Episode 03: Rising Tides

In episode 3 of Florida 2100, we explore how Florida’s demographic landscape is projected to shift over the coming decades and what these changes could mean for the state’s culture, politics, and economy. Rich Doty and Conor Comfort from the University of Florida’s Bureau of Economic and Business Research join us to discuss their work tracking population trends and analyzing economic data to forecast the state’s future. Rich and Conor delve into how factors like aging populations, migration patterns, and urban expansion are shaping the way Floridians live, work, and connect. With their insights, we consider the cultural implications of these changes and envision what Florida might look like by the year 2100.

Rich Doty is the GIS Coordinator and Research Demographer with the Bureau of Economic and Business Research at the University of Florida. He has degrees in economics and urban and regional planning with a specialization in geographic information systems (GIS), both from the University of Florida. He has 30 years of experience with developing GIS-based models and analytical tools for estimating and forecasting population, water use and environmental impacts. He is a recognized expert in the fields of population and water demand forecasting and GIS.

Conor Comfort is a research demographer in the Population Program in the Bureau of Economic and Business Research at the University of Florida. Conor received his undergraduate degree in urban & regional planning at Florida Atlantic University from Boca Raton, FL in 2021, and a master’s degree in geosciences (specialization in urban and human geography) from Florida Atlantic University in 2023.