A Nobel Laureate Speaks

In front of a packed IU Auditoriu, last week Nobel Laureate Elinor Ostrom spoke publicly at IU for the first time since accepting her Nobel Prize in Economics.


As a political science student, I was especially interested in hearing what Professor Ostrom, a faculty member in the Department of Political Science, had to say. President Michael McRobbie gave a lovely introduction to Professor Ostrom's accomplishments, and presented her and her husband with the University Medal, which has been awarded less than 10 times, as a gesture of appreciation for the work the Professors Ostrom have done at IU over more than 40 years.


Professor Ostrom gave a revised version of her Nobel Speech, explaining the history that led to, and work of the project that won her the Prize. She explained that her interest has been in the use of resources that are available to multiple governments, adding that much of her research has been in forests that lie in areas under multiple jurisdictions.


It was an incredibly interesting and fast-paced lecture, but a fantastic opportunity that most other college students don't get to hear. Now I can say I listened to a Nobel Laureate give their Nobel Prize Speech soon after they received their award. Only at IU, pretty cool...