On Wednesday, November 19, UIS hosted the final ECCE Speaker Series event of the Fall 2025 semester. The presentation was delivered by Dr. Ashlynn S. Stillwell, a professor at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, and focused on the relationship between water use and energy in society.

Dr. Stillwell emphasized the central role of water in shaping renewable energy efforts. “Water and energy systems are essential for global sustainability, especially in the United States,” she said.

UIS student Pa Seedy Jammeh shared why the topic resonated with the campus community. “This is a very important session for environmental health science students. Water is something that we really need in our environment, and this is something that we deal with every day, either taking a shower, eating, drinking, or cooking.”

Dr. Stillwell described the ECCE series as an important opportunity for conversation. “This Engaged Citizenship Common Experience seminar series is the opportunity to have dialogue, and the water and energy sustainability aspects are ways to think about systems and society and ourselves,” she said. She also highlighted the shared nature of the issue, noting, “Water and energy are part of our common experience.”

During her talk, Dr. Stillwell outlined a hierarchy of water usage: water first, fuel second, food third, and construction materials fourth. She explained that both water and wastewater involve primary and secondary energy demands, making it crucial to understand how these systems connect.

Jammeh also reflected on how the presentation encouraged deeper thinking about the water we use daily. “It helps us to know where water sources are coming from and how they reach us, and the procedures involved in that,” they said.

Dr. Stillwell’s presentation stressed the vital role of water in everyday life and urged the audience to consider where their water comes from, how they use it, and the amount of energy required to make that use possible.