New course: Ethics in the Raw Material Sector
In the summer semester 2025, the subject "Ethics in the Raw Material Sector" is taught as an independent module for the first time. It is a course offered by BHT Berlin as part of the interdisciplinary Studium generale.
In addition to raising awareness among students from various engineering disciplines, the materials developed to date will also be critically examined with regard to their use in teaching.
The methods developed in the accompanying student research are also used, tested and further developed in this course.
Fundamental ethical issues in mining are also to be applied and reflected upon, particularly with regard to the case studies carried out in the project.
Conflicts of interest in mining
In an innovative, international teaching format focusing on “Conflicts of interest in mining”, students from BHT and the International University Berlin discuss ethical conflicts and dilemmas in mining.
Sören E. Schuster (BHT, 3rd from left) provides the theoretical background; Christian Masurenko (ECTerra, 5th from left) shares his extensive practical experience using concrete case studies.
Further training for ethical competence in practice
In a pilot event, Sophie Charlotte Missall is testing selected parts of a training and further education concept she has developed in a course with BHT students.
The program is generally aimed at working engineers in the mining sector.
It is the subject of Sophies Master's thesis in the Management & Consultiung study program at BHT.
Changing interests over time
Under the question "Was it worth it?", Justus Reutter discusses the interim results of his master's thesis with BHT students using the Hambach opencast mine as a case study.
The focus is on the changing interests of those affected by the Hambach opencast mine over the course of time.
This shows that the focus of social discourse shifts over time and that different stakeholder groups (can) have different influences and power dispositions.
Consequently, it is not possible to clearly define what exactly is meant by "value".
Mining or tourism?
Sören E. Schuster tells the students about the project team's trip to Milos (Greece) and gives a historical outline of the development of the island and the mining industry there.
Using a role play with the students, he discusses the tensions between tourism and mining on the island. The students take on different roles of stakeholders and develop arguments for a responsible future development of the island.
Mining and tourism currently shape the island. While mining was the most important source of income in past centuries, young islanders in particular are now drawn to the tourism industry.
The (disused) mining sites can also be a tourist attraction.
At the same time, the island is threatening to reach the limits of its tourism capacity.
Anna Hüncke supplements the impressions conveyed with reports from conversations and interviews with local actors that were conducted during the case study trip to Milos.
