, D. J., 01.09.2020, In: Ambio. 49, 9, p. 1451-1465 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  14. Published
  15. Published

    Europäische Selbstwerdung und Selbstbe-hauptung durch wirtschaftliche Staatskunst

    Oermann, N. O. & Wolff, H-J., 2019, In: ifo Schnelldienst. 72, 22, p. 12-15 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  16. Published

    Applying the energy cultures framework to understand energy systems in the context of rural sustainability transformation

    Klaniecki, K., Duse, I. A., Lutz, L. M., Leventon, J. & Abson, D. J., 02.2020, In: Energy Policy. 137, 12 p., 111092.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  17. Published

    Sustainability entrepreneurship to address large distances in international food supply

    Weber, H., Wiek, A. & Lang, D. J., 01.09.2020, In: Business Strategy and Development. 3, 3, p. 318-331 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  18. Published

    Pushing the Boundaries: Experience-Based Learning in Early Phases of Graduate Sustainability Curricula

    Birdman, J. M., Redman, A. & Lang, D. J., 22.01.2021, In: International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. 22, 2, p. 237-253 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  19. Published

    Temporal patterns in ecosystem services research: A review and three recommendations

    Rau, A-L., Burkhardt, V., Dorninger, C., Hjort, C., Ibe, K., Keßler, L., Kristensen, J. A., McRobert, A., Sidemo-Holm, W., Zimmermann, H., Abson, D., Wehrden, H. & Ekroos, J., 01.08.2020, In: Ambio. 49, 8, p. 1377-1393 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  20. Published

    Namibia, Christianity in

    Oermann, N. O., 17.02.2022, The Oxford Dictionary of Christian Church: K-Z. Louth, A. (ed.). 4. ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, Vol. 2. (Oxford Dictionary of Christian Churches).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticles for encyclopediaResearch

  21. Published

    Researching collaborative interdisciplinary teams: practices and principles for navigating researcher positionality

    Freeth, R. C. & Vilsmaier, U., 15.09.2020, In: Science & Technology Studies. 33, 3, p. 57-72 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  22. Published

    The impacts of social-ecological system change on human-nature connectedness: A case study from Transylvania, Romania

    Balázsi, Á., Riechers, M., Hartel, T., Leventon, J. & Fischer, J., 01.12.2019, In: Land Use Policy. 89, 104232.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  23. Published

    Loving the mess: navigating diversity and conflict in social values for sustainability

    Kenter, J. O., Raymond, C. M., van Riper, C. J., Azzopardi, E., Brear, M. R., Calcagni, F., Christie, I., Christie, M., Fordham, A., Gould, R. K., Ives, C. D., Hejnowicz, A. P., Gunton, R., Horcea-Milcu, A. I., Kendal, D., Kronenberg, J., Massenberg, J. R., O’Connor, S., Ravenscroft, N., Rawluk, A., Raymond, I. J., Rodríguez-Morales, J. & Thankappan, S., 02.09.2019, In: Sustainability Science. 14, 5, p. 1439-1461 23 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  24. Published

    Values in transformational sustainability science: four perspectives for change

    Horcea-Milcu, A-I., Abson, D. J., Apetrei, C. I., Duse, I. A., Freeth, R., Riechers, M., Lam, D. P. M., Dorninger, C. & Lang, D. J., 02.09.2019, In: Sustainability Science. 14, 5, p. 1425-1437 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  25. Published
  26. Published

    Unlocking knowledge-policy action gaps in disaster-recovery-risk governance cycle: A governmentality approach

    Ghosh, A. & Boyd, E., 01.10.2019, In: International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction. 39, 101236.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  27. Published

    Wirtschaftskriege - Geschichte und Gegenwart

    Oermann, N. O. & Wolff, H-J., 04.2019, Freiburg: Verlag Herder GmbH. 271 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  28. Published

    Wirtschaftsethik: Vom freien Markt bis zur Share Economy

    Oermann, N. O., 2018, 2 ed. München: C.H. Beck Verlag. 127 p. (C. H. Beck Wissen; vol. 2845)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearchpeer-review

  29. Published

    Wirtschaftskriege im digitalen Zeitalter: Ethische Perspektiven

    Oermann, N. O., 05.2019, In: Theologische Literaturzeitung. 144, 5, p. 419-435 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransferpeer-review

  30. Published

    Learning to collaborate while collaborating: advancing interdisciplinary sustainability research

    Freeth, R. & Caniglia, G., 01.01.2020, In: Sustainability Science. 15, 1, p. 247-261 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  31. Published

    Kommunalspezifische Nachhaltigkeitssteuerung: Erfahrungen und Empfehlungen

    Kirst, E., Lang, D. J., Heinrichs, H. & Plawitzki, J., 01.2019, In: GAIA. 28, 2, p. 151-159 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransferpeer-review

  32. Published

    Leverage points 2019: A transdisciplinary conference, inspiring change

    Leventon, J., Zimmermann, H., Von Wehrden, H. & Becker, S., 01.01.2019, In: GAIA. 28, 1, p. 55-57 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  33. Published

    Perspectives on comprehensive sustainability-orientation in municipalities: Structuring existing approaches

