Center for Structural Change and Regional Development Cluster Social Cohesion and Participation
ZeStuR aims to comprehensively understand the structural change in Lusatia from a coal-mining region to new futures and to accompany this change in both scientific and practical terms. It combines interdisciplinary research with transdisciplinary cooperation in order to develop new ways for a sustainable, democratic and liveable Lusatia together with regional actors. ZeStuR combines various disciplines from faculties 4, 5 and 6 of the BTU Cottbus-Sentenberg in five thematic clusters and is funded by the Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) from November 2025 to October 2030.
A basic assumption is that structural change in Lusatia affects not only the economy, industry and labour, but also the social fabric of the region. Cluster 3 examines how social cohesion, quality of life and participation can be developed and strengthened in the long term in times of profound change.
The focus is on the question of how people, organisations and institutions in Lusatia actively shape change rather than merely enduring it. The research examines biographical experiences, civil society engagement and regional networks that support social cohesion or enable it to emerge anew.
Using methods such as interviews, ethnographic case studies, network analyses and real-world laboratories, the cluster works closely with local actors. The aim is to highlight regional transformation capabilities and to develop new forms of social innovation and participation together with partners.
The Department of Technology and Environmental Sociology researches the social dimensions of socio-ecological transformations – and helps to shape them at the same time. The focus is on participatory and co-design-oriented research that brings together actors from science, politics and civil society. Real-world laboratories and future workshops are giving rise to new forms of social innovation, participation and sustainability – for a fair and adaptive transformation region in Lusatia.
Cluster 3 builds on insights and approaches from the WIRinRegionen project.
The Cluster 3 team (currently being expanded):
Melanie Jaeger-Erben (cluster manager)
Andreas Huber (cluster co-manager)
Erik Burtchen (academic staff member)