UCF Anthropologist Maps Flood Disparities in Miami-Dade

Nilver Tovar-Ospina completed the University of Central Florida’s integrative anthropological sciences doctoral program in Summer 2026. As the first graduate of that specific concentration in environmental anthropology, he shifted his focus from environmental engineering to the social history of flooding. His work centers on how sea-level rise and storm surges impact vulnerable populations in South Florida.

Tovar-Ospina’s dissertation, titled Architectures of Flooding: History, Power, and the Production of Flood Risk in Miami-Dade County, argues that flooding is not merely a natural hazard. He describes it as a condition shaped by historical decisions, infrastructure investments, and environmental changes. His research connects these structural factors to the daily experiences of residents.

The study utilized ethnography, interviews, participant observation, and geographic information systems. Tovar-Ospina combined these methods with participatory mapping to compare official risk models with local knowledge. This approach allowed him to identify gaps between where experts predict flooding and where residents actually experience it.

His findings indicate a sharp divide in flood protection. High-income, tourist-oriented areas received substantial infrastructure such as sea walls and improved drainage. Historically lower-income communities, however, continued to face recurrent flooding that had persisted for decades in some locations. Tovar-Ospina traced these disparities to earlier drainage projects and uneven funding for coastal defenses.

Residents in inland areas reported that their flood experiences were not fully captured by conventional assessments. Through participatory mapping, they highlighted specific locations with chronic drainage problems and mobility disruptions. Tovar-Ospina noted that these communities often received short-term responses like sandbags, while they advocated for longer-term adaptation strategies.

The researcher received recognition for this work at both national and international levels. In 2026, his peer-reviewed article on the human impacts of flooding in Miami-Dade County was published in the journal Human Ecology. He also won the Judges’ Choice Award at UCF’s 2026 Student Scholar Symposium.

Tovar-Ospina additionally received the Best Paper Presentation Award at the International Conference on Environmental Anthropology and Sustainability in Paris. He was selected as one of nine international participants for the 2025 Climate Politics and Autocratization Conference at the University of Bergen in Norway.

He recently received the 2026 Laura Bassi Scholarship for his book manuscript, Architectures of Flooding: Unequal Ground in a Drowning County. Tovar-Ospina stated that including communities in climate policy discussions is essential for equitable risk assessment. He aims to encourage more environmental anthropologists to study how coastal areas manage flood challenges.