The Commons: March 5

Thursday, March 5, 6:30 pm
Studio-X
180 Varick Street, Suite 1610

Given the massive bailout of the financial sector by the US government and the demise of laissez-faire capitalism, questions of regulation, shared burden and collective action resonate more strongly than ever with the public. Garrett Hardin's 1968 essay "The Tragedy of the
Commons"illustrates the dilemma in which multiple individuals acting independently in her or his own self-interest can ultimately destroy a shared resource, even when everyone knows that this depletion is in no one’s long-term interest. Hardin, a biologist, was concerned with population growth, and discusses the moral and ethical issues at stake when "no technical solution" to the problem is available. How might we re-evaluate the Commons as both opportunity and dilemma today?

Panelists include:
Nora Libertun de Duren, Director of Planning, New York City Parks and
Recreation Department
Olympia Kazi, Executive Director, Institute for Urban Design
Michael Mandiberg, Artist; Senior Fellow, Eyebeam
Mark Shepard; SUNY Buffalo
Brooke Singer, Artist; SUNY Purchase

Moderated by Gavin Browning, Studio-X

This event is a prelude to the performance of "Hertzian Rain" by Mark Shepard at Eyebeam's MIXER: EXPO, March 6-7, 2009.

Free and open to the public. RSVP: gdb2106@columbia.edu

http://www.arch.columbia.edu/studiox/index.html