Research Center for Post-Mining contributes expertise to the international resource conference

Photo: © Victor Smolinski

Scientists from the Research Centre of Post-Mining (FZN) at the Georg Agricola University of Applied Sciences took part in the Dresden Nexus Conference 2025, , which was organized by theUnited Nations University (UNU-FLORES) organisiert wurde. Under the theme „The Future of Resources. Resources of the Future“ around 180 participants from all over the world gathered at the Deutsches Hygiene-Museum from April 8 to 10 to discuss innovative approaches to the sustainable and integrated management of water, soil, waste and energy in line with the Nexus Approach.

The Research Center of Post-Mining (FZN), anchored in the heart of the Ruhr area - Europe's largest post-mining region, brings not only scientific depth, but also decades of practical experience in dealing with the consequences of mining. The region serves as a unique real-world laboratory for solutions that can be transferred worldwide.

The FZN contributed several presentations to the conference:

• Dr.-Ing. Sebastian Westermann presented innovative ways of using mining water.
• Dr. Bodo Bernsdorf showed in his presentation how polder water from subsidence areas can be used to mitigate long periods of drought - a forward-looking approach to climate resilience.
• Hernan Flores Hernan Flores used hyperspectral sensor technology to investigate the potential of mining residues and identified elements that are of key importance for a sustainable supply of raw materials in the future.

The FZN sees itself increasingly as a partner in international collaborations on sustainable resource management. With its interdisciplinary expertise and experience of structural change in the Ruhr region, the center is also prepared to provide scientific support and advice to projects worldwide in the fields of post-mining, water management and land revitalization.

The participation in the Dresden Nexus Conference underlines the commitment of the FZN to actively shape solutions for global challenges in a scientifically sound, practical and internationally networked manner.