Vernon L. Scarborough is a Distinguished University Research Professor and Charles Phelps Taft Professor in Anthropology at the University of Cincinnati. His research focuses on water management, ancient landscapes, and resilience in nonindustrial complex societies. He holds a PhD from Southern Methodist University (1980) and has conducted extensive fieldwork in Belize, Guatemala, Greece, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Sudan. Education: PhD in Anthropology, Southern Methodist University, 1980 Research Interests: Scarborough investigates the interplay between water systems, societal sustainability, and ecological adaptation in ancient civilizations. His work emphasizes cross-disciplinary approaches, integrating archaeology, environmental science, and anthropology to understand how past societies managed resources. Key areas include Maya water engineering, Balinese agricultural systems, and resilience in tropical environments. Grants & Awards: All-University Faculty Rieveschl Award for Creative and Scholarly Works (2004) Taft Center Fellowship (2006–2007) Weatherhead Fellowship (1995) Multiple grants from the National Science Foundation, National Geographic Society, and Wenner-Gren Foundation Labs & Projects: Since 1992, he has co-directed the Programme for Belize Archaeological Project, studying ancient Maya water systems and landscapes. He also serves on UNESCO's Scientific Steering Committee for the International Hydrological Program and IHOPE (Integrated History for the Future of the People of Earth).







