Birtchnell, Thomas Dr

My interests are on the interface between sustainable urban development and technological innovation. Recent work focuses on possible futures involving the production innovation of 3D printing and the containerization distribution system. I also hold interests in the mobilities of talent and knowledge to and from the Global South—in particular, India. I joined the University of Wollongong as a Lecturer in 2013 and I teach International Studies, Sociology and Geography subjects. Before Wollongong I was a postdoctoral Research Associate (2010-2013) at the Centre for Mobilities Research (CeMoRe) at Lancaster University in the UK in a project titled Technologies and Travel. The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funded this full-time position and Distinguished Professor John Urry was the Principal Investigator. The research examined the past and future impacts of 3D printing and additive manufacturing on mobilities, travel and transport and involved futures scenario-building exercises with designers, engineers, consultants and policymakers. Prior to this I was awarded my doctorate in Sociology and Social Policy from The University of Sydney in 2010. My research contributed to an Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Grant between the Centre for the Mind at The University of Sydney and industry partner McKinsey and Company. I have also been involved in the Centre for Corporate Change (CCC) in UNSW’s Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM).