UA Hosts Tornado Research Symposium on Anniversary of April 27 Storms

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama’s College of Arts and Sciences and its Alabama Museum of Natural History will co-host a tornado research symposium Friday, April 27 to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the tornado outbreak that struck Tuscaloosa and the region.

The symposium is a joint effort between UA’s department of geography and the UA museum, and it will feature a range of presentations about lessons learned from the tornadoes.

The one-day symposium will be held in 205 Smith Hall on the UA campus and will begin at 1 p.m. It is free and is open to the public. To reserve seating, email Carolyn Averett at caverett@bama.ua.edu or phone 205/348-7551.

The symposium will look at the tornadoes from a scientific perspective and present findings from research conducted about the April 27 tornadoes. Topics include the meteorological conditions associated with the outbreak, responses to warnings and decision-making regarding sheltering behaviors and the lasting impacts on the landscape after the storms.

“This brief symposium is a chance for academics and professionals working in several interdisciplinary fields to collaborate for the common purpose of communicating findings and discussing recommendations for the future,” said Dr. Jason Senkbeil, assistant professor of geography. “The presentations fuse physical and social science together so people can understand the uniqueness of the April 27 outbreak and how to improve tornado preparedness in the future.”

UA speakers for the symposium will include faculty members in the department of geography, Dr. David Brommer, Dr. Jason Senkbeil, Craig Remington, Linda Watson and Dr. Luoheng Han, associate dean in the College of Arts and Sciences. Other scientific speakers include Dr. Phil Chaney, from Auburn University’s department of geography and geology, and Dr. Kathleen Sherman-Morris, from Mississippi State University’s department of geosciences.

The symposium also will present the public response to the tornado and the media’s reporting of the catastrophe. Wes Wyatt, a meteorologist for Fox 6 News in Birmingham, will present “April’s Fury: Summary of TV Weather Coverage.”

John McConnell, director of Planning and Development Services for the City of Tuscaloosa, will discuss the city’s vision for the recovery process. The symposium will conclude with closing remarks from Dr. Doug Phillips, host of “Discovering Alabama,” the Emmy-award-winning television series.

UA’s College of Arts and Sciences is the University’s largest division and the largest liberal arts college in the state. Students from the College have won numerous national awards including Rhodes Scholarships, Goldwater Scholarships and memberships on the USA Today Academic All American Team.

UA’s Alabama Museum of Natural History is in Smith Hall at 426 Sixth Ave. on the UA campus. Operating hours are from 10 am to 4:30 pm Monday – Saturday. For more information, visit www.amnh.ua.edu or phone 205/348-7550.