Robin Williams

Robin Williams serves as Professor of Social Research on Technology at the University of Edinburgh, where he established and directs the Institute for the Study of Science, Technology and Innovation (ISSTI). After studying Natural Sciences and Social and Political Science at Cambridge and earning his PhD from Aston University, he has built an extraordinary career spanning over three decades at Edinburgh since 1986. His research focuses on the social shaping of technology, particularly examining how various actors influence the design, implementation, and use of information and communication technologies. As a pioneer in the field of Science and Technology Studies, he has secured over 50 external research awards and developed the influential "Biography of Artefacts" perspective with colleagues to understand how technologies and practices co-evolve. His impact is evidenced through numerous influential publications, including "How Industry Analysts Shape the Digital Future" and "Software and Organizations," with his 1996 paper on social shaping of technology garnering over 2,400 citations. Through ISSTI, he continues