Joachim Luther was born 1941 in Hanover. He obtained his Ph.D. in nuclear physics at the University of Hanover in 1970. From 1974 to 1993 he taught at the University of Oldenburg as professor for applied physics. His main research topics were oceanographic laser remote sensing and the physics of renewable energy sources. In 1992 he became member of the board of directors of the International Solar Energy Society. From 1993 until 2006 he served as director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems and professor for solid state physics and solar energy at the University of Freiburg. Professor Luther was member of the advisory council to the German Government on Global Change and joined the expert commission of the German Government on Science and Innovation in 2007.