Robert Soden

Robert Soden is an assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science and the School of the Environment at the University of Toronto. Robert’s work draws on human-computer interaction and science and technology studies to evaluate and improve the data and information that experts and communities use to respond to climate change and disaster. Recent studies include design research to make severe weather risk communications more inclusive and usable, the data practices of grassroots climate justice activists, and methodological contributions towards the development of climate and disaster risk assessments that incorporate distributional, procedural, and recognition equity. Robert leads the Toronto Climate Observatory.

Dr Soden holds a PhD in Computer Science from University of Colorado Boulder and an MA in Natural Resources and Sustainable Development from American University. Prior to joining the University of Toronto he was a postdoctoral research scientist at Columbia University and a visiting researcher at the Stanford Urban Resilience Initiative. His research is funded by diverse organizations including NSERC, SSHRC, the NSF, the Natural Hazards Center, and University of Toronto’s Data Science Institute.