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.

  1. 2021
  2. Published

    Leverage points for sustainability transformations: nine guiding questions for sustainability science and practice

    Leventon, J., Abson, D. J. & Lang, D. J., 05.2021, In: Sustainability Science. 16, 3, p. 721-726 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsOther (editorial matter etc.)Research

  3. Published

    A review of fire effects across South American ecosystems: the role of climate and time since fire

    Giorgis, M. A., Zeballos, S. R., Carbone, L., Zimmermann, H., von Wehrden, H., Aguilar, R., Ferreras, A. E., Tecco, P. A., Kowaljow, E., Barri, F., Gurvich, D. E., Villagra, P. & Jaureguiberry, P., 23.04.2021, In: Fire Ecology. 17, 1, 20 p., 11.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  4. Published

    Ecosystem service mapping needs to capture more effectively the biodiversity important for service supply

    Ceausu, S., Apaza-Quevedo, A., Schmid, M., Martín-López, B., Cortés-Avizanda, A., Maes, J., Brotons, L., Queiroz, C. & Pereira, H. M., 01.04.2021, In: Ecosystem Services. 48, 10 p., 101259.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Governance Challenges at the Interface of Food Security and Biodiversity Conservation: A Multi-Level Case Study from Ethiopia

    Jiren, T. S., Leventon, J., Jager, N. W., Dorresteijn, I., Schultner, J., Senbeta, F., Bergsten, A. & Fischer, J., 04.2021, In: Environmental Management. 67, 4, p. 717-730 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Transdisziplinäre Forschung mit transformativem Anspruch Zehn Jahre NaWis: Rückblick und Vorausschau

    Lang, D. J., Renn, O., Rehm, A. & Ernst, A., 25.03.2021, In: GAIA. 30, 1, p. 51-53 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  7. Published

    Transdisciplinary sustainability research in real-world labs: success factors and methods for change

    Bergmann, M., Schäpke, N., Marg, O., Stelzer, F., Lang, D. J., Bossert, M., Gantert, M., Häußler, E., Marquardt, E., Piontek, F. M., Potthast, T., Rhodius, R., Rudolph, M., Ruddat, M., Seebacher, A. & Sußmann, N., 01.03.2021, In: Sustainability Science. 16, 2, p. 541-564 24 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    A pluralistic and integrated approach to action-oriented knowledge for sustainability

    Caniglia, G., Lüderitz, C., von Wirth, T., Fazey, I., Martín-López, B., Hondrila, K., König, A., Wehrden, H., Schäpke, N., Laubichler, M. D. & Lang, D. J., 02.2021, In: Nature Sustainability. 4, 2, p. 93-100 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. Published

    Engineered Societies

    Flack, J. C. & Laubichler, M. D., 2021, Worlds Hidden in Plain Sight: Thirty Years of Complexity Thinking at the Santa Fe Institute 1984-2019. Krakauer, D. C. (ed.). The Santa FE Institute Presse (SFI), p. 257-264 8 p.

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

  12. Published

    Low-Profit im Kontext der UN-Nachhaltigkeitsziele

    Fahrbach, C. & Weiser, A., 2021, Wirtschaft neu lehren: Erfahrungen aus der pluralen, sozioökonomischen Hochschulbildung. Urban, J., Schröder, L-M., Hantke, H. & Bäuerle, L. (eds.). Wiesbaden: Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden, p. 107-124 18 p. (Sozioökonomische Bildung und Wissenschaft).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  13. Published

    NachhaltigZeit: Ein Bildungsangebot zur Förderung von Zeitgestaltungskompetenz

    Grauer, C., Fischer, D. & Frank, P., 2021, Hamar, Norwegen: Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences. 34 p. (Images and Objects - Active Methodology Toolkit #12; vol. 12)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCompendium/lecture notesEducation

  14. Published

    SusTimeAbility: An educational approach to promoting time shaping competence

    Grauer, C., Fischer, D. & Frank, P., 2021, Hamar, Norway: Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences. 34 p. (Images and Objects - Active Methodology Tookit #12; vol. 12)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCompendium/lecture notesEducation

  15. Submitted

    Transdisciplinary Partnerships for Developing Sustainable Food Forests

    Albrecht, S., Wiek, A. & Friedel, A., 2021, (Submitted) In: GAIA.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  16. 2020
  17. Published
  18. 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

