Dr. Jay Banner (far right) is the F. M. Bullard Professor in the Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences in the Jackson School of Geosciences, and Director of the Environmental Science Institute. His research interests center on climate and hydrologic processes, how they are preserved in the geologic record, and how human activity affects the sustainability of water resources. His teaching interests include sustainability, environmental science, environmental isotope geochemistry, and environmental resilience science.

Mashal Awais (far left) is an environmental scientist with over 10 years of direct experience assessing environmental risk and impact, environmental remediation, environmental health and safety and sustainable infrastructure solutions. She works closely alongside communities, government and non-profit organizations, industry and academic partners to support communities' access to a safe and clean environment. She is currently the Outreach Coordinator for the BRIDGES Program.

David Bahamón Pinzón (top left) currently serves as Research Coordinator at ESI and co-leads several water quality research efforts with The BRIDGES Program. His research focuses on community engagement, water quality analysis, and environmental pollution assessment. He received his Ph.D. in Biosystems Engineering from Clemson University in South Carolina and has extensive transdisciplinary experience working with diverse stakeholders. With The BRIDGES Program, David has assessed water quality issues in Austin's Colony, a suburban neighborhood that has faced hard water and discoloration for decades. He has also contributed to a water quality assessment of Boggy Creek, Austin's most degraded watershed, to better understand the impacts of urbanization and failing infrastructure on local hydrologic systems. David aims to continue advancing sustainability through participatory research and transdisciplinary collaboration.

Chase Cobb (far left middle) is a program coordinator at ESI, where he develops and manages sustainability programs focused on research, education, and community engagement. His work spans grant development, program administration, communications, budgeting, and partnership building, with an emphasis on connecting faculty, students, and community organizations around pressing environmental challenges. A UT Austin graduate with a B.S. in Environmental Science, Chase brings additional experience in environmental education and operations and is passionate about advancing sustainability through collaborative, community-centered work.

The picture above is of our monthly Community of Practice meetings held at the Montopolis Recreation Center. These meetings are not only a place for us to build lasting relationships but it's also where we come together to share our work and project updates with the community. We have grown this space for almost 2 years and are really proud of what we are building together!