Bano received her BSc and MSc from the Faculty of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences at McGill University. Both degrees were obtained at the Macdonald Campus. Her BSc in soil science prompted her keen interest in soil biochemical processes, and she continued on to complete an MSc investigating soil nitrate leaching in different crop management practices.

After completing her MSc in 1998, Bano landed a job as a research scientist for Resource Efficient Agricultural Production (REAP) – Canada; a non-governmental organization, where she conducted on-farm research, focusing on growing biofuels for Canadian growers. Her primary focus was on growing switchgrass as a feedstock; examining soil carbon sequestration of several biofuel crops; and agricultural greenhouse gas emissions.

In 2000, she joined the Brace Center for Water Resources Management at McGill University, where she focused on climate change issues. At Brace, she managed research projects related to agricultural water management and adaptation measures to climate change. During this time, she also taught the Soil and Water Conservation course in the “Farm Management and Technology” program. From 2001 to 2007, she led the Water Resource Sector of C-CIARN (Canadian Climate Impacts and Adaptation Research Network) hosted by the Brace Centre, and funded by Natural Resources Canada.

Driven by the goal of becoming a leading expert in the field of agriculture and climate change, in the fall of 2008 she commenced her PhD in the Department of Geography at McGill. Her thesis research is on the impacts of climate change on crop land use, and consequences for water resources. She aspires to complete her thesis in 2012.

Bano’s research interests include climate change impacts on crop land use, cropping system impacts on surface water quality, agricultural best management practices, on-farm adaptation to climate change, efficient irrigation practices, biofuel feedstock production, soil carbon sequestration, and water policies.