In Material Thinking author/artist Paul Carter describes how ideas are turned into creative works and how, in turn, these ‘local inventions’ contribute to general knowledge. He finds the difference of creative research in the attention it pays to acts of local invention, and discusses the role ‘strong collaboration’ can play in reposing questions of social purpose and historical identity bound up with becoming at that place. Paul re-presents and illustrates these ideas and invites discussion. Paul is the author of many books, including Repressed Spaces (2003), The Lie of the Land (1996) and The Road to Botany Bay (1987). His public artwork Nearamnew (a collaboration with Lab architecture studio) is throughout the plaza of Federation Square, Melbourne.