The Start of Nature
Virtual Growth
A lot of work has already been done to explain the development of the ecosystem in the Hühnerwasser watershed, but how can the interactions between the individual findings be represented visually? And how will the researchers evaluate the results for the entire watershed? To do this, they recreate Hühnerwasser in virtual reality. Step by step they are piecing together a plethora of individual results to form a three-dimensional image of the research area – and now this will grow in parallel to the development of the real-life Hühnerwasser watershed. Also, why are there over a hundred electrodes sticking out of the ground?
The Water’s Splashing
The Hühnerwasser watershed offers researchers the rare opportunity to observe the development of watercourses. How much life is there in the young streams?Taking a Bird’s Eye View
The researchers want to get an overview of what’s going on in the Hühnerwasser watershed, with a little help from a micro-drone...Waterways
Furrows, gullies and streams. What processes take place on the soil’s surface when it rains? A pink stream will reveal all…On the Matter of Life
What role does carbon play in the ecosystem and how does humus come into being? The researchers take samples that they hope will provide answers.On to New Horizons
What old soil has contained for a long time must still be formed in the Hühnerwasser: a look below the surface...Roots in the Scanner
Living underground: A unique insight into how roots grow, but how can you see underground?On Course for Growth
Canadian fleabane, Black Locust and water bears – there are now well over 100 plant species living in the new ecosystem and the number of animal species is on the increase too. How do they get on with each other?The South Welzow Oasis
Things have been happening in the Hühnerwasser: Plants are growing along the shores of a small lake. The researchers’ hopes have been vindicated, and ground water is collecting...At the Start Is...Water
Time zero: the "Hühnerwasser" artificial water catchment area in the former brown-coal open-pit mine south of Cottbus. Here, the researchers plan to study the birth of an ecosystem.The Projects
Everything about wave hunters, discrete optimisers and love à la Darwin—here, you'll experience what lies behind the individual projects as you follow the research diaries and get to know the scientists.









