Jay L Banner

Areas of Expertise

Isotopic methods, sustainability, groundwater, oceans, ancient oceans, climate change, aquifers, caves, environmental science, geochemistry, paleoclimatology, urbanization, environmental justice, community-engaged research

Research Locations

Current Research Programs & Projects

Influence of urbanization and land use change on the evolution of groundwater and surface water Speleothem geochronology

Assessment of speleothems and travertine as paleo-records of global change

Select Past Research

Geochemical Evolution in the Modern Groundwater System of Barbados

President's Associates Teaching Excellence Award - UT Austin (2016 - 2017)

Kappe Lecturer - American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists (2015)

Tower Award to ESI's GK-12 Program - UT Austin Center for Community Engagement (2014)

Research Award for Groundwater Stewardship, for publication in Groundwater by Wong et al., - Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District (2013)

University of Texas System Regents Outstanding Teaching Award - University of Texas (2013)

UT Athletics Professor of Excellence - UT Athletics (2012)

Texas Exes Teaching Award - Texas Exes (2012)

Centennial Teaching Fellowship - Friar's Society (2011)

Academy of Distinguished Teachers - University of Texas at Austin (2011)

Outstanding Educator Award - Jackson School of Geosciences (2010)

UT Division of Instructional Innovation and Assessment Excellence in Teaching Award - The University of Texas at Austin (2007)

Evelyn and Moses E. Knebel Distinguished Teaching Award - The University of Texas at Austin (2007)

Evelyn and Moses E. Knebel Distinguished Teaching Award - The University of Texas at Austin (2006)

Chevron Centennial Teaching Fellow - The University of Texas at Austin (2002)

College of Natural Sciences Outreach Innovation Award - The University of Texas at Austin (2000)

Houston Oil and Minerals Corporation Faculty Excellence Award - The University of Texas at Austin (2000)

Fellow - Geological Society of America (1999)

Houston Oil and Minerals Corporation Faculty Excellence Award - The University of Texas at Austin (1998)

Evelyn and Moses E. Knebel Distinguished Teaching Award - The University of Texas at Austin (1996)

Carlton Centennial Teaching Fellow - The University of Texas at Austin (1990 - 2002)

Co-convener, Organizing Committee, Karst Record of Climate Change 8 Conference (2017)

Member, Organizing Committee, Karst Record of Climate Change - KR6 (2011)

Member, GK-12 Program Review Panel, National Science Foundation (2004)

Science Advisor, Earth and Sky (National Radio Program) (2000)

Director, Environmental Science Institute, University of Texas (2000 - Present)

Member, Abstracts Committee, 11th Bathurst Meeting on Carbonates (1999)

Invited Participant, Workshop on Low Temperature Geochemistry, National Science Foundation (1999)

Organizer, Speleothems as indicators of hydrologic, climatic, and biological processes, 11th Bathurst Meeting on Carbonates (1999)

Member, Technical Committee, Research Conference on Fluid Flow in Carbonates, Society for Sedimentary Geology (1998)

Organizer, Geochemical Society Symposium: Geochemical record of hydrologic response to climate change, Geological Society of America annual meeting (1997)

Member, Environmental Management Program Review Panel, Department of Energy (1996)

Invited Participant, Workshop on Terrestrial Earth System History, National Science Foundation (1996)

Organizer, Field Trip: Cretaceous cyclic platform carbonates of central Texas, Geological Society of America South-Central Section (1996)

Organizer, Application of trace element and isotopic composition of modern pore fluids to studies of carbonate diagenesis, American Association of Petroleum Geologists Annual Meeting (1993)

Associate Editor, Journal of Sedimentary Research (1990 - 2001)

Reviewer of Grant Proposals, Geology and Paleontology; Climate Dynamics; Tectonics; Petrology and Geochemistry; Academic Research Infrastructure; Hydrologic Sciences; Instrumentation and Facilities; Marine Geology & Geophysics; Chemical Oceanography, National Science Foundation

Reviewer of Grant Proposals, to be entered, American Chemical Society

Reviewer of Grant Proposals, to be entered, NSERC (Canada)

Reviewer of Grant Proposals, to be entered, Israel National Science Foundation

Reviewer of Grant Proposals, to be entered, Louisiana Board of Regents

Jay Banner's research group typically comprises Ph.D. students, M.S. students, undergraduate students, and Postdoctoral Fellows and Research Associates. For the most up to date information on the Banner Research Group and their publications, see https://www.jsg.utexas.edu/banner/.

