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.

 

Professor Kümmerer one of the world's most-cited scientists

Since 2019, Professor John P.A. Ioannidis from Stanford University has been publishing a much-acclaimed ranking that records the world's best approximately 200,000 scientists on the basis of standardised citation indicators. The current evaluation from autumn 2022 looks at citations in 2021 and lists a total of 16 academics from Leuphana University Lüneburg, who can thus count themselves among the 2 percent of the most frequently cited authors in their field worldwide.

Prof. Dr. Klaus Kümmerer is ranked 13th out of a total of 104,983 scientists worldwide in the field of environmental sciences. Measured by citations, he is in first place in Germany.

More information here.

Research Fields

Sustainable Chemistry and Material Resources
Prof. Dr. Klaus Kümmerer

Science Education
Prof. Dr. Simone Abels

Sustainable Chemistry of Renewable Organic Resources
Prof. Dr. Dr. Vânia Zuin Zeidler

New Media and Sustainable Development
Prof. Dr. Andreas Möller

Research

Key topics of our research field are as follows:

  • Sustainable Chemistry and Sustainable Pharmacy
  • Inclusive science education
  • Efficient use of biogenic resources

For further details please refer to the respective webpages of the research groups as well as to the central research database 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

Bachelor Teaching & Learning

Master of Sustainability Sciences

Professional Master of Sustainable Chemistry

Master Education for Secondary Schools

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
  • Material resources
  • Science education

More information on the PhD programs is available here.