Dr. Torsten Grothmann is a senior scientist at the University of Oldenburg. His research focuses on social aspects of adaptation to climate change. Within the project nordwest2050 he assesses governance factors and develops governance mechanisms relevant for climate change adaptation. Furthermore, he consults the German government in advancing its national adaptation strategy.

From 2007 to 2012 Torsten Grothmann worked at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, where he led several projects on assessments of climate change impacts, vulnerability and adaptation options in developed and developing countries. From 2006 to 2008 he coordinated the project “ErKlim – Success factors for climate change mitigation and adaptation” at the University of Oldenburg and developed communication and participation strategies to encourage mitigation of and adaptation to climate change. From 2001 to 2005 he wrote his dissertation on determinants of private households' behavior to prevent damage from climate change and weather extremes and led the adaptation part of the to-date most comprehensive study on Germany's vulnerability to climate change.

Torsten Grothmann studied psychology, philosophy and business administration at the University of Bielefeld, the Free University of Berlin and the University of California, Irvine.

His research focuses on social vulnerability and strategies for adapting to climate change (in cities, regions and at national levels), participatory governance and social learning, risk communication (e.g. for fostering disaster mitigation), and specific research questions from environmental and social psychology (risk perception, control beliefs, decision making under uncertainty, behavioral change, cross-cultural differences).