UROP Project

Water Governance Networks

water, governance, policy, anthropology, bureaucrats, participation
Research Mentor: Oswaldo Medina-Ramirez,
Department, College, Affiliation: Anthropology, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: oswaldo.medina@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 4
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required:
Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 7, During business hours
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
Not participating in the roundtable

Project Description

Water crises aren't just caused by dry weather—they also stem from breakdowns in trust and communication among those who manage the water supply. This project, part of the Governance-Anthropology-&-Policy Lab, investigates how water governance networks—coalitions of local water users, governments, nonprofits, and universities—operate and decide who gets water, how it is shared, and how to protect it for the future.

Why This Work Matters: This applied research examines day-to-day operations, including the benefits and challenges participants face in collaborative networks. It translates social theory into practical tools to improve environmental governance across the Americas.

Where We Are Working: Arizona, USA (Arizona Water for All Network); Guanacaste, Costa Rica (Water Governance Mechanism); Loja, Ecuador; and Florida, USA (Apalachicola – potentially). By comparing real-world water networks across North and South America, this project reveals how diverse cultures build trust and address water scarcity.


Research Tasks: - Literature review
- Data collection (interviews, document analysis, network data )
- Data analysis (qualitative coding and network analysis)
- Academic writing

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: - Academic writing (required)
- Qualitative data coding (recommended, though I plan to train students in qualitative coding)
- Social Network Analysis (recommended, though I plan to train students in SNA)
- Semi-structured interviewing (recommended, though I plan to train students in interviewing techniques)

Mentoring Philosophy

My mentoring approach is experiential, "learning by doing," and aims to turn research assistants into confident, autonomous scholars and effective practitioners. Emphasizing mutual respect, I start by understanding each mentee’s goals and career aspirations, then tailor research tasks to match their ambitions—such as mastering ethnographic and mixed methods, social network analysis, or preparing for graduate studies. Instead of assigning isolated tasks, I give mentees real ownership of specific parts of the research, encouraging deep engagement and personal responsibility. I foster an interactive, collaborative learning environment that combines high standards with a respectful, supportive space. Because qualitative research and governance work are inherently complex and iterative, I see mistakes as essential learning opportunities and create a safe space where students can take intellectual risks, fail, and learn from errors without fear of judgment. This approach ultimately provides students with the technical skills, analytical depth, and resilience needed to succeed in research and academia.

Additional Information

Selected students will be part of the GAPS-Lab (Governance-Anthropology-Policy-&-Sustainability Lab). This initiative focuses on advancing environmental and water governance across the Americas through research and practice. Students are trained in mixed-methods and ethnographic data collection techniques.

Link to Publications


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