SESE | University of Illinois

What if the future of “smart cities” isn’t as bright as it seems?

In his new book, GGIS professor David Wilson uses Dracula as a metaphor to explore the hidden costs of smart city development — from gentrification and displacement to the growing power of what he calls the “real estate state.”

In Dracula Urbanism and Smart City Mania: Urban Change in the Twenty-First Century, Wilson challenges the polished narrative of tech-driven urban progress and asks: Who are our cities really being built for?

Read more about Wilson’s research and the book here: https://news.illinois.edu/illinois-professors-book-explores-dracula-urbanism-the-dark-side-of-smart-city-development/

Geology can take many forms, from the study of rocks and minerals to the living records preserved in trees. At Homer Lake Forest Preserve, graduate students from ESEC spent a November morning extracting tree-core samples from oaks and maples as part of “Tree Rings and Climate,” a graduate-level special topics course offered this past semester.

From fieldwork at Homer Lake to hands-on lab analysis, students collected and studied tree-core samples to uncover past climate conditions — all through the science of dendrochronology.

Learn what we can find out when we examine the time machines that are all around us!
https://esec.illinois.edu/news/2025-12-15/trees-are-time-machines

Reminder! Tonight is the SESE Alumni Reception at AGU 2025! If you’re in New Orleans for the AGU Fall Meeting—or an alum living nearby—we’d love to see you this evening!

Tonight — Monday, December 15
6:30–8:30 p.m.
Hyatt Regency New Orleans, Strand 10AB Room

Stop by to reconnect with fellow alumni, meet faculty and students, and enjoy light refreshments. See you tonight!

Attending the 2025 Geophysical Union Fall Meeting this year? You are cordially invited to an alumni reception hosted by SESE and its departments!

Join us Monday, December 15, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans, Strand 10AB Room. Area alumni not attending the conference are encouraged to attend the reception. Light refreshments will be provided.

Are you passionate about the social & behavioral sciences? A big believer in the humanities? A proud product of the mathematical, life, & physical sciences? Show your love for your area of LAS by participating in Curriculum Clash!

When you make a gift at go.las.illinois.edu/dayofgiving, select your curriculum under "competitions" and then comment your major and the fund you're supporting below — let's see which one the most to this afternoon ➡️

It’s here! Today is LAS Day of Giving!

Want to give directly to the School of Earth, Society and Environment? Visit go.las.illinois.edu/dayofgiving
, click on “Choose an LAS annual fund,” and then select “Earth, Society and Environment Annual Fund” from the drop-down list.

Every dollar goes directly to supporting our students, faculty, and unit initiatives. Join us as we showcase how back—every contribution makes a difference!

Illinois winds are changing—literally.

A new study led by Allison Wallin, a graduate student in Earth Science and Environmental Change at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, has found that average wind speeds across Illinois have declined over the past 30 years and that prevailing winds are shifting southward.

The findings, published in the Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, highlight discrepancies between observed weather data and widely used climate models—insights that could influence future wind energy projections, weather forecasting, and climate studies.

This work underscores the value of long-term data from the Illinois Climate Network provided by the Prairie Research Institute and the importance of Illinois-led research in understanding local and global climate trends.

Read the full story: https://esec.illinois.edu/news/2025-10-17/illinois-wind-patterns-show-signs-change-study-finds

We are so thankful to Rob Kanter for the passion, curiosity, and care he has brought to the Environmental Sustainability program over the past decade. As he retires, we celebrate his lasting impact on students, colleagues, and the countless readers and listeners inspired by his work. Read about his legacy and the world of wonder he helped students discover.

Writing, wonder, and the world beyond the classroom | School of Earth, Society & Environment | Illinois Rob Kanter believed the best education didn’t happen within four walls. Even when he stood in front of a classroom, he focused on the world beyond it.

Treat yourself to a rich meditation on the sounds of wetlands from a podcast by my friend, Brodie Dunn. Natural sounds galore!

Voice of the Wild | Bonus: The Water’s Edge – Voice of the Wild Headphones on! Today we’re giving voice to the array of plants and animals which can only be found where the land and the water mingle. It's a set of ecosystems united by inundation, whether it's the long edge of a shallow pond, a cypress swamp, or a wet prairie. It starts with an unwanted...

On the eve of Earth Day, three active, engaged ESES majors (on left Stefan Iliev and Jorge Corral, and with mic, Sakshi Vaya) spoke about their work on environmental justice at the University YMCA's Friday Forum.

Who’s that on the quad with the ESES students?