The 50th Australian National Science Fiction Convention, Academic Program
21-25 April 2011, Hyatt Hotel, Adelaide Tce, Perth

What, if anything, can sf teach us about the future? It has become commonplace to argue that we are living in science-fictional times. If sf is our present, what comes next?

For many, sf has ceased to be a genre; it is a mode of awareness. It helps us to understand our rapidly changing world. It anticipates the fluidity of the future and the nature of evolution. Sometimes it inspires us to take action and challenge our reality. As the world of tomorrow becomes the world of today, does sf occupy a role of prediction, or does its strength lie in its extrapolative ability? Or the critical, often dystopian lens it offers to our present?

Future Imperfect explores the complex relation of sf futures to our contemporary critical, political and scientific understandings. Are there lessons for our scientists, politicians, policy makers, and activists in these science-fictional visions? What do we, as readers, take away from our readings of these potential futures, perfect or imperfect?

Topics of interest include (but are not limited to):

• Sustainability
• Climate change science
• Gender, Race, and Class politic
• Evolution
• Science literacy
• Forecasting / futures scenarios

Sessions will be 30 minutes in length, with 20 minute papers and 10 minutes for questions.

The Academic Program is part of the 50th Australian National Science Fiction Convention, and the 36th annual Western Australian science fiction and fantasy convention. For more information, visit the conference website at: http://2011.swancon.com.au/

Abstracts of no more than 200 words should be submitted to the conveners by Friday, 31st December 2010 to : academic_2011@swancon.com.au

Please include the following in the body of your email (no attachments please) :

• title of paper
• name / affiliation
• email address
• 200 word abstract
• short biographical statement (50 words)
• A/V requirements

Andrew Cameron & Helen Merrick
Natcon Fifty | Swancon Thirty Six Academic Program Conveners
Email | Web