Introduction

Zoë Sofoulis, from the Institute for Culture and Society at Western Sydney University, is a retired interdisciplinary researcher with a longstanding interest in the myths and symbols of high-tech culture. Her earlier writings (under the name Zoë Sofia) focussed on science fiction, cyberculture, and electronic arts. She is more recently known for practical applications of qualitative cultural research and humanities perspectives in fields where technology and engineering predominate, especially urban water, where her papers have helped define a cultural and sociotechnical perspective on metropolitan water and demand management. When strangers ask if she has had children, Zoë is proud to say “No, but I’ve had postgraduates,” some of whom are contributors to this book.