  19. Published

    Transforming knowledge systems for life on Earth: Visions of future systems and how to get there

    Fazey, I., Schäpke, N., Caniglia, G., Hodgson, A., Kendrick, I., Lyon, C., Page, G., Patterson, J., Riedy, C., Strasser, T., Verveen, S., Adams, D., Goldstein, B., Klaes, M., Leicester, G., Linyard, A., McCurdy, A., Ryan, P., Sharpe, B., Silvestri, G., Abdurrahim, A. Y., Abson, D., Adetunji, O. S., Aldunce, P., Alvarez-Pereira, C., Amparo, J. M., Amundsen, H., Anderson, L., Andersson, L., Asquith, M., Augenstein, K., Barrie, J., Bent, D., Bentz, J., Bergsten, A., Berzonsky, C., Bina, O., Blackstock, K., Boehnert, J., Bradbury, H., Brand, C., Böhme, J., Bøjer, M. M., Carmen, E., Charli-Joseph, L., Choudhury, S., Chunhachoti-ananta, S., Cockburn, J., Colvin, J., Connon, I. L. C., Cornforth, R., Cox, R. S., Cradock-Henry, N., Cramer, L., Cremaschi, A., Dannevig, H., Day, C. T., de Lima Hutchison, C., de Vrieze, A., Desai, V., Dolley, J., Duckett, D., Durrant, R. A., Egermann, M., Elsner (Adams), E., Fremantle, C., Fullwood-Thomas, J., Galafassi, D., Gobby, J., Golland, A., González-Padrón, S. K., Gram-Hanssen, I., Grandin, J., Grenni, S., Lauren Gunnell, J., Gusmao, F., Hamann, M., Harding, B., Harper, G., Hesselgren, M., Hestad, D., Heykoop, C. A., Holmén, J., Holstead, K., Hoolohan, C., Horcea-Milcu, A. I., Horlings, L. G., Howden, S. M., Howell, R. A., Huque, S. I., Inturias Canedo, M. L., Iro, C. Y., Ives, C. D., John, B., Joshi, R., Juarez-Bourke, S., Juma, D. W., Karlsen, B. C., Kliem, L., Kläy, A., Kuenkel, P., Kunze, I., Lam, D., Lang, D. J., Larkin, A., Light, A., Luederitz, C., Luthe, T., Maguire, C., Mahecha-Groot, A. M., Malcolm, J., Marshall, F., Maru, Y., McLachlan, C., Mmbando, P., Mohapatra, S., Moore, M. L., Moriggi, A., Morley-Fletcher, M., Moser, S., Mueller, K. M., Mukute, M., Mühlemeier, S., Naess, L. O., Nieto-Romero, M., Novo, P., ÓBrien, K., O'Connell, D. A., O'Donnell, K., Olsson, P., Pearson, K. R., Pereira, L., Petridis, P., Peukert, D., Phear, N., Pisters, S. R., Polsky, M., Pound, D., Preiser, R., Rahman, M. S., Reed, M. S., Revell, P., Rodriguez, I., Rogers, B. C., Rohr, J., Nordbø Rosenberg, M., Ross, H., Russell, S., Ryan, M., Saha, P., Schleicher, K., Schneider, F., Scoville-Simonds, M., Searle, B., Sebhatu, S. P., Sesana, E., Silverman, H., Singh, C., Sterling, E., Stewart, S. J., Tàbara, J. D., Taylor, D., Thornton, P., Tribaldos, T. M., Tschakert, P., Uribe-Calvo, N., Waddell, S., Waddock, S., van der Merwe, L., van Mierlo, B., van Zwanenberg, P., Velarde, S. J., Washbourne, C. L., Waylen, K., Weiser, A., Wight, I., Williams, S., Woods, M., Wolstenholme, R., Wright, N., Wunder, S., Wyllie, A. & Young, H. R., 01.12.2020, In: Energy Research and Social Science. 70, 18 p., 101724.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  20. Published

    What are the ingredients for food systems change towards sustainability? - Insights from the literature

    Weber, H., Pöggel, K., Eakin, H., Fischer, D., Lang, D. J., Wehrden, H. & Wiek, A., 01.11.2020, In: Environmental Research Letters. 15, 11, 17 p., 113001.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  21. 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

