Buildings may soon be safer and more resistant to strong windstorms, thanks to research done by an ISU professor.

Partha Sarkar, professor in aerospace engineering, is planning a trip to Washington, D.C. to present research on wind storms to members of the U.S. Congress and their staff June 20. Sarkar hopes it will both educate and bring change to building structural policy guidelines.

He said he hopes by presenting data to policy-makers about damage that can be done by tornadoes, hurricanes and microbursts from violent thunderstorms, a policy can be made to deal with these destructive forces.

Sarkar said the presentation is part of a science series put on by a group of institutions and organizations known as the Science Coalition.

Sally Schoenvogel, Science Coalition coordinator, said she is especially excited to have Sarkar present to Congress because there has never been a Science Coalition sponsored presentation on natural disasters before.

“My hope is to not only present to members of Congress what wind disasters are capable of doing, but to also show them what measures can be used to counteract the phenomenon,” Sarkar said.

The Science Coalition’s main objective is to educate policymakers on a variety of scientific topics and to lobby for more funding for research.

Schoenvogel said it is important to make sure members of Congress understand complex scientific issues.

“A lot of Congress members and their staffers were not chemistry and biology majors, but they’re being asked to make decisions on those types of subjects,” she said.

Schoenvogel said Sarkar’s visit to Washington is well-timed.

“This is a great time for Sarkar to come to Washington because, in the wake of recent global events like the tsunami in the pacific, natural disasters are really on Congress’ radar screen,” she said.

Sarkar said his primary research is on wind effects on different kinds of structures. He said much of his research is done by simulating wind disasters in wind tunnel labs at Howe Hall.

“Building code that is in place right now is suitable for straight line winds in a calm environment,” Sarkar said.

“Tornadoes and other wind disasters cause a much different kind of wind.”

Sarkar said while there is a good understanding of how wind phenomenon works, there needs to be more a concentrated effort to design structures that can withstand these types of wind.

“In the next 10 years, if there is a coordinated effort between universities, engineers and those who implement building code, I think it can be done,” Sarkar said.

“I think the problem can be solved.”