About
Dr. Travis Loof is a Research Assistant Professor and social and communication scientist focused on turning research into operational tools that serve public agencies and communities. Based in The University of Alabama’s College of Communication and Information Sciences, he is the Communication Scientist for the Research-to-Operations team for the Cooperative Institute for Research-to-Operations in Hydrology (CIROH) and affiliated with the Alabama Water Institute and NOAA’s Office of Water Prediction. His work bridges media psychology, crisis communication, and human-AI interaction, with a focus on AI-enabled decision support for high stakes contexts such as water security and emergency response.
His research examines how people interpret scientific information, assess environmental risk, and work with emerging technologies when decisions have real consequences. Across projects in hydrology and hazard communication, he helps teams design tools, forecasts, and messages that are clear, usable, and trusted by the people who rely on them.
Impact Beyond the University
Dr. Loof connects researchers, operators, and policymakers to co design practical solutions that can be used in the field. His work supports government and community partners by improving how risk information is communicated and how decision support tools fit real workflows. This includes evaluating AI for crisis messaging, studying the dynamics of human AI teamwork, and strengthening communication strategies that help communities prepare for floods and other water related hazards.
A Passion for Teaching and Science-Informed Research
Through mentorship and applied research opportunities, he prepares students to become skilled communicators capable of supporting interdisciplinary collaboration and advancing the public good through science-informed communication. He encourages students to examine how communication shapes public trust, hazard response, and scienceinformed decision making.