Julia Hahn

Dr. Julia Hahn is a Scientific Associate at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), working within the Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS) in the Research Group 'Sociotechnical Futures and Policies'. She serves as co-project leader for the 'Participatory Procedures and Processes in Research Organizations' (PaFo) project and leads the HGF project 'Airborne transmission of the SARS coronavirus – from basic research to efficient air purification systems (CORAERO)'. Her work spans across multiple institutions including German Electron Synchrotron (DESY), German Aerospace Center (DLR), and other Helmholtz Association members.

Dr. Hahn completed her doctorate in 2019 at KIT's Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences with her thesis 'Towards a Global Technology Assessment - Insights from Cases in Germany, China, India and Beyond'. She earned her Master's degree in Applied Cultural Studies from Leuphana University Lüneburg in 2010, followed by a research assistant position there before joining ITAS in 2011.

Her research focuses on the intersection of technology, society, and governance, with particular emphasis on global technology assessment frameworks. She examines how participatory procedures can enhance technology assessment processes and influence research agendas. Her work explores responsible research and innovation (RRI) from both theoretical and practical perspectives, analyzing how different institutional contexts shape approaches to responsibility in science and technology. Dr. Hahn investigates policy engagement mechanisms that connect scientific knowledge with decision-making processes, particularly during crises and periods of rapid technological change. Her research often addresses the challenges of transnational technology governance in an increasingly interconnected world.

Analysis of Dr. Hahn's recent publications reveals strong thematic continuity in technology assessment methodology, with increasing attention to crisis contexts and pandemic response. Her work demonstrates a clear evolution from national to global technology assessment frameworks, with growing emphasis on comparative international studies. The publications show consistent interdisciplinary collaboration across social sciences, engineering, and health disciplines, reflecting her commitment to transdisciplinary approaches. Recent work increasingly integrates digital methods like bibliometric analysis while maintaining strong theoretical grounding in sociotechnical systems theory.

Dr. Hahn has been instrumental in several significant projects including 'Piloting RRI in Industry' (PRISMA), 'Responsible Industry', 'Responsible Research and Innovation in Practice' (RRI Practice), and the 'Citizens' Dialogue on Future Technologies'. Her project work demonstrates consistent engagement with both theoretical frameworks and practical implementation of technology assessment methodologies. She has contributed to multiple European collaborative projects including PACITA (Parliaments and Civil Society in Technology Assessment), showing her commitment to strengthening democratic technology governance across borders.

As part of her role at ITAS, Dr. Hahn contributes to the institute's mission of conducting integrated technology assessment that provides 'continuous reflection' for research projects, analyzing social, legal, and ethical implications while considering public trust and acceptance. Her work with the globalTA network demonstrates her commitment to international collaboration in technology assessment.