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The University of Tennessee at Martin will host the first Technology Against Tornado Student Competition and Exposition on April 21, 2023, in the newly constructed Latimer Engineering and Science Building. With rapid growth of emerging technology and the need to protect people and property against tornadoes, the competition aims to inspire and engage students by transforming their innovative ideas into real-world functional products.

West Tennessee is a part of the tornado region called Dixie Alley, which is known for deadly, long-tracked, violent tornadoes. On Dec. 10, 2021, six states, including Tennessee, were hit with tornadoes that left trails of devastation behind. The main goal of this conference is to provide a sustainable impact on local communities by turning disaster into windows of opportunity by bringing together academic units, organizations and industries that are active in tornado management and recovery.

The event, sponsored by IEEE Computer Society, will be a one-day free summit that is open to the public. Students at any level of academic studies are encouraged to participate in the competition. Student teams must include two or more undergraduate and/or graduate students enrolled in any college or university. There is no fee to compete; however, finalists must attend the in-person competition to become eligible as award winners. Proposal submissions are due from each team by Oct. 7.

The five suggested creative technology categories are artificial intelligence-enabled technology, augmented and virtual reality systems, drones, robots, and autonomous systems, games and interactive technologies and other innovation themes. Team awards for each category are $600 for first place, $300 for second place and $200 for third place. People’s choice will receive $300 for first place, $150 for second place and $50 for third place.

For more information, visit <a href="https://www.tatcomp.org/">https://www.tatcomp.org/</a>, or contact local committee member Dr. Saman Sargolzaei, UT Martin assistant professor of engineering, at <a href="mailto:ssargolz@utm.edu">ssargolz@utm.edu</a> or (731) 881-7395.

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