*3D printing: social and cultural trajectories* A one-day symposium organised by the Swinburne Institute for Social Research Thursday 5 December 2013 Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn campus Melbourne, Australia The increasingly accessible technology of 3D printing, or additive manufacturing, is the focus of this interdisciplinary event. In recent years, inexpensive printers have allowed users to fabricate items that would otherwise be conventionally produced in specialised, remote factories.With this capability comes a range of questions for social and cultural analysis: How are people using 3D printing technology? What legal and policy frameworks shape its development? How are its capabilities differently imagined by consumers, regulators, experts and enthusiasts? What kinds of markets and practitioner communities are forming around the technology? The symposium aims to open up an exploratory conversation around these and other issues, connecting researchers from across the humanities, social sciences and design. We invite proposals for short papers and panel discussions. Possible topics include (but are not limited to): -3D printing and intellectual property -amateur and hacker involvement in 3D printing -intermediaries and emerging markets -policy and regulatory challenges -technology and industry disruption -3D printing and material culture -aesthetics of 3D printing -comparative histories of print Proposals, including a 300-word abstract, are due by Friday 13 September 2013. Successful contributors will be notified of the acceptance of their proposal by 30 September 2013. Please send abstracts to acdaly@swin.edu.au <mailto:acdaly@swin.edu.au> We plan to publish the proceedings of the symposium electronically and record presentations for online streaming. Contact: Angela Daly Swinburne Institute for Social Research acdaly@swin.edu.au <mailto:acdaly@swin.edu.au> The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination, distribution, forwarding, or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited without the express permission of the sender. If you received this communication in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any computer.