Ortwin Renn

Ortwin Renn is a sociologist and economist. He studied economics, sociology and social psychology and received his doctorate from the University of Cologne. He worked as a researcher and university teacher in Germany, the United States and Switzerland. At the University of Stuttgart, he taught environmental and technical sociology and directed the Center for Interdisciplinary Risk and Innovation Research (ZIRIUS). From 2006 to 2012, he chaired the Sustainability Advisory Council of the state of Baden-Württemberg; he also served on the Ethics Commission on the future of energy supply. His research focused on risk analysis, public participation, and social and technological change toward sustainable development. Renn published numerous scholarly works and books, including *Risk Governance* and *Das Risikoparadox*. His distinctions included the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, First Class, and an honorary doctorate from ETH Zurich.