Pamela Robinson

Dr. Pamela Robinson is a Professor and Director of the Civic Sandbox at the School of Urban and Regional Planning, Toronto Metropolitan University. Her research focuses on smart cities, climate change, and the intersection of technology with urban planning. She holds a BAH, MPL, PhD, MCIP, and RPP credentials. Notable roles include advising the Toronto Public Library’s Innovation Council and serving on the Metcalf Foundation Board. In 2020, she received the Canadian Institute of Planners President’s Award for Academic Excellence.

Education:

• BAH (Honours)
• Master of Planning (MPL)
• PhD in Urban Planning
• MCIP (Member, Canadian Institute of Planners)
• RPP (Registered Professional Planner)

Research Interests: Dr. Robinson explores smart cities, platform urbanism, AI ethics, urban sustainability, and open data. She critically examines how technology reshapes civic engagement and urban governance. Recent work includes analyzing biases in AI systems and frameworks for wastewater surveillance.

Awards:

• 2020 Canadian Institute of Planners President’s Award

Teaching & Advising: Focuses on bridging planning theory and practice, emphasizing community-based learning. Her courses address land use planning, environmental design, and public engagement. She advocates for expanding planning’s boundaries to enhance urban livability.

Labs/Teams: Leads the Civic Sandbox, a platform for experimenting with civic innovation and community-driven solutions to urban challenges.