The Winona State University CLASP Lecture Series will host “Whose Water Is It? Game Theory and the Tragedy of the Commons” presented by Steve Leonhardi at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 18, in Stark Hall 103.
Leonhardi will address the sustainable use of shared natural resources, such as clean air, freshwater and fish populations, that requires balance between self-interest and the public good.
Audience members will participate in simulations illustrating the conflicts making it difficult to prevent climate change and preserve the value of natural resources. Mathematical game theory will be used to model expected results from strategies chosen by parties in conflict, who may be individual consumers, neighboring states or countries, small businesses versus large corporations, or present versus future generations.
Leonhardi is a professor of mathematics and statistics at Winona State University. Leonhardi has helped develop mathematical modeling courses for earth and life science students at WSU. He is currently a co-author for the National Science Foundation-funded VCTAL project (The Value of Computational Thinking Across Grade Levels 9-12), writing supplementary materials on the applications of game theory in sports, business, biology and environmental science. Formerly, Leonhardi taught for the Peace Corps in Cameroon, West Africa and did consulting work as an actuary.
This event is free and open to the public.
For more information, contact Matthew Bosworth at MBosworth@winona.edu.
