 The organisation’s remit was later expanded to include mining colleges in Bergkamen, Duisburg and Recklinghausen.WBK was also active in the field of applied science, including the Erdmagnetische Warte Bochum (Bochum Geometric Observatory), which was built in 1854 and later moved to Vossnacken/Velbert.It also helped to fund construction of the Bergmannsheil University Hospitals in Bochum and the expansion of the network of ship canals that link the Ruhr Valley to areas such as the North sea.