At the heart of our discussions lies the notion of “commons,” which, in its earlier iterations, is often associated with the tragedy of resource depletion due to the pursuit of the individual self-interest, overpopulation, and overexploitation.
The forum seeks to move beyond the limitations of the “tragedy” narrative by exploring commons as a dynamic nexus for thinking, acting, and collaborating from within contemporary planetary conditions. Linked to the study of “commons” today is the question of conservation, whether by local, national, or international agencies (such as UNESCO). There is considerable debate about this topic linked to the nature of its management and sustenance as well as the question of community participation.
Key questions to be addressed at this workshop include:
- How can diverse analytic frameworks to promote sustainable interventions?
- How can international cooperation and diplomacy foster global governance, particularly for transboundary environmental issues?
- How can communal modes of stewardship provide insights into contemporary practices to develop more ethical and equitable relationships with the environment?
- What scientific methodologies and technologies can support critical, evidence-based approaches to environment-associated solutions?
- How do competing ideologies, economic interests, cultural differences, and policy agendas impact the implementation of collaborative initiatives?
We will explore these interconnected questions by drawing upon the expertise, creativity, and commitment of diverse participants, whose areas of expertise include histories of empire, energy politics, citizen science, complex disasters, socioecological well-being, biospheric conservation, public policy, property rights, trans-species interactions, environmental health, river ecologies, and more-than-human flourishing.
