On the five-year anniversary of the tornado that transformed the campus landscape and surrounding communities, the Temple Ambler Field Station and Ambler Arboretum of Temple University invite the public to a free event on Tuesday, September 1, from 5 to 8 p.m. in Bright Hall.

From Disturbance to Discovery: A Living Landscape Five Years Later will showcase how the campus has become a living laboratory for ecological research, student learning, restoration and community engagement.

The September 1 gathering will include light refreshments, brief remarks by Ambler Campus researchers and Arboretum staff, musical performances inspired by the storm and recovery and a discussion panel representing the campus, Upper Dublin Township and local residents. Attendees are also invited to view student research on display and meet neighbors who have walked their own paths to recovery after the tornado.

Current and former student researchers will additionally share how participating in this long-term project shaped their education, careers, and understanding of ecological resilience.

The event reflects a simple idea: While the tornado changed the landscape, it was the response of students, researchers, volunteers and the community that transformed it into a lasting legacy of discovery.