Oct. 7-8 Festival of Commons celebrates all we share

Every day we use and benefit from resources we all share—elements of "the commons" such as water, land, technology, public parks, and even culture. How society creates, uses, and manages the commons will be the theme of The Festival of the Commons, held October 7-8 at Augsburg College.

Elinor Ostrom, the first woman to receive the Nobel Prize in Economics, will be the keynote speaker. This professor of political science at Indiana University won the 2009 Nobel for research that demonstrates the worldwide importance of the commons.

She found that—counter to conventional wisdom—people could collaborate to use and manage natural resources, intellectual property, and other shared resources. Her work runs counter to current ideas about common property management, regulation, and privatization.

The concept of the commons is founded upon principles including collaborative and participatory governance, responsibility to prevent harm and repair damage, creation of a sense of shared ownership and belonging, enhanced relationships built upon deep connections to one another and the earth, and stewardship that creates sustainability for coming generations.

Learn more about Ostrom's ideas and theories in this YouTube video.

For a full schedule of events go here.