Omar Pérez Figueroa

Obtained his Ph.D. in the Urban Planning and Public Policy program at the University of California, Irvine. Omar graduated cum laude in 2010 with a Bachelor of Social Sciences general program from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras. One year after completing his undergraduate studies, he obtained the Truman Foundation scholarship that he used to complete a master's degree in Water, Interdisciplinary Analysis and Sustainable Management from the University of Barcelona. He has worked with communities and local, federal and international governments, as well as with private corporations. His research interests focus on understanding how community-based movements and marginalized communities address environmental inequalities, with a special focus on water issues. Additionally, he has presented his research to diverse audiences, including EPA officials, politicians, United Nations officials, and K-12 students. His most recent project focuses on community aqueducts in Puerto Rico and how they understand water governance problems and resilience in the face of disasters and extreme weather events. This project is funded by the National Academy of Sciences.