Sabine Maasen

Prof. Dr. Sabine Maasen is a Professor of Sociology of Science at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and serves as Director of the Munich Center for Technology in Society (MCTS). She is affiliated with the TUM School of Governance and contributes to the Wissenschaftlicher Rat (Scientific Council) of the German Science Council and the Scientific Commission of Lower Saxony.

Education:

• Studied Sociology, Linguistics, and Psychology at Bielefeld University
• PhD in Sociology (1996)
• Habilitation (2001)

Her research focuses on the sociology of science, with a specific emphasis on neuroscience sociology, technoscience, and the societal implications of digital technologies. She explores how neurotechnologies (e.g., neuroprosthetics, neurofeedback) and digital platforms (e.g., Web 2.0) reshape subjectivity and social norms.

Recent publications highlight ethical challenges in large-scale projects like the Human Brain Project, the recontextualization of oxytocin as a "social hormone," and the interplay between technosocial systems and autonomy. Her work bridges neuroscience, sociology, and digital ethics.

Labs/Teams:

• Director, Munich Center for Technology in Society (MCTS)
• Active in interdisciplinary collaborations at TUM School of Governance