Jürgen Hampel

Jürgen Hampel serves as a Research Fellow at the Institute of Social Sciences, specifically within the Chair of Sociology of Technology and Environment at the University of Stuttgart, where he has been employed since 2004. His academic foundation includes a Diploma in Sociology from the University of Mannheim (1978-1985) and a doctorate in Sociology from Freie Universität Berlin (1995).

His educational trajectory is documented as:

• Diploma in Sociology, University of Mannheim (1978-1985)
• Doctorate in Sociology (Dr. phil.), Freie Universität Berlin (1995)

Hampel's research centers on technology perception, technology conflicts, and social dimensions of sustainability, investigating how public attitudes shape and are shaped by emerging technologies. His work critically examines the ethical, environmental, and societal implications of innovations like genetic engineering, digitalization, and neuroenhancement through interdisciplinary lenses, emphasizing risk communication and democratic engagement in technological governance.

Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals consistent focus on public perception metrics across diverse sociotechnical domains, including gene editing, autonomous vehicles, care robotics, and nuclear energy. His methodology prioritizes cross-cultural survey data and qualitative analysis to bridge expert-lay knowledge gaps, with recurring themes of sustainability trade-offs and ethical boundaries in technological adoption across European contexts.

He actively contributes to projects like STEPE (Sensitive Technologies and European Public Ethics), previously engaging with Technikradar PROSO and NERRI, while serving on advisory boards for "Science and you" and the French "the French and Science" survey. His teaching portfolio includes Sociology of Social Change, Sociological Theories, and Technology and Environmental Sociology courses, directly translating research insights into academic instruction.