Ortwin Renn

Prof. Ortwin Renn is Scientific Director at the International Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS) in Potsdam and holds a professorship in Environmental Sociology and Technology Assessment at the University of Stuttgart. He also serves as Adjunct Professor at Stavanger University (Norway), Honorary Professor at Technical University Munich, and Affiliate Professor at Beijing Normal University. His work focuses on systemic risks, sustainable development, energy policy, and public participation in decision-making processes.

Education: PhD in Social Psychology from the University of Cologne. Notable roles include leadership in the Sustainability Advisory Council of Baden-Württemberg and memberships in multiple national academies including the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina.

Research interests span risk governance frameworks, digitalization impacts, and societal transformations toward sustainability. He has authored over 250 peer-reviewed articles and 30 monographs, including the influential 2008 textbook on risk governance.

• Awards: National Cross of Merit, Order of Merit from Baden-Württemberg
• Advisory roles: EU Science & Technology Advisory Council, German Federal Climate Research Platform
• Led DIALOGIK, a research institute on communication and participation processes