Auburn civil engineering faculty members Jose Vasconcelos, Prabhakar Clement, Xing Fang, Joel Hayworth, Ahjeong Son and Dongye Zhao are studying the spread of oil-related substances and sediments from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill using physical modeling. The effects of oil contamination on the state of Alabama have been the focus of their research for the Marine Environmental Sciences Consortium. In February, the team began assembling an apparatus that will perform experimental investigations related to water contamination. They also began tests of gravity current flows within Mobile Bay’s navigation channel. Their findings will help biologists and environmentalists understand the conditions of contaminants that may spread within Mobile Bay and disrupt local ecosystems. The team is one of several from around the state working on the research and sharing its findings.