Prof. Dr. Dr. Sebastian Braun is University professor and Director of the Research Centre for Civic Engagement at the University of Paderborn (2003-2008). As a member of the excellence programme “Emmy Noether” of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, National Research Council), he did research at the Centre for Civil Society (CCS) of the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and at the Institut de la Recherche sur les Sociétés Contemporaines (IRESCO) of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) in Paris. Before, he worked in the Study Commission “Future of Civic Activities” of the German Parliament in Berlin. Braun did his habilitation at the University of Potsdam. He holds a Ph.D. in philosophy (Dr. phil.) from the Free University of Berlin (FU) and a Ph.D. in sociology (docteur en sociologie) from the University of Nantes (co-tutelle de thèse). In 2001 he won the scientific award “Otto Wolff von Amerongen” of the Club of Cologne. Braun’s research interests include civic engagement, non-profit organisations, corporate citizenship and social capital. His work has focussed e.g. on the recruitment of elites, labour market policy, voluntary sector and sport.