Social innovation has become a key theme of recent discussions about the most effective ways of responding to complex health, social and economic problems in cities. Yet much of this discussion emphasises techniques and processes of innovation at the relative expense of more sophisticated understandings of the social. This talk explores how the social sciences may contribute more effectively to discussions of social innovation praxis in Australia by contributing key insights into the ways innovations transform the socius. I emphasise ideas of place, counter/publics and atmospheres to explore the ways social innovation may support more ‘liveable lives’ in Australian cities. About the speaker: Cameron Duff is an Associate Professor at the Centre for Organisations and Social Change in the College of Business and Law at RMIT University in Melbourne. Duff’s recent program of research explores the role of social innovation in responding to complex health and social problems in cities. This is a RMIT Engaging for Impact event and is supported by the RMIT Enabling Impact Platforms, College of Design and Social Context, College of Business and Law, School of Global, Urban and Social Studies, and RMIT Culture.