Regional utopias –
how do we use mines in the age of the energy transition?
Life after mining: What happens to mining areas when mines close? How has structural change progressed so far, and what opportunities and challenges does it bring? Julia Haske (Georg Agricola Technical University) – a researcher specializing in the revitalization and transition of former mining regions – answers these and other questions.
Event has already taken place
19.
March
2026
19. March 2026 – 19. March 2026
18:00 – 19:00
Querenburg Public Library, Querenburger Höhe 270, 44801 Bochum
Free
Speaker: Julia Haske (The Georg Agricola University of Applied Sciences)
When mines close, the question arises: What happens to the areas that have often been shaped by mining for decades?
Julia Haske takes us on a journey into the world of post-mining and shows us what happens after coal mining comes to an end. Using regional and international examples, the researcher for the revitalization and transition of former mining regions sheds light on how structural change has progressed so far and what opportunities and challenges it presents. How can former mining areas continue to be used? What role do politics and financing play? And what does the change mean for cohesion in the regions?
This event is part of the lecture series “Wissensrunde Utopien” (Knowledge Roundtable Utopias) organized by vhs, the city library, and UniverCity Bochum e.V. on the way to the House of Knowledge.
Registration facilitates planning but is not required for participation.
Knowledge roundtable on utopias: How do we want to live in the future?
The event is part of our event series: Wissensrunde! In order to address current topics, UniverCity
Bochum e.V., vhs Bochum, and the city library have launched the “Wissensrunde” event series. Almost every month,
people from the Bochum scientific community are invited to give insights into their research and engage in conversation with the audience.
In 2026, the answer is: utopias! How do we want to live in the future? Between the climate crisis, AI, and challenges to democracy and cohesion, this question is becoming increasingly urgent. Utopian visions of the future often seem further away than ever before. That’s exactly what we want to change with our lecture series Knowledge Roundtable Utopias!
UCBO_Wissensrunde-2026_1_web_min.pdf
File size 380 KB