Jürgen Renn

Prof. Jürgen Renn is a Director at the Max Planck Institute for Geoanthropology in Jena (MPIGEA) and the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science in Berlin (MPIWG). His research focuses on long-term knowledge developments, globalization, and the coevolution of the technosphere with Earth's systems. He leads the Department of Structural Change in the Technosphere, combining historical perspectives with complex adaptive systems analysis to explore Anthropocene dynamics.

• Affiliations: MPIGEA (Jena), MPIWG (Berlin)

Research interests include understanding how human-made systems interact with natural environments, with a focus on historical dynamics and global transformations. His work bridges disciplines like environmental science, archaeology, and digital humanities.

Recent articles explore topics such as tropical deforestation, urban inequality comparisons between ancient Rome and modern cities, and digitalization's role in the Anthropocene. His 2024 monograph addresses knowledge's role in global historical shifts.

Scientific awards include the Gustav Neuenschwander Prize and honorary doctorates from Tel Aviv and Hebrew Universities. He is a Leopoldina member and AAAS Fellow.

As a department director, he oversees interdisciplinary collaborations and research initiatives. His work contributes to understanding sustainable pathways in the Anthropocene through historical and systemic analyses.