The TAMEST 2026 Annual Conference: Pioneering Climate Innovations will take place February 2–4, 2026, at the Kimpton Santo Hotel in San Antonio, Texas. Learn more about the conference sessions and speakers by viewing the 2026 annual conference agenda below.
2026 Annual Conference Agenda: Day 1
Monday, February 2 | 6:30–9:00 p.m.
Opening Reception
The opening reception will take place the evening of Monday, February 2, 2026, in the San Juan Ballroom at the Kimpton Santo Hotel. Programming will begin at 7:00 p.m.
- Welcome from TAMEST Board President Ganesh C. Thakur, Ph.D. (NAE), University of Houston
- 2026 Hill Prizes Ceremony
- TAMEST Welcomes New Members
2026 Annual Conference Agenda: Day 2
Tuesday, February 3 | 8:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.
Conference Programming
San Juan Ballroom, Kimpton Santo Hotel, 431 S Alamo St, San Antonio, TX 78205
(subject to change)
Tuesday Morning Sessions
8:00–9:00 a.m.
Conference Breakfast
9:00–9:10 a.m.
Opening Remarks
Ganesh C. Thakur, Ph.D. (NAE), TAMEST Board President
ENGINEERING SESSION
Emcee: Michael Webber, Ph.D., Sid Richardson Chair in Public Affairs, John J. McKetta Centennial Energy Chair in Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin
9:10–9:40 a.m.
Speaker: Engineering
9:40–10:10 a.m.
Speaker: Engineering
10:10–10:40 a.m.
Speaker: David Allen, Ph.D. (NAE), Professor, Norbert Dittrich-Welch Chair in Chemical Engineering, McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin
10:40–11:10 a.m.
2026 O’Donnell Awards Research Presentation: Engineering
11:10–11:30 a.m.
Break
11:30 a.m.–12:05 p.m.
Mary Beth Maddox Award Ceremony and Recipient Presentation
Tuesday Afternoon Sessions
SCIENCE SESSION
Emcee: Jean Patterson, Ph.D., Emeritus Professor, Texas Biomedical Research Institute
12:05–1:15 p.m.
Lunch Speaker: Marcia McNutt, Ph.D. (NAS), President, National Academy of Sciences
1:15–1:45 p.m.
Speaker: Andrew S. Bowman, Ph.D., Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University
1:45–2:15 p.m.
Speaker: Gerald W. Parker Jr., D.V.M., Ph.D., Associate Dean for Global One Health, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University
2:15–2:40 p.m.
2026 O’Donnell Awards Research Presentation: Biological Sciences
2:40–3:05 p.m.
2026 O’Donnell Awards Research Presentation: Physical Sciences
3:05–4:30 p.m.
Break
3:30–4:30 p.m.
TAMEST Protégé Poster Challenge: Judges’ Viewing Only
4:30–6:30 p.m.
TAMEST Protégé Poster Challenge: Audience Viewing and Cocktail Reception
6:30–9:00 p.m.
20th Anniversary Edith and Peter O’Donnell Awards Celebration Dinner and 2026 Awards Ceremony
2026 Annual Conference Agenda: Day 3
Wednesday, February 4 | 7:30 a.m.–1:45 p.m.
Conference Programming
San Juan Ballroom, Kimpton Santo Hotel, 431 S Alamo St, San Antonio, TX 78205
(subject to change)
Wednesday Morning Sessions
7:30–8:30 a.m.
Conference Breakfast
MEDICINE SESSION
Emcee: David Gimeno Ruiz de Porras, Ph.D., Professor and Founding Chair, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, UT Health San Antonio
8:30–9:00 a.m.
Speaker: Christopher Elias, M.D. (NAM), President, Global Development, Gates Foundation
9:00–9:30 a.m.
Speaker: Marvin A. González-Quiroz, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, UT Health San Antonio
9:30–10:00 a.m.
Speaker: Elizabeth Matsui, M.D., Professor of Population Health and Pediatrics; Associate Dean for Faculty Academic Affairs; Director, Center for Health and Environment: Education and Research, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin
10:00–10:25 a.m.
2026 O’Donnell Awards Research Presentation: Medicine
10:25–10:45 a.m.
Break
TECHNOLOGY SESSION
Emcee: Robert Kester, Ph.D., Partner, Technology & Innovation, Veriten
10:45–11:15 a.m.
Speaker: Technology
11:15–11:45 a.m.
Speaker: Rawand Rasheed, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Helix Earth
Wednesday Afternoon Sessions
11:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m.
Lunch
12:15–12:45 p.m.
Lunch Speakers: TAMEST Protégé Poster Challenge Presentations and Prize Ceremony
12:45–1:15 p.m.
Speaker: Technology
1:15–1:40 p.m.
2026 O’Donnell Awards Research Presentation: Technology
1:40–1:45 p.m.
Closing Remarks and 2027 Conference Preview
Ganesh C. Thakur, Ph.D. (NAE), TAMEST Board President
Sponsors
