10 years BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg: Many colorful activities and good reasons to celebrate

Colorful and multifaceted is the best way to describe the first part of the festival in Cottbus, which attracted many guests to the campus: Konrad-Wachsmann-Allee invited people to take a stroll. Balloons in BTU colors shone wherever you looked. Everywhere there was something going on, they marked places and paths, along Universitätsstraße, on Konrad-Wachsmann-Allee, in front of the main building, at the IKMZ. The large bouncy castle at the Startblock B2 business incubator also signaled to young and old: Something is going on here!

You bet there was something going on here! There was plenty to discover along Konrad-Wachmann-Allee. Parents could try out games like rain barrel pong or flunkyball together with their children. The highlight for the younger ones was face painting, while the older ones enjoyed taking a closer look at the OpenCreativeLab in the starting block. If you went into teaching building 1C, the atmosphere was concentrated and dominated by mathematical puzzles: The youngest of the family was sitting in his stroller at the table while his dad was solving the puzzle. Riddles also enticed visitors to the BTU4FUTURE stand, where they communicated climate protection in a student-friendly way. Or was it the improv theater "Stage 8" that attracted attention? Or was it the sports? On the sports field, students from Cottbus high schools competed in beach volleyball and soccer enthusiasts in several tournaments. For those who wanted to learn something new, perhaps the guided tours through the university library or lectures and experiments on exciting topics from the world of science had top priority. Those who were interested in studying at the BTU also got their money's worth: they could get answers to their questions and advice at booths of the student advisory service, various study programs and the dual study program.

In parallel to all these offerings and the hustle and bustle at various locations, an entertaining program with numerous actors on the large stage ensured a good mood at the forum until late in the evening. The physical well-being was also taken care of with coffee and cake, drinks, hearty snacks and ice cream. Whether it was the choir of the Max-Steenbeck-Gymnasium, the Collegium Musicum of the BTU, Indian students who showed their dancing skills in a spirited performance, or the party until midnight - the diverse program was very well received by the audience from the BTU, Cottbus and the region.

But what would a university anniversary be without honors and recognition of achievements? In the afternoon, all BTU members were invited to the ceremony, where Brandenburg's Minister President Dr. Dietmar Woidke gave the welcoming address and emphasized the importance of the BTU in times of climate change and the energy transition. BTU founding president and current Minister of Economic Affairs of the state Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jörg Steinbach gave the auditorium insights into the first years after the reestablishment, enriched with personal experiences and anecdotes. In her speech, BTU President Prof. Dr. Gesinde Grande described the BTU as "a Lusatian miracle" and proudly and succinctly described the BTU in comparison to other universities with the words: "We're not the biggest, but we're growing faster than all the others." For this, she asked the Minister President for appropriate support from the state government.

Among the honors was undoubtedly the graduation ceremony, during which the prizes of the Förderverein der BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg e.V. were awarded: Two best dissertations, six master's theses and six bachelor's theses were awarded.

On the BTU campus in Senftenberg, BTU President Prof. Dr. Gesine Grande, Mayor Andreas Pfeiffer and the District Administrator of the Oberspreewald-Lausitz district Siegurd Heinze already welcomed on the stage provided by the city in the morning of July 8. Until the evening, there was a varied program here, also moderated by Daniel Friedrich - with the shanty choir "Die Seebären", a band from the instrumental and vocal pedagogy course, with Peter Apelt and Nicole in duet, popular music by Johannes Schöne, a fashion show and oriental dances, the Senftenberg band Diva. The science and poetry slam organized by students focused on topics such as the photography of distant celestial bodies or the successful participation of the student team Lausitz Dynamics in one of the world's largest energy efficiency competitions. Open doors to laboratories, studios and lecture halls, experiments, interesting lectures - the multi-faceted supporting program with hands-on science, music dance, sports and culinary delights appealed to all generations. Despite the heat, the anniversary celebration was well attended, and both visitors and participants were pleased with the success of the event.

Guided tours of the campus, through the chemical laboratories and the Efficient Factory Center, a physical-chemical experiment show from the Unex student laboratory, hands-on electrical engineering, a journey into the world of microorganisms or an excursion on a smoothie bike were just some of the many highlights. They also included an alcohol goggles course, a medical technology safari, a digital anatomy quiz, the imparting of "midwifery knowledge for all", suggestions for do-it-yourself home remedies that are as strong as a bear. And of course, comprehensive information was provided about the future-oriented range of courses offered by the BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, including the course of study for primary school teachers, which will start in the upcoming winter semester, and the dual course of study. The 50 mostly young participants in the campus rally had to pay close attention at the various stations. At the end, six attractive prizes, including a tablet and two Senftenberg vouchers, awaited the winners.

The program was also supported by the theater neue Bühne Senftenberg, the WIR! alliance Land-Innovation-Lausitz, the Lausitzer Biotch e.V., the Techniker Krankenkasse and the well-known Spreewaldwirt Peter Franke. In the area of the library there was a special children's program with handicraft street and bouncy castle, musical instruments to try out, as well as a book market and a photo exhibition. Numerous sporting activities and demonstrations rounded off the program. Line dance, rock 'n' roll by prospective therapy scientists, a presentation of Senftenberg sports clubs including and the bicycle ball youth from Großkoschen were some of the highlights.

Numerous students and regional suppliers ensured that The Culinary Mile with local and international specialties became another major attraction of the BTU anniversary festival. The free water bar offered by the Lausitz Water Association was also very popular.
In the run-up to the anniversary event in Senftenberg, an afternoon of water sports on the Niemtscher lake beach set the mood for the festival, and an exhibition of atmospheric photographs of Lake Senftenberg was opened in the media library with around 40 visitors. Those who have not yet been able to view the impressions of Sandra Eberhardt have the opportunity to do so until September 30 during the opening hours of the library.