Katherine Robinson

Dr Katherine Robinson is a Lecturer in Sociology at Goldsmiths, University of London. Her research focuses on urban public spaces, organizational dynamics, and qualitative ethnographic methods. She joined Goldsmiths in 2014 as a researcher on the 'Triaging Values' project examining international NGOs' resource prioritization. Her work bridges sociological inquiry with practical community engagement, such as ethnographic studies of public libraries in London and Berlin.

Her teaching includes core undergraduate courses like 'Theorising Contemporary Society' and optional modules on migration. She supervises both undergraduate and postgraduate dissertations and leads a regular academic writing group using collaborative 'shut up and write' practices.

Key research interests include everyday multiculturalism, organizational reform in conservation and cultural institutions, and methodological innovations in ethnography. Recent publications explore sonic urban ethnography across global cities, non-liberal international mission agencies, and the role of public libraries in fostering multicultural conviviality.

Her academic contributions span sociology, cultural economy, and environmental studies, with a focus on how institutions shape and are shaped by everyday practices. She has collaborated extensively with Monika Krause on studies of conservation NGOs and mission agencies, reflecting her interdisciplinary approach to sociological inquiry.