Postdocs

Alexandra Noronha, 2014 - 2017, Jackson School of Geosciences

Graduate Students

Alexander Janelle , Ph.D., expected 2027 (Co-supervisor)
I am a Ph.D. student with experience studying chemical and physical processes in karst aquifers through downstream riparian and coastal ecosystems. I am interested in using speleothem paleoenvironmental proxies to better understand how past climate changed during the last deglaciation and predict future water availability in central Texas.

Lilian Beaman, M.S., 2022 (Supervisor)
Energy and Earth Resources

Kendra Bunnell, M.S., 2019 (Supervisor)
Jackson School of Geosciences

Lakin Beal, M.S., 2019 (Supervisor)
Jackson School of Geosciences

Peter Carlson, Ph.D., 2018 (Co-supervisor)
High-resolution climate records from a near-entrance stalagmite

Christina James, M.S., 2017 (Supervisor)
Jackson School of Geosciences

Timothy Charlton, M.S., 2016 (Co-supervisor)
Jackson School of Geosciences

Michelle Hulewicz, M.S., 2015 (Supervisor)
Jackson School of Geosciences

Rosemary Hatch, M.S., 2014 (Supervisor)
Jackson School of Geosciences

Jeffrey Senison, M.S., 2014 (Supervisor)
Jackson School of Geosciences

Corinne Wong, Ph.D., 2013 (Supervisor)
Delineating controls on hydrologic variability and water geochemistry in central Texas

Jonathan Snatic, M.S., 2013 (Supervisor)

Kyle Meyer, M.S., 2012 (Supervisor)
UT Austin

Richard Casteel, M.S., 2011 (Supervisor)

Seay Nace, Ph.D., 2010 (Co-supervisor)
Jackson School of Geosciences
Regional groundwater geochemistry of the western part of the Edwards aquifer

Rosario Vasquez-Scheerhorn, Ph.D., 2005 (Supervisor)
Jackson School of Geosciences

Mary Jennifer Cooke, Ph.D., 2005 (Co-supervisor)
Jackson School of Geosciences
Evolution of soils on the Edwards Plateau,

Patrick Mickler, Ph.D., 2004 (Supervisor)
Jackson School of Geosciences
Geochronology and geochemistry of speleothems from the Pleistocene limestone aquifer of Barbados: Implications for climate change in the tropics,

Ian Jones, Ph.D., 2003 (Supervisor)
Jackson School of Geosciences
Geochemical and physical modeling of the Pleistocene limestone aquifer of Barbados, W.I.

MaryLynn Musgrove, Ph.D., 2001 (Supervisor)
Jackson School of Geosciences
Groundwater evolution and climate change in central Texas aquifers: Constraints from speleothem studies

Climate change impacts on Texas water: Past, present and future, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX (2011)

Climate change impacts on Texas water: Past, present and future, Texas Bar Continuing Legal Education, San Antonio, TX (2011)

Texas climate change: Past, present and future, Lakeway Men’s breakfast club, Lakeway, TX (2010)

A New Degree Program in Environmental Science and Sustainability at UT-Austin, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX (2010)

Climate change impacts on Texas water, Environmental, Natural Resources and Water Law Section of the Austin Bar Association, Austin, TX (2010)

Development of an undergraduate curriculum in Environmental Science and Sustainability at UTAustin, After Copenhagen Conference: Collaborative Responses to Climate Change, Austin, TX (2010)

Reconstructing past climate change, 2010 Spring Joint Meeting Texas Section of the American Physical Society and the American Association of Physics Teachers, Austin, TX (2010)

Texas climate change: Past, present and future, Meet UT Event, Austin, TX (2010)

The Edwards Aquifer: Past, present and future, UT School of Architecture graduate seminar in Topics in Sustainable Development, (2005)

