John Robinson
Ihavecometomypresentfocusonproblem-driveninterdisciplinarity(interdisciplinaryresearchandpracticeaimedataddressingissuesintheworldoutsidetheacademy)throughaseriesofpositionsandinstitutionsthatfosteredandsupportedworkatthefringesofthedominantdisciplinarycultureofacademia.Myinitialworkwasonenergypolicyandphilosophy,focusingonenergyforecasting,modelingandpolicyanalysis,andleadingtoanargumentinfavourofwhatIcalledenergybackcasting:articulatingdesiredenergyfuturesandtryingtodeterminehowtoachievethem.Thisledto9yearsofworkintheEnvironmentandResourceStudiesdepartmentattheUniversityofWaterloo,whereIwasabletoexpandourbackcastingworkintothedomainofsustainabilityandtoteachcoursesonenergyandthehistoryandphilosophyofenvironmentalthought.In1992,IwenttoUBCtoheadupthenewSustainableDevelopmentResearchInstitute,nowpartoftheInstituteofEnvironment,ResourcesandSustainability,whereIcontinuedtoworkonsustainablefutures,butnowinamuchmoreparticipatoryframework,leading,amongotherthingstothedevelopmentoftheMetroque