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Faculty 5
Chair of Sociology of Technology and the Environment Univ.-Prof. Dr. phil. Melanie Jaeger-Erben

Centre for Structural Change and Regional Development – ZESTUR Cluster 3 – Social cohesion and participation

ZESTUR aims to gain a comprehensive understanding of the structural transformation of Lusatia from a coal-mining region towards new futures, and to support this process both academically and through practical, proactive measures. In doing so, it combines interdisciplinary research with transdisciplinary collaboration to develop, together with regional stakeholders, new pathways towards a sustainable, democratic and liveable Lusatia. ZESTUR brings together various disciplines from Faculties 4, 5 and 6 of the BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg in five thematic clusters and is funded by the Ministry of Research, Technology and Space from November 2025 to October 2030.

A fundamental assumption is that structural change in Lusatia affects not only the economy, industry and employment, but also the region’s social fabric. Cluster 3 investigates how social cohesion, quality of life and participation develop in times of profound change and how they can be strengthened in the long term.

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, civic engagement and regional networks that underpin social cohesion or give rise to new forms of it.

Using methods such as interviews, ethnographic case studies, network analyses and real-world laboratories, the cluster works closely with local stakeholders. The aim is to highlight regional capacities for transformation and to develop new forms of social innovation and participation in collaboration with partners.

The Sociology of Technology and the Environment chair investigates the societal dimensions of socio-ecological transformations – whilst also helping to shape them. The focus is on participatory and co-design-oriented research that brings together stakeholders from academia, politics and civil society. Through real-world laboratories and future workshops, new forms of social innovation, participation and sustainability are emerging – for a just and adaptive Lausitz region undergoing transformation.

Cluster 3 builds on the findings and approaches of the WIRinRegionen project.

The Cluster 3 team:

The ZESTUR Transfer Team includes, amongst others:

Further information on the overall project can be found here: www.zestur.de and www.b-tu.de/zestur