The hands-on project "Discover soil" provides information

Following the first information events with very good public participation and lively discussions, the dates for Welzow and Spremberg have now been set:

• Monday, February 26, 2024 in Welzow: 5-6 p.m., Archäotechnisches Zentrum Welzow e.V., Fabrikstraße 2
• Monday, March 4, 2024 in Spremberg: 5-6 p.m., Volkssolidarität contact café, Georgenstraße 37

The information events will explain to all interested parties what the joint work of scientists and citizens as part of the "Discovering Soil" project is all about. The specific tasks of the participants will be explained. To this end, BTU scientists from the Research Center for Landscape Development and Post-Mining Landscapes (FZLB) come to the places where the investigations are to take place.

Afterwards, practical workshops on soil identification and detailed instructions will provide the soil explorers with the necessary tools: test kits and a mobile app will be used to evaluate initial soil profiles.

The introductory workshop will take place on Saturday, April 20, 2024 in the clubhouse of the Heimatverein Terpe e.V., Pulsberger Weg 1, 03130 Spremberg.

Afterwards, small teams will go on an expedition on site. Around 100 investigation points will be selected for which you can choose. These will take the soil explorers to young soils that were created after open-cast mining, but also to disused farmland or pine forests and mixed forests. The survey results are published in a map on the project website. The processed soil data will form the basis for further discussions with local communities, landowners and land users, and for discussing with the public how Lusatian soils are doing and how they can be used sensibly.

The background

"Discovering Soil" is the name of a new project at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg that relies on the help of the public: By involving many interested people in the investigations, the aim is to focus on environmental awareness and the sensible use of Lusatian soils. To this end, interested citizens and families will become soil research teams.

The two-year project, which is funded by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) with around 360,000 euros, aims to raise awareness for sustainable land use and better protection of the soils in the Lusatian mining area.