Water and Energy Symposium Scheduled for Tuesday, April 23

The upcoming Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Water and Energy Symposium will focus on the theme of “Water-Energy Nexus.” The event is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, April 23 from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Legacy Room at Morris University Center.

Serdar Celik, Ph.D., a professor in the School of Engineering Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, emphasized the importance of understanding the relationship between water and energy to overcome challenges and uncertainties in their availability. He is also the chair of the SIUE Climate and Sustainability Advisory Board and co-director of the SIUE Living Architecture Center of Excellence.

Matthew Mass, a board member of the CASAB and director of the Environmental Resources Training Center, highlighted the energy consumption involved in treating, distributing, or collecting water. Finding ways to reduce this consumption will not only benefit the environment by lowering emissions but also result in reduced water utility costs for customers.

The symposium will feature distinguished speakers like Will Wilson from Leidos Inc., Adam Nutt from the Illinois EPA, Ashlynn Stillwell from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Heather Navarro from Washington University in St. Louis, and Taylor Flynn-Elhoffer from Missouri American Water.

SIUE has been actively involved in sustainability initiatives, with achievements such as being a founding member of the St. Louis Higher Education Sustainability Consortium and being recognized as one of the Living Architecture Regional Centers of Excellence by Green Roofs for Healthy Cities and the Green Infrastructure Foundation.

The symposium aims to promote awareness around water and energy topics and foster collaborations between faculty, professionals, and community members. The event is open to the public and free of charge, with parking available for guests.

For more information, interested individuals can contact Matt Maas (mmaas@siue.edu) or Serdar Celik (scelik@siue.edu).