The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers predicts sea levels in South Florida will rise from three to seven inches by the year 2030 and from nine to 24 inches by the year 2060. Such changes would mean daunting challenges for South Florida communities to stay habitable. FIU School of Journalism and Mass Communication (SJMC) professors Kate MacMillin, an award-winning TV producer, and Juliet Pinto, a journalism associate professor, explore this theme in the documentary, “South Florida’s Rising Seas.” WPBT2 aired the documentary twice in January.
Shot on location in South Florida, the half-hour production features interviews with geologists, engineers, lawyers, community leaders and environmental activists. The documentary explains sea level rise, its potential threat to South Florida and what is being done about it.
“We are one of the most vulnerable regions in the world to the impacts of rising seas, and so as communicators we felt that this was an important topic that we could present as a visual narrative,” said Pinto.
WPBT2 contributed animations designed by Norman Silva to the documentary. Award-winning Dan Gralick composed the music, and alumnus Jonathan Shaffer was the associate producer and editor.