Ms. Balzen is currently a hydrogeologist with KT groundwater and has worked as a geologist in several different government and private companies in Central Texas, including the Edwards Aquifer Authority, Bandera County River Authority and Groundwater District, USGS, and TCEQ. She has experience in groundwater sampling, regulation, research, and geologic evaluations, and is the Past President of the South Texas Geological Society. Ms. Balzen earned her Bachelor of Science in Geology and Master of Science in Geology from the University of Texas at San Antonio and is a graduate of the Texas Water Leaders class hosted by the Texas Water Foundation’s Carole Baker Water Leadership Institute. She holds a certification as a Professional Geoscientist, and enjoys speaking about career opportunities within the geoscience community.

Professor Banner studies water resources, climate change, and environmental justice. This research combines geoscience and chemistry to examine streams, aquifers, caves, and tree rings, and it takes him to the Caribbean, the Western Pacific Ocean, and Texas among other places. His community engagement initiatives include Hot Science – Cool Talks and Project CRESSLE. Professor Banner is a Fellow of the Geological Society of America, a member of UT’s Academy of Distinguished Teachers, and the recipient of the 2024 Robert Foster Cherry Award for Great Teaching. In his free time, he enjoys his family, dogs Lucy and Ziggy, and playing ultimate frisbee.

Mr. Dutta is a registered Professional Engineer (P.E.) who is fully engaged in water and environmental protection through his leadership in S&M Engineering, LLC (SNM), a Maryland Corporation. He worked as the lead engineer in a superfund site remediation project and various RCRA sites involving design and installation of landfill cover systems, planning and implementing exhumation of a radioactive waste site in a DoD facility. Mr. Dutta worked in developing regulations and guidance later at a national level while with the US EPA for 20 years. He designed an innovative well interception plan, based on the bathymetric profile of the seabed to successfully kill the 1.4m gal/day Deepwater Horizon oil spill (Macondo Well) in Aug 2010. Mr. Dutta is also working on climate change impacts in the Himalayan region by visiting the glacial sources of rivers, specifically the Khatling Glacier (12,500 ft.) in Uttarakhand, India. Mr. Dutta’s most recent book Environmental Treatment Technologies for Municipal, Industrial and Medical Wastes, Remedial Scope and Efficacy, 2nd edition, Taylor & Francis (CRC Press), was published in October 2024 (new edition), Isbn 9781032058214.

Dr. Esposito is a veteran of the electrical utility industry with more than 30 years of leadership related to research, development, and deployment of technology options for including carbon capture & storage, geothermal power, bulk energy storage, hydrogen, and deep borehole isolation. He has a diverse academic background with a B.S. and M.S. degree in geology from Auburn University, M.S. degree in environmental management from Samford University, and Ph.D. in engineering from the University of Alabama. He has published extensively and lectured as a subject matter expert worldwide on a wide range of electrical utility environmental and technology related issues.

Dr. Griffin’s research interests include accretion or loss of sediments in marsh soil systems; Wetland-Pond ecosystems impacted by agriculture; Environmental and natural resources education; Dynamic soil processes associated with fluctuating water tables in seasonally wet and wetland soils; Effects of added organic carbon and altered pH levels on microbiological activities in soil systems; Measurement of pH, Eh, and Ferrous Iron levels in seasonally wet soils; Wetness conditions and redoximorphic features in microtoposequences; Red dust accumulation in soils and its bioenvironmental and biomedical impacts; Land-use regulation and control. Dr. Griffith earned his B.S and M.S. degrees from North Carolina State University and his Ph.D. from Texas A & M University.

Ms. Pearson is the Director of the Michigan Geological Survey. With over 30 years of experience in geology, hydrogeology, and environmental management, she has a proven track record in leadership, technical expertise, and program development. As Director, Ms. Pearson oversees research, mapping, and preservation efforts that support the sustainable management of Michigan’s natural resources. Her goal is to continue the revitalization of the Survey, emphasizing collaboration with stakeholders, innovative research, and public education about Michigan’s critical resources, from water to minerals. Ms. Pearson’s career includes roles in state government working for the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), and private industry, where she managed multidisciplinary teams, coordinated multi-agency remediation projects, and provided technical expertise on environmental risk management. She has also developed and delivered training for organizations such as the American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG) and the Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council, showcasing her ability to communicate complex geoscientific concepts effectively. Ms. Pearson holds a Master of Science in Earth Science with an emphasis in Hydrogeology from Western Michigan University and a Bachelor of Science in Geography and Environmental Studies from Aquinas College. She is a Certified Professional Geologist (CPG) and current National President of AIPG and an active member of several professional organizations.