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Prof. Jens O. Zinn

Research Fellow

About

Jens is an Australian/German sociologist who is working in interdisciplinary risk studies. He initiated research networks on the sociology of risk and uncertainty within the European Sociological Association (2005) and the International Sociological Association (2006) and headed these for many years. In 2015 the Alexander von Humboldt foundation granted him the Friedrich-Wilhelm Bessel Award for his scholarly achievements.

During his stay at the WI he explores the ways how people navigate the risky uncertainties of sociotechnical systems. For this purpose, he utilises conceptual work on people’s modes of everyday reasoning as well as insights from new phenomenology on embodied and reflexive forms of knowledge.

Jens’ sociological and interdisciplinary work examines the ways how risk and uncertainty are understood and dealt with. On a discourse semantic level, he explores long term changes in the understanding and practical relevance of concepts. On a micro level his work conceptualises the understanding and responses to risky uncertainties in everyday life and how these are shaped by social contexts.

Research Group: Digitalization and Networked Security (01.01. - 28.02.2025 and 01.06. - 30.06.2025)

Contact

Organisation
University of Melbourne
Socials

Fields of Research

Sociology of Risk and Uncertainty