Prof. Renn is currently Director of the non-profit company DIALOGIK, a research institute for the investigation of communication and participation processes in environmental policy making and full Professor and Chair of Environmental Sociology of the State University in Stuttgart (Germany).
Director of the Interdisciplinary Research Unit on Risk, Sustainable Technology Development and Governance at the university. He holds a Diploma in sociology, economics, and journalism, Ph.D. in social psychology. Awards and honors : „Fellow“ : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) ; “Fellow” : Society for Risk Analysis (SRA) ; Member of the panel on “citizen participation” of the U.S.-National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C. ; ordinary member of the Berlin- Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and of the European Academy of Science and Arts ; Outstanding Publication Award from the Environment and Technology Section of the American Sociological Association. State’s Commission for Sustainable Development, the Scientific Advisory Board of the Foundation ”Precautionary Risk Management” (Chair), the State Board for Higher Education and the Environmental Committee of the National Catholic as well as Protestant Church. Publications : more than 30 book publications and 250 articles in journals and edited volumes.