Free movie - Twisters 2024 - sponsored by Emergency Management and Disaster Sciences Department. Please RSVP.

On October 17, at 3 p.m., UNO’s College of Public Affairs and Community Service (CPACS) will host a special screening of the blockbuster film Twisters in CPACS 101, followed by an Emergency Management panel featuring experts in the field, including individuals who played key roles both in the real-world study of tornadoes and in consulting for Twisters. The panel discussion will include members of UNO's Emergency Management and Disaster Science program: Dr. Sojin Jang, adjunct professor Emily McNabb, who also leads Sarpy County Emergency Management, Professor Mark Sheldon, a meteorologist in Aviation, and Austin Brake, UNO’s Emergency Preparedness Coordinator.

UNO's Emergency Management and Disaster Science program offers students comprehensive training to respond effectively to natural disasters, technological emergencies, and human-caused events. With a focus on both theoretical knowledge and practical skills, the program prepares graduates for careers in emergency management, homeland security, and related fields. Through partnerships with local and regional emergency management agencies, students gain real-world experience that complements their classroom learning. The program is unique in its interdisciplinary approach, integrating courses in public administration, political science, geography, and sociology.

A highlight of the panel is Dr. Adam Houston, an assistant professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, who was involved with the development of the Twisters movie after director Lee Isaac Chung contacted him to gain insights into the science of storm chasing. Houston’s expertise, garnered through his work as a principal investigator with the TORUS project, made him an ideal consultant for the film. His research involves studying tornadoes and supercell thunderstorms using advanced technologies such as drones, including the RAAVEN, which appeared in the Twisters trailer.