Erik Nordman
@eriknordman.bsky.social
Director, Institute of Public Utilities @ Michigan State University & Associate Professor of Agricultural, Food, & Resource Economics • Author: The Uncommon Knowledge of Elinor Ostrom • Fulbrighter (Kenya) • Views my own
This picture of our dog makes her look like some kind of religious icon 😆.
November 26, 2025 at 1:15 PM
This picture of our dog makes her look like some kind of religious icon 😆.
Coincidentally, we went to the Michigan History Center this afternoon and saw a painting of Ransom Eli Olds himself.
November 2, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Coincidentally, we went to the Michigan History Center this afternoon and saw a painting of Ransom Eli Olds himself.
Spookier in the dark.
November 1, 2025 at 1:06 AM
Spookier in the dark.
Jack-o'-lanterns complete! My wife opted for a glam design, I tried to recreate the Irish "ghost turnip."
October 31, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Jack-o'-lanterns complete! My wife opted for a glam design, I tried to recreate the Irish "ghost turnip."
Today is a good day to revisit Michael Polanyi's classic essay, The Republic of Science.
October 17, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Today is a good day to revisit Michael Polanyi's classic essay, The Republic of Science.
Did @robverchick.bsky.social know this Spanish idiom when he wrote this book?
(The book opens with an anecdote about a literal octopus in a parking garage).
(The book opens with an anecdote about a literal octopus in a parking garage).
October 8, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Did @robverchick.bsky.social know this Spanish idiom when he wrote this book?
(The book opens with an anecdote about a literal octopus in a parking garage).
(The book opens with an anecdote about a literal octopus in a parking garage).
The sun came out long enough to shine on Beaumont Tower this afternoon. #MichiganState
October 7, 2025 at 9:34 PM
The sun came out long enough to shine on Beaumont Tower this afternoon. #MichiganState
I think a squirrel left this walnut perched in the remains of our Euonymus shrub.
September 27, 2025 at 4:37 PM
I think a squirrel left this walnut perched in the remains of our Euonymus shrub.
🐿️ Chipmunk in a tree 🌳
It greeted me as I walked into my building today.
It greeted me as I walked into my building today.
September 10, 2025 at 12:45 PM
🐿️ Chipmunk in a tree 🌳
It greeted me as I walked into my building today.
It greeted me as I walked into my building today.
This fight against Fed independence reminded me of a passage from S. Hays' "Conservation and the Gospel of Efficiency" (1959).
"The crux of the gospel of efficiency lay in the rational and scientific method of making basic technological decisions through a single, central authority." 1/3
"The crux of the gospel of efficiency lay in the rational and scientific method of making basic technological decisions through a single, central authority." 1/3
August 29, 2025 at 2:38 PM
This fight against Fed independence reminded me of a passage from S. Hays' "Conservation and the Gospel of Efficiency" (1959).
"The crux of the gospel of efficiency lay in the rational and scientific method of making basic technological decisions through a single, central authority." 1/3
"The crux of the gospel of efficiency lay in the rational and scientific method of making basic technological decisions through a single, central authority." 1/3
Big moth in our yard. I think it's a penitent underwing moth. Our dog Campanula is investigating.
August 24, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Big moth in our yard. I think it's a penitent underwing moth. Our dog Campanula is investigating.
Last time in DC we walked past "The Exorcist" steps, which actually was kind of scary.
August 12, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Last time in DC we walked past "The Exorcist" steps, which actually was kind of scary.
Just went for a run in downtown Boston. The wildfire smoke is thick!
July 27, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Just went for a run in downtown Boston. The wildfire smoke is thick!
I enjoyed spending yesterday touring some local social, stormwater, and energy infrastructure around Lansing and MSU. Thanks Tom and Cassandre for leading the "ecovillages" tour!
July 22, 2025 at 2:16 PM
I enjoyed spending yesterday touring some local social, stormwater, and energy infrastructure around Lansing and MSU. Thanks Tom and Cassandre for leading the "ecovillages" tour!
Thanks @qscience.bsky.social for the swag bag!
July 12, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Thanks @qscience.bsky.social for the swag bag!
The other side reads:
"If educators are agreed on anything, it is that the fundamental purpose of education is to prepare young people to be good citizens." 2/2
"If educators are agreed on anything, it is that the fundamental purpose of education is to prepare young people to be good citizens." 2/2
July 9, 2025 at 1:55 AM
The other side reads:
"If educators are agreed on anything, it is that the fundamental purpose of education is to prepare young people to be good citizens." 2/2
"If educators are agreed on anything, it is that the fundamental purpose of education is to prepare young people to be good citizens." 2/2
On my way home today, I walked by this statue of MSU president J Hannah. It has 2 inscriptions that are particularly relevant today.
"The university is an integral part of a social system that has given more opportunity, more freedom, more hope to more people than any other system yet devised." 1/2
"The university is an integral part of a social system that has given more opportunity, more freedom, more hope to more people than any other system yet devised." 1/2
July 9, 2025 at 1:55 AM
On my way home today, I walked by this statue of MSU president J Hannah. It has 2 inscriptions that are particularly relevant today.
"The university is an integral part of a social system that has given more opportunity, more freedom, more hope to more people than any other system yet devised." 1/2
"The university is an integral part of a social system that has given more opportunity, more freedom, more hope to more people than any other system yet devised." 1/2
Thrilled to be starting my new position as Director of the Institute of Public Utilities at @michiganstateu.bsky.social! Looking forward to meeting my colleagues in the Department of Agricultural, Food, & Resource Economics. Also need to check out the MSU Creamery's famous ice cream!
July 1, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Thrilled to be starting my new position as Director of the Institute of Public Utilities at @michiganstateu.bsky.social! Looking forward to meeting my colleagues in the Department of Agricultural, Food, & Resource Economics. Also need to check out the MSU Creamery's famous ice cream!
Iconic photo of Dorothy Day at a labor protest. This is also what the Catholic Church can be.
Photograph from Bob Fitch Photography Archive / Department of Special Collections / Stanford University Libraries
Photograph from Bob Fitch Photography Archive / Department of Special Collections / Stanford University Libraries
June 28, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Iconic photo of Dorothy Day at a labor protest. This is also what the Catholic Church can be.
Photograph from Bob Fitch Photography Archive / Department of Special Collections / Stanford University Libraries
Photograph from Bob Fitch Photography Archive / Department of Special Collections / Stanford University Libraries
OTD back in 2018, I saw some piping plovers at Orchard Beach, ME. We have some here in Michigan, too.
June 28, 2025 at 1:00 AM
OTD back in 2018, I saw some piping plovers at Orchard Beach, ME. We have some here in Michigan, too.
The sign inspired Shel Silverstein's forgotten prequel to "Where the Sidewalk Ends."
Post an unusual sign if you feel like it.
Post an unusual sign if you feel like it.
June 27, 2025 at 9:06 PM
The sign inspired Shel Silverstein's forgotten prequel to "Where the Sidewalk Ends."
Post an unusual sign if you feel like it.
Post an unusual sign if you feel like it.
Made a quick stop at the Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library on the way out of Indianapolis. "So it goes..."
June 25, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Made a quick stop at the Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library on the way out of Indianapolis. "So it goes..."