Institute to broaden UT environmental research

Daily Texan Staff

A new science institute established within the College of Natural Sciences will join professors and researchers in a collaborative effort to study current environmental concerns.

Jay Banner, associate professor in the Department of Geological Sciences, has been named director of the Environmental Science Institute. The multidisciplinary institute will coordinate teaching and research activities in a variety of academic subjects and foster efforts between earth scientists and life scientists to work on environmental studies.

"One problem we are trying to address is that researchers are not always up to date with what their colleagues are working on," he said.

Banner said the institute would increase available personnel needed to work on larger projects, such as studying the Edwards Aquifer. He added that urbanization and the growing population's effects on the Edwards Aquifer will be one of the institute's first areas of study.

The institute will also allow the School of Biological Sciences, the departments of geological sciences, geography, chemistry and biochemistry, as well as the Marine Institute and the Institute for Geophysics to work on a joint study on environmental problems.

Mary Lenz, public information officer for the UT Office of Public Affairs, said the institute will also study water and air pollution.

Banner said one of the institute's goal is public outreach. The institute plans to keep the public informed of environmental developments, as well as offer volunteer opportunities.

As time progresses, the institute could attract more federal funding from the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Science Institute, as well as state funding for its programs, Banner said.

Funding for the institute was provided by the College of Natural Sciences, the College of Liberal Arts and the Office of the Provost.