Counter-forensics: global historical investigation of state crimes

All interested parties are invited to attend free of charge in lecture theatre 1A at the university's main campus in Cottbus. Registration is not required. The lecture will be held in English and will be translated live into German.

Counter-Forensics is a public awareness campaign. Following its founder Eyal Weizman, the method of open verification in the sense of thematic openness is applied to such an extent that the lecturer is able to present forensic sciences with references to international law in such a way that truth-finding is given a new dynamic. The Department of Forensic Architecture creates clarity through Counter Investigation as a special quality of forensics at international crime scenes that stand up before world courts, such as the International Criminal Court in The Hague. All parties strive to obtain a forensic examiner's report, but how they do it and what conclusions they arrive at is astonishing in this case. The lecturer will share knowledge through descriptions of political unlawfulness of states - based on real and completed proceedings - to an extent that has hardly been seen before.

The event isorganised by the Centre for Continuing Education and the Forensic Sciences and Engineering Master's programme at BTU.

Moderation:
Prof. Dr Wolfgang Spyra, expert in Forensic Sciences and Engineering
and Dr Dirk Marx (BTU)

Date: Friday, 10 October 2025, 17:30 to 19:00
Location: BTU Cottbus - Senftenberg, Teaching Building 1A, Lecture Theatre 1, Konrad-Zuse-Straße 1, 03046 Cottbus

About the Forensic Sciences and Engineering study programme
The Forensic Sciences and Engineering study programme, which leads to a Master of Science degree, is unique in Germany as an extra-occupational continuing education course at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg. The seminars in the forensic science study programme focus on crime scene work, investigative procedures and the evaluation of evidence as well as its analysis in the context of its successful use in court.
The programme is a transdisciplinary academic course at BTU. Forensic knowledge, which can also be used by examiners in the private sector, also characterises the teaching programme. Overall, forensic science is facing new challenges: The pace of methodological, technical and scientific developments is characterised by digitalisation, new international and European trends, which are pushing law enforcement authorities and examiners, who have so far mostly acted nationally, to their limits.
Forensic Sciences and Engineering at BTU is taking on these challenges and is expanding its teaching profile from the winter semester 2025/2026 by offering specialisation certificates in fire investigation, handwriting, white-collar crime and the special area of chemical and biological substances. People who do not have the prerequisites for a Master's degree programme are nevertheless given the unique opportunity to continue their university education in these specialist areas.

The flyer for the lecture series:https://www-docs.b-tu.de/fg-umweltrecht/public/Forensik/2025_2026/For_Flyer_Ringvorl_2025_V01.pdf