Vision and strategies for addressing interdisciplinary communication challenges, UT Office of Graduate Studies graduate seminar in Communication across the Disciplines, (2005)

Applications of cave deposits to environmental change, Northern Illinois University, (2004)

Integrating environmental science and policy through the Environmental Science Institute, UT School of Law, Environmental Law and Policy Seminar, (2004)

Paleoenvironmental analysis from central Texas speleothems, Field Trip Leader, Texas Section of the Association of Engineering Geologists, (2004)

Natural Bridge Caverns: Unique views through time and space inside an aquifer, Invited Field Trip Leader, Decision-Makers Field Trip, Bureau of Economic Geology, (2004)

Global environmental change: A geologic perspective, Junior Honors Colloquium, University of Texas (2004)

Tomorrow's environmental science and technology today, Panel Member, Junior Honors Colloquium, University of Texas (2004)

The Environmental Science Institute's community engagement programs, Panel Member, Scholarship at Work Colloquium, UT Humanities Institute (2004)

Integrating environmental science and policy through the Environmental Science Institute, UT School of Law, Environmental Law and Policy Seminar, (2003)

Global environmental change: A geologic perspective, UT Dean's Scholars Program, (2003)

Applications of cave deposits to environmental change, Society of Ecological Restoration Annual Meeting, (2003)

Geologic records of environmental change: Applications to paleoclimate of Texas, Lakeway Men's Breakfast Club, (2001)

The Environmental Science Institute at UT-Austin, Marine Science Institute Advisory Council Meeting, (2001)

The Outreach Lecture Series, Texas Exes Teaching Excellence Conference, (2001)

Geologic records of environmental change, UT Grotto, (2001)

Geologic records of environmental change: Applications to paleoclimate of Texas, University of Texas, Dallas, (2000)

Temporal evolution of groundwater, University of New Mexico, (1998)

Temporal evolution of groundwater in karst systems, Keynote lecture, 17th Symposium on Caribbean Geology, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez (1998)

Temporal evolution of groundwater: An isotopic perspective, University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, (1998)

Temporal evolution of groundwater in the Pleistocene limestone aquifer of Barbados, University of West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados (1997)

Geochemical evolution of bad water in the Edwards aquifer, San Antonio Water System, U.S. Geological Survey, San Antonio, TX (1997)

Speleothems as terrestrial records of Earth system history, NSF-sponsored workshop on Terrestrial Records of Earth System History, Portland, OR (1996)

Quantitative models for fluid-rock interaction, Exxon Production Research Company, Houston, TX (1994)

Geochemistry of ancient oceans: Implications for climate change, Texas A&M University, Galveston, (1994)

The Pleistocene limestone aquifer of Barbados, W.I., University of Minnesota, (1993)

Geochemical evolution of limestones and groundwater in Barbados, Johns Hopkins University, (1993)

Geochemical evolution of limestones and groundwater in Barbados, Carnegie Institution of Washington, (1993)

Speleothems as hydrologic records, University of Maryland, (1993)

Geochemistry of the Pleistocene limestone aquifer of Barbados, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez (1993)

Geochemistry of ancient oceans: Implications for climate change, Texas A&M University, College Station, (1992)

Large-scale flow systems in the Mid-continent, USA, Rice University, (1991)

Large-scale flow systems in the Mid-continent, USA, Gordon Research Conference on Regional Ore-Forming Fluids, Andover, NH (1989)

Quantitative models for fluid-rock interaction: Implications for carbonate diagenesis and regional groundwater flow systems, University of Chicago, (1989)

Quantitative models for fluid-rock interaction: Implications for carbonate diagenesis and regional groundwater flow systems, Stanford University, (1989)

Quantitative models for fluid-rock interaction: Implications for carbonate diagenesis and regional groundwater flow systems, Southern Methodist University, (1989)

Origin and evolution of dolomite in the Mississippian Burlington-Keokuk limestone, Texaco, Inc., Houston, TX (1987)

Origin and evolution of dolomite in the Mississippian Burlington-Keokuk limestone, University of California, Riverside, (1987)

The role of basinal brines in carbonate diagenesis, Penrose Conference on Deep Basinal Brines, Oxnard, CA (1986)

