Institute of Sustainable Chemistry (INSC)
At the Institute of Sustainable Chemistry the research and teaching activities focus on Environmental Chemistry as well as Sustainable Chemistry. Environmental Chemistry focuses on studies regarding the environmental fate and behaviour of already existing chemicals, Sustainable Chemistry develops in a more holistic approach solutions that meet the criteria of sustainability.
In addition, the Institute for Sustainable Chemistry is also home to the didactics of natural sciences with its research and teaching activities in the profession of chemistry, biology and science education with the reference subject of natural sciences.
Please feel free to contact the directors of the Institute of Sustainable Chemistry via email:
Prof Dr Dr Vânia Zuin Zeidler (Director)
Prof Dr Simone Abels (Deputy Director)
Among the top 2% global researcher
The INSC professors - Prof. Vânia Zuin Zeidler and Prof. Klaus Kümmerer - are included in the new Top 2% global researcher list published by Elsevier-Scopus and Stanford University, published in 2025. Further information can be founde here.
Research Fields
Science Education
Prof. Dr. Simone Abels
Sustainable Chemistry of Renewable Organic Resources
Prof. Dr. Dr. Vânia Zuin Zeidler
Research
Key topics of our research field are as follows:
- Sustainable Chemistry and Sustainable Pharmacy
- Green and Sustainable Analytical Chemistry
- Sustainable Food Systems
- Sustainable Toys
- Efficient use of biogenic resources
- Inclusive science education
For further details, please refer to the respective webpages of the research groups, as well as to the central research portal and the personal webpages of each scientist at our institute.
Study Programmes
Study sustainability sciences and/or teaching with a science subject at Leuphana!
Many questions of sustainability involve substances and material resources. Thus, environmental chemistry, sustainable chemistry and material resources are integral part of our Bachelor and Master courses. In addition, subject-specific and subject-didactic basics along the curricula of the respective subjects are also central components in the teacher training subjects. There is a strong focus on inclusive pedagogy and digital media.
At the Institute of Sustainable and Environmental Chemistry the following study courses are being offered:
Bachelor Environmental Sciences
Master of Sustainability Sciences: Resources, Materials and Chemistry
PhD Studies
After completion of the Master's programme, there is the possibility of obtaining a doctorate with the degree of "Dr. rer. nat.", in subject didactics also "Dr. phil", in the following subjects:
- Environmental Chemistry
- Sustainable Chemistry
- Green and Sustainable Analytical Chemistry
- Material resources
- Sustainable Food Science
- Science education
- Green and Sustainable Analytical Chemistry
More information on the PhD programs is available here.