Forensics lecture provides insights into crime scene work

An exciting lecture by forensic expert Prof. Dr Wolfgang Spyra is on the programme of the public series "Forensic Sciences: Tracking down the crime" on Friday, 21 November 2025 at 5:30 pm at the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU).

The current event is entitled "Searching for old corpses in water, forests and floodplains". All interested parties are invited to attend free of charge in the large lecture theatre at the university's main campus in Cottbus, Konrad-Zuse-Straße 4. Registration is not required.

In forensics, crime scene work plays a central role in the investigation process. Evaluating and analysing evidence in the context of forensic work is often difficult. Forensic knowledge, which can also be used by examiners in the private sector, is of particular relevance here.

Professor Spyra is particularly adept at developing forensic science in the face of new challenges. He combines experience and expertise and demonstrates this using the example of three cases. Under his expert supervision and judgement, corpse searches were carried out that brought astonishing things to light.

Moderator: Franziska Steinhauer, writer and crime novelist from Cottbus
Date: Friday, 21 November 2025, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Location: Large lecture theatre at the BTU main campus, Konrad-Zuse-Straße 4, 03046 Cottbus

Organised by the Centre for Continuing Education and the Forensic Sciences and Engineering Master's programme at BTU.

About the Forensic Sciences and Engineering study programme
The Forensic Sciences and Engineering study programme, which leads to a Master of Science degree, is unique in Germany as an extra-occupational continuing education course at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg. The seminars in the forensic science study programme focus on crime scene work, investigative procedures and the evaluation of evidence as well as its analysis in the context of its successful use in court.
The programme is a transdisciplinary academic course at BTU. Forensic knowledge, which can also be used by examiners in the private sector, also characterises the teaching programme. Overall, forensic science is facing new challenges: The pace of methodological, technical and scientific developments is characterised by digitalisation, new international and European trends, which are pushing law enforcement authorities and examiners, who have so far mostly acted nationally, to their limits.
Forensic Sciences and Engineering at BTU is taking on these challenges and is expanding its teaching profile from the winter semester 2025/2026 by offering specialisation certificates in fire investigation, handwriting, white-collar crime and the special area of chemical and biological substances. People who do not have the prerequisites for a Master's degree programme are nevertheless given the unique opportunity to continue their university education in these specialist areas.

The flyer for the lecture series:
https://www-docs.b-tu.de/fg-umweltrecht/public/Forensik/2025_2026/For_Flyer_Ringvorl_2025_V01.pdf

Specialist contact

Dr. rer. pol. Dirk Marx
Dekanat Fakultät 5
T +49 (0) 355 69-3139
dirk.marx(at)b-tu.de

Press contact

Ralf-Peter Witzmann
Kommunikation und Marketing
T +49 (0) 3573 85-283
ralf-peter.witzmann(at)b-tu.de
Prof. Dr Wolfgang Spyra. Photo: BTU, Ralf Schuster
Symbol for a crime scene. Photo: Uli Ulrich