    Kirst, E. & Lang, D. J., 16.02.2019, In: Sustainability. 11, 4, 21 p., 1040.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  34. Published

    Research on the social perception of invasive species: a systematic literature review

    Kapitza, K., Zimmermann, H., Martín-López, B. & Wehrden, H. V., 14.03.2019, In: NeoBiota. 43, p. 47-68 22 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  35. Published

    Towards more effective and transferable transition experiments: learning through stratification

    Engler, J-O., Zimmermann, H., Lang, D. J., Feller, R. & Wehrden, H., 01.11.2019, In: Sustainability Science. 14, 6, p. 1503-1514 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  36. Published

    Landscape-scale biodiversity governance: Scenarios for reshaping spaces of governance

    Leventon, J., Schaal, T., Velten, S., Loos, J., Fischer, J. & Newig, J., 01.05.2019, In: Environmental Policy and Governance. 29, 3, p. 170-184 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  37. Published

    Key landscape features in the provision of ecosystem services: Insights for management

    Schmidt, K., Martín-López, B., Phillips, P. M., Julius, E., Makan, N. & Walz, A., 01.03.2019, In: Land Use Policy. 82, p. 353-366 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  38. Published
  39. Published

    Forschendes Lernen an der Leuphana Universität Lüneburg: Das Leuphana Semester

    Weiser, A., Hill, M. B., Picht, L., Prien-Ribcke, S., Lübcke, E. & Heudorfer, A., 01.2019, Forschendes Lernen in der Studieneingangsphase: Empirische Befunde, Fallbeispiele und individuelle Perspektiven. Reinmann, G., Lübcke, E. & Heudorfer, A. (eds.). Wiesbaden: Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden, p. 193-207 15 p.

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

  40. Published

    Identifying governance gaps among interlinked sustainability challenges

    Bergsten, A., Jiren, T. S., Leventon, J., Dorresteijn, I., Schultner, J. & Fischer, J., 01.01.2019, In: Environmental Science and Policy. 91, p. 27-38 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  41. Published
  42. Published

    Facilitating collaborative processes in transdisciplinary research using design prototyping

    Peukert, D., Lam, D. P. M., Horcea-Milcu, A. I. & Lang, D. J., 2020, In: Journal of Design Research. 18, 5-6, p. 294-326 33 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  43. Published

    Neue Formate transdisziplinärer Forschung: Ausdifferenzierte Brücken zwischen Wissenschaft und Praxis

    Grunwald, A., Schäfer, M. & Bergmann, M., 22.07.2020, In: GAIA. 29, 2, p. 106-114 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  44. Published

    Die tropischen Zyklone Idai und Fani im Jahr 2019 Naturgewalten im Indischen Ozean

    Samimi, C., Ghosh, A. & Fickert, T., 04.2020, In: Geographische Rundschau. 72, 4, p. 34-37 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  45. Published

    Indigenous and local knowledge in environmental management for human-nature connectedness: a leverage points perspective

    Burgos-Ayala, A., Jiménez-Aceituno, A., Torres-Torres, A. M., Rozas-Vásquez, D. & Lam, D. P. M., 01.12.2020, In: Ecosystems and People. 16, 1, p. 290-303 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  46. Published

    A leverage points perspective on social networks to understand sustainability transformations: evidence from Southern Transylvania

    Lam, D. P. M., Martín-López, B., Horcea-Milcu, A. I. & Lang, D. J., 05.2021, In: Sustainability Science. 16, 3, p. 809-826 18 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  47. Published

    Radverkehrsförderung 3.0: Barrierefrei, netztransparent, digital - Teil 2; Radverkehr, Verkehrsmittelwahl, Stadtverkehr, Verkehrsplanung

    Pez, P. & Seidel, A., 2020, In: Internationales Verkehrswesen. 72, 4, p. 16-20 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  48. Published
  49. Published

    Farmers' perceptions of climate change and adaptation strategies in South Africa's Western Cape

    Talanow, K., Topp, E., Loos, J. & Martín-López, B., 01.01.2021, In: Journal of Rural Studies. 81, p. 203-219 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  50. Published

    Set ambitious goals for biodiversity and sustainability

    Díaz, S., Zafra-Calvo, N., Purvis, A., Verburg, P. H., Obura, D., Leadley, P., Chaplin-Kramer, R., De Meester, L., Dulloo, E., Martín-López, B., Shaw, M. R., Visconti, P., Broadgate, W., Bruford, M. W., Burgess, N. D., Cavender-Bares, J., DeClerck, F., Fernández-Palacios, J. M., Garibaldi, L. A., Hill, S. L. L., Isbell, F., Khoury, C. K., Krug, C. B., Liu, J., Maron, M., McGowan, P. J. K., Pereira, H. M., Reyes-García, V., Rocha, J., Rondinini, C., Shannon, L., Shin, Y-J., Snelgrove, P. V. R., Spehn, E. M., Strassburg, B., Subramanian, S. M., Tewksbury, J. J., Watson, J. E. M. & Zanne, A. E., 23.10.2020, In: Science. 370, 6515, p. 411-413 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review