Thomas Scheffer, PhD (1995) in Sociology, University of Bielefeld. Scheffer has directed the research group Comparative Micro-Sociology of Criminal Procedures at the Free University Berlin and has recently received a Heisenberg Scholarship to move to the Humboldt University Berlin. J rg Niew hner, PhD (2001) in Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, works and teaches at the Department of European Ethnology, Humboldt University Berlin. His current comparative ethnographic research focuses on cardiovascular prevention practices in the everyday life of research, clinic and general practice.