Shaping a Sustainable Tomorrow: Landscape Architecture Student Amaia Morgan Aims to Advance Resilient Design
Miami-native and Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (BLA) student Amaia Morgan grew up being told the place she called home was under threat. Facing rising sea levels, rapid urban growth, and intensifying hurricanes, Miami is one of the most vulnerable cities on Earth in the face of climate change.
“Growing up in Miami, I’m always reminded of the threats facing the city from natural disasters and climate change, and that’s what drew me towards a career focusing on sustainability,” said Morgan.
Beginning at UF as a Sustainability and the Built Environment major, she quickly realized she wanted to pursue a more hands-on approach to environmental resilience. This brought her to the landscape architecture program, where she currently focuses on coastal resilience research.
“I’m doing research now under Dr. Jules Bruck, working on coastal resilience and creating landscapes that will mitigate the effects of these environmental changes,” said Morgan. “Specifically, I’m focused on nature-based solutions and the specific threats to Florida’s coastline.”
Morgan’s ultimate goal is to open her own landscape architecture firm in Miami, focused on climate change and resilience. Until then, she’s staying busy outside of classes and research.
Focusing much of her free time on climate advocacy, Morgan served as an intern with the CLEO Institute, a non-profit organization focused on climate education, advocacy, and engagement. Her role focused on running a grassroots campaign to establish UF’s genCLEO chapter, part of a larger state-wide effort to mobilize young Floridians to take action to protect the state’s fragile ecosystems. Additionally, she served a Student Representative for Sunrise Movement, a national organization advocating to stop the climate crisis and effectuate large-scale societal change to combat its effects. By advocating for increased environmental protections throughout the state, these groups have influenced major legislation, such as the passing of HB209 protecting state parks from commercial development.
Amaia Morgan and other climate advocates at the Florida Capitol in Tallahassee for Earth Advocacy Day 2025.
This past summer, she served as a landscape architecture intern with the City of Coral Gables, learning about the city’s landscape design efforts, city planning, and code compliance. She also pursues her interest in sustainable fashion and waste reduction by creating and curating fashion pieces for Strike Magazine.
“I thrift all of my clothes,” said Morgan. “Sustainable fashion and waste reduction are incredibly important issues, so I work with Strike on clothing designs and curations for the magazine. I do events as well and create outfits from used clothes.”
Finally, Morgan serves as a Future Landscape Architects of America (FLAA) Representative for the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). She helps put on workshops and hands-on lessons for K-12 students to introduce them to the world of landscape architecture and emphasize the importance of sustainability.
Morgan and other FLAA representatives host a variety of activities introducing K-12 students to landscape architecture
Be sure to check out Morgan’s recent piece for ASLA, “Designing Hope Beyond the Climate Crisis”.
Visit our news section for more stories from the department.
