News about the environmental management at the BTU

Lusatia is set to become a hub for the battery industry of the future: with the launch of the collaborative project “HERES – BTU Centre of Excellence for High-Tech and Energy Materials and Their Recycling in Senftenberg”, BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg is establishing a research platform – unique in eastern Germany – dedicated to the sustainable recycling of materials essential to technology.

Since last year, the first commemorative plaque honouring a Black woman has been installed as part of the ‘FrauenOrte Brandenburg’ initiative: on 9 July 2025, the 50th ‘FrauenOrt’ dedicated to Bilillee Machbuba was unveiled at the BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg. This ‘FrauenOrt’ has now been expanded to include a film and an audio walking tour.

As part of the General Studies module (FÜS), students, under the guidance of Prof. Klaus Birkhofer, examined the global decline in biodiversity, human-wildlife conflicts and the country’s colonial past.

How can endangered craft knowledge be preserved? BTU researchers and regional initiatives are focussing on personal stories: At the blueprint weekend in the Wendish-German Museum of Local History in Jänschwalde/Janšojce, the storytelling café becomes a living archive - and brings generations into dialogue.

Big stage for big ideas: Yesterday evening in Cottbus, the winners of the region's biggest pitch event were chosen - from innovative garage over design algae panels to special sleeping bags for babies.