Bochum, situated in the heart of North Rhine-Westphalia’s Ruhr region, is a city shaped by centuries of history and industrial transformation. First documented in the Middle Ages, it grew rapidly during the 19th century as coal mining and steel production turned it into an important industrial centre. Today, Bochum is especially famous for the Bergbaumuseum, one of the world’s leading museums devoted to mining, as well as Ruhr University, the Zeiss Planetarium, and the long-running musical Starlight Express. Former industrial sites, green parks, theatres, and cultural venues reflect the city’s successful transition from a centre of heavy industry into a lively destination for education, culture, and entertainment.

The venue of the workshop is the Deutsches Bergbau-Museum. As one of the Leibniz research museums, it is a striking gateway to the Ruhr area’s industrial past. Among its highlights are the visitor’s mine, with an accessible underground tunnel network, and the landmark headframe, which offers a magnificient view across Bochum. A guided museum tour will give us the opportunity to complement the scientific programme with an insight into Bochum’s mining history and engineering heritage.