  22. Published

    Capacity building for transformational leadership and transdisciplinarity

    Barth, M., Bruhn, A., Lam, D., Bergmann, M. & Lang, D. J., 15.10.2020, In: GAIA - Ecological Perspectives for Science and Societa. 29, 3, p. 195-197 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  23. Published

    From niche to mainstream: the dilemmas of scaling up sustainable alternatives

    Augenstein, K., Bachmann, B., Egermann, M., Hermelingmeier, V., Hilger, A., Jäger-Erben, M., Kessler, A., Lam, D., Palzkill, A., Suski, P. & von Wirth, T., 15.10.2020, In: GAIA - Ecological Perspectives for Science and Societa. 29, 3, p. 143-147 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  24. Published

    Advancing Decision-Visualization Environments—Empirically informed Design Recommendations

    John, B., Lang, D. J., von Wehrden, H., John, R. & Wiek, A., 01.10.2020, In: Futures. 123, 102614.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  25. Published

    Impacts of alternative land-use policies on water ecosystem services in the Río Grande de Comitán-Lagos de Montebello watershed, Mexico

    Ávila-García, D., Morató, J., Pérez-Maussán, A. I., Santillán-Carvantes, P., Alvarado, J. & Comín, F. A., 01.10.2020, In: Ecosystem Services. 45, 14 p., 101179.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  26. Published

    Towards a more sustainable metal use – Lessons learned from national strategy documents

    Weiser, A., Bickel, M., Kümmerer, K. & Lang, D. J., 01.10.2020, In: Resources Policy. 68, 12 p., 101770.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  27. 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

  28. 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

  29. 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

  30. 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

  31. 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

  32. Published

    Biosphere reserves' management effectiveness-A systematic literature review and a research agenda

    Ferreira, A. F., Zimmermann, H., Santos, R. & von Wehrden, H., 01.07.2020, In: Sustainability. 12, 12, 31 p., 5497.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  33. Published

    Deconstructing a 2-year long transdisciplinary sustainability project in Northern universities: is rhetorical nobility obscuring procedural and political discords?

    Ghosh, A., 01.07.2020, In: Sustainability Science. 15, 4, p. 1111-1127 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  34. Published

    Ethik

    Oermann, N. O., 07.2020, In: Theologische Literaturzeitung. 2020, 7, p. 716-717 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsCritical reviewsTransfer

  35. Published

    Scaling the impact of sustainability initiatives: a typology of amplification processes

    Lam, D. P. M., Martín-López, B., Wiek, A., Bennett, E. M., Frantzeskaki, N., Horcea-Milcu, A. I. & Lang, D. J., 14.05.2020, In: Urban Transformations. 2, 1, 24 p., 3.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  36. Published

    Leverage points for sustainability transformation: a review on interventions in food and energy systems

    Dorninger, C., Abson, D. J., Apetrei, C. I., Derwort, P., Ives, C. D., Klaniecki, K., Lam, D., Langsenlehner, M., Riechers, M., Spittler, N. & von Wehrden, H., 01.05.2020, In: Ecological Economics. 171, 9 p., 106570.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  37. 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

  38. Published

    Indigenous and local knowledge in sustainability transformations research: a literature review

    Lam, D., Hinz, E., Lang, D. J., Tengö, M., Wehrden, H. V. & Martín-López, B., 03.2020, In: Ecology and Society. 25, 1, 25 p., 3.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  39. Published

    Research pathways to foster transformation: linking sustainability science and social-ecological systems research

    Horcea-Milcu, A-I., Martín-López, B., Lam, D. & Lang, D. J., 03.2020, In: Ecology and Society. 25, 1, 29 p., 13.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  40. Published

    Linking large-scale and small-scale distribution patterns of steppe plant species—An example using fourth-corner analysis

    Treiber, J., von Wehrden, H., Zimmermann, H., Welk, E., Jäger, E. J., Ronnenberg, K. & Wesche, K., 01.02.2020, In: Flora: Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants. 263, 8 p., 151553.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  41. 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

  42. Published
  43. 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

  44. 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

  45. Published
  46. 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

  47. Published
  48. 2019
  49. Published
  50. 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

  51. 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

  52. Published
  53. 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