Year	Semester	Course
2024	Spring	GEO 391	Sci Of Environmntl Justice
2024	Spring	GEO 371T	Sci Of Environmntl Justice
2023	Spring	GEO 371T	Sci Of Environmntl Justice
2022	Spring	GEO 371T	Sci Of Environmntl Justice-Wb
2020	Spring	GEO 191	Planet Texas 2050
2020	Spring	GEO 191	Grad Seminar In Science Comm
2019	Fall	GEO 191	Grad Seminar In Science Comm
2019	Spring	GEO 191	Grad Seminar In Science Comm
2019	Spring	GEO 191	Planet Texas 2050
2018	Fall	GEO 191	Grad Seminar In Science Comm
2018	Spring	GEO 191	Grad Seminar In Science Comm
2018	Spring	GEO 191	Planet Texas 2050
2017	Fall	GEO 191	Grad Seminar In Science Comm
2017	Fall	GEO 394	Rsch In Geological Sciences
2017	Spring	GEO 191	Grad Seminar In Science Comm
2017	Spring	GEO 394	Rsch In Geological Sciences
2016	Fall	GEO 306P	Geology And Sustainability
2016	Fall	GEO 191	Grad Seminar In Science Comm
2016	Fall	GEO 394	Rsch In Geological Sciences
2016	Spring	GEO 191	Conf Crs In K-12 Science Educ
2016	Spring	GEO 191	Grad Seminar In Science Comm
2015	Fall	GEO 394	Rsch In Geological Sciences
2015	Fall	GEO 191	Grad Seminar In Science Comm
2015	Fall	GEO 306P	Geology And Sustainability
2015	Spring	EVS 151	Envir Sci Professionalism II
2015	Spring	GEO 394	Rsch In Isotope Geoch/Enr Chng
2015	Spring	GEO 191	Conf Crs In K-12 Science Educ
2014	Fall	GEO 394	Rsch In Isotope & Environ Geol
2014	Fall	GEO 191	Conf Crs In K-12 Science Educ
2014	Fall	GEO 306P	Geology And Sustainability
2014	Spring	GEO 191	Conf Crs In K-12 Science Educ
2014	Spring	EVS 151	Envir Sci Professionalism II
2014	Spring	GEO 394	Rsch In Isotope Geoch/Enr Chng

Graduate Positions

Urbanization and water resources (NSF Hydrologic Sciences Program)
Our group studies the impacts of urbanization on hydrologic systems using geochemical, field, laboratory, and modeling methods. New opportunities for graduate research in this area are available for students applying for Fall admission. Contact Jay Banner at banner@jsg.utexas.edu.

Paleoclimate reconstructions and modern hydrology of karst systems (NSF Paleo Perspectives on Climate Change Program)
Our group reconstructs regional climate change in response to global change using speleothems and tree rings. These studies are advanced by analysis of modern karst hydrologic systems in which the speleothems are found. New opportunities for graduate research in this area are available for students applying for Fall admission. Contact Jay Banner at banner@jsg.utexas.edu.

CRESSLE: Community Resilience integrated into an Earth System Science Learning Ecosystem (NSF Cultural Transformation of the Geoscience Community Program)
CRESSLE represents an emerging approach to environmental resilience that emphasizes bidirectional learning between universities and communities. These teams will comprise a 'Community of Practice' to design and implement research projects addressing community challenges and Environmental Justice in three themes: Water Resources, Climate Resilience, and Communities & Landscapes.

Undergraduate Positions

NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates
This summer program trains and supports undergraduates to undertake environmental science research. Details may be found at https://www.esi.utexas.edu/education/summer-research-experience-for-undergraduates-reu/.

NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates
This summer program trains and supports undergraduates to undertake environmental science research. Details may be found at https://www.esi.utexas.edu/education/summer-research-experience-for-undergraduates-reu/.

Environmental Science Institute

Jay Banner's Web Page

Caves: A Window into the Edwards Aquifer

GK-12 Program

Research Experiences for Undergraduates

Groundwater: The Lifeblood of Central Texas

Hot Science Cool Flicks: Research and Lives of UT Faculty

Hot Science - Cool Talks Outreach Lecture Series

Project CRESSLE