From health research to the wonders of chemistry – open day at the BTU in Senftenberg

With its varied programme for its Open Day, running from 10 am to 4 pm, the university is helping to shape the newly conceived Senftenberg town festival – the Peter & Paul Festival. It will offer insights into forward-looking study programmes, state-of-the-art laboratories, research facilities and projects, as well as the library, which is hosting the closing event of the exhibition ‘The Beautiful, Colourful World of Work and Study’. Visitors can enjoy campus and laboratory tours, as well as exciting experiments, games and sporting activities where participants of all ages can get involved. Many of the approximately 40 programme items are also suitable for children or are aimed directly at their parents. Lecturers, students and even robots will be on hand to chat. Anyone who takes part in at least eight Open Day activities as part of a campus rally can win a small prize.

Refreshments are also well catered for. The students’ food court offers international dishes and other delicacies – including grilled food. Delicious meals from the canteen can also be enjoyed. A free shuttle bus runs every 30 minutes between 10.00 and 16.45 from Senftenberg’s old town (towards Brieske) to the university and back.

For the detailed programme 

The main hub is the Konrad Zuse Media Centre (Building 11), where the BTU’s range of study programmes, including dual study programmes, will be presented; the student team Lausitz Dynamics will showcase its energy-saving vehicle; and visitors will be able to experience energy efficiency first-hand during a talk, whilst the team also thanks its supporters. An experimental lecture from the College will explain how Physics can trick the ear. The Language Centre invites visitors to take part in a multilingual scavenger hunt and a language art station for children. Mini cleaning robots will also be built, and a delivery robot can be seen in action. Campus tours will start at 11.15 am and 2 pm.

Under the heading ‘How research works: Really listen!’, the Faculty of Human Sciences will offer insights into the fascinating world of health research. It is opening its state-of-the-art nursing and simulation laboratories for intensive care and paediatric nursing. In the Midwifery Science Open Lab, visitors can find out about childbirth and pregnancy. A dementia obstacle course allows visitors to experience the challenges people with dementia face in their everyday lives. In the Aquatherapy Open Lab, you can give your own immune system a boost with a Kneipp shower, and on the Smoothie Bike you can use your own muscle power to earn yourself a vitamin-rich drink.
Educational games, in particular for children, spark an interest in healthy eating. Students and Staff Members provide insights into the Primary School Teacher Study Programme and encourage visitors to get involved themselves. This includes projects in Mathematics, German and general studies, as well as some simple exercises in Lower Sorbian/Wendish. During storytime sessions for children, students present exciting books.

As part of the programme organised by the Faculty of Environment and Natural Sciences, the Institute of Biotechnology opens its modern research building, where work is being carried out on future-oriented issues in biomedicine and sustainability. The Stem Cell Biology chair offers an insight into everyday laboratory life and the latest research findings on the healing of skeletal muscles. Visitors can also experience ‘Mushrooms in Action’. They’ll get to grips with microbiology live and in colour, and take a look inside the body through the microscopic examination of blood. Exciting hands-on experiments for all ages on the theme of ‘The Fascination of Chemistry’ introduce visitors to the Applied Natural Sciences study programme. Current research projects will be presented. The culinary mile organised by Lausitzer Biotech e.V. and the Departmental Committee offers nourishment for body and mind.

The BTU College takes visitors on a journey into virtual reality, where they can explore the hidden world of cells and control a real robot dog. Those interested can look forward to experiments in the biology lab with the humanoid robot Ami, as well as conversations in English with the humanoid robot Azi. The College’s biological VR lab and the ‘Mission Biolab’ – featuring a mysterious replica laboratory – are further stops well worth visiting.

At 11 am, the library will present a lecture on ‘De re metallica’ by Georgius Agricola (1557) – a significant treasure of the University Library. The exhibition “The Beautiful, Colourful World of Work and Study”, featuring vibrant drawings by long-standing BTU photographer Ralf Schuster, will draw to a close here at 2 pm with a closing event.
 “How fit is my child? And how fit am I?” – you can find out all day long with a fitness check organised by the University Sports Department. There are also a range of games to try out, from ladder golf to lawn skiing races and Viking chess.
GA Generic Assays GmbH is offering company and laboratory tours every half hour at the Innovation Centre, located right next to the campus.

Admission to all events is free. No registration is required.
Anyone interested can find all the essential information about the Open Day – including programme times and venues, departure times for the free shuttle bus and more – at www.b-tu.de and directly in the programme booklet:https://www-docs.b-tu.de/presse/public/TdoT-SFB-2026_Programme_DINA5_web.pdf