Open BTU focuses on biodiversity and biodiversity conservation

All interested parties are invited to this lecture evening at 5.30 pm in Audimax 1 at the university's main campus in Cottbus. Admission is free. Registration is not required.

1st lecture
Biodiversity protection in times of climate change, AI and drones
The protection of biodiversity must be rethought in the future. Two developments are of particular importance here. Climate change is already altering the behaviour of species and shifting their habitats. According to forecasts, it will therefore become the biggest driver of biodiversity loss within the next 50 years. At the same time, enormous advances in remote sensing - for example through the use of drones and audio devices - combined with artificial intelligence in analysing the collected data are opening up new opportunities for biodiversity conservation. Using our own research work as an example, we will show how we need to rethink and what challenges, but also opportunities, these two new developments bring with them.
Speaker: Prof. Dr Frank Wätzold,
Holder of the Chair of Economics, in particular Environmental Economics at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg

2nd lecture
Urban flowering areas - saviours of biodiversity?
Colourful flowering meadows used to be characteristic elements of our homeland. In the meantime, these habitats have become a rarity throughout Germany. Many plants that once transformed meadows into a sea of colour are now found in vain. Even their names have disappeared from our minds and our language - medicinal cicely, meadow sage, small burnet, blue loosestrife, carthusian pink, lung gentian, lousewort.
Urban green spaces can provide a habitat for species that are rare in today's intensively utilised cultural landscape and thus make a significant contribution to preserving biodiversity. But how can this be done? And what can each individual do?
Speaker: Christina Grätz,
Biologist and Managing Director of Nagola Re GmbH, based in Jänschwalde

Moderator: Stephan Böttcher, City of Cottbus, Head of the Environment and Nature Department

Date: Wednesday, 7 May 2025, 17:30 to 19:00
Location: Audimax 1 at the main campus of BTU, Konrad-Wachsmann-Allee 3, 03046 Cottbus

About the Open BTU lecture series
From 9 April to 2 July 2025, the Open BTU public lecture series will offerinsightsinto exciting areas of knowledge. The following topics will be explored from different perspectives in the summer semester:

• Our soils in Lusatia
• Biodiversity and biodiversity protection (as part of the 33rd Cottbus Environment Week)
• Democracy and hope in the crisis

With this educational format, which is open to all interested parties, the university's Centre for Continuing Education supports lifelong learning and funds the transfer of knowledge and ideas in the region by addressing socially relevant issues. The BTU co-operates with other universities and institutions. Each lecture will be followed by an opportunity for questions and dialogue with the speakers. Anyone interested is cordially invited to take part in the wide range of events on offer.

Find out more about the Open BTU lecture series at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg:
https://www.b-tu.de/weiterbildung/offene-hochschule/open-btu