The Ostrom Workshop is where the world's top academics, lawyers, economists, policymakers, political scientists, urban and rural developers, and dozens of other disciplines come together. It was founded at Indiana University in 1973 by Nobel laureate Elinor Ostrom and her husband, Vincent. Here, professionals and researchers come together to share solutions to the world’s most pressing problems involving communal and contested resources—from clean water to secure cyberspace.
Leading the world in commons and governance research
One of the reasons we called this place a workshop instead of a center was because...the whole idea of artisans and apprentices and the structure of a good workshop really made an impression on us.
Elinor Ostrom, on the founding of the Workshop
50+Years of groundbreaking research on governance and the commons.
7There are 7 interdisciplinary research program areas
200+Researchers, students, and other collaborators working with us around the world.
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Advancing cooperation and understanding of the commons
True to our commitment to advancing cooperation, the Ostrom Workshop is enthusiastically seeking partners with a shared vision of advancing effective governance. We welcome new ideas and directions for our programs, and look forward to connecting with potential collaborators.
See how you can partner with the Workshop
It's not just our aspiration to be a global destination, we are one. The Ostrom Workshop draws the foremost governance scholars and thought leaders to Indiana University.
Read more about our history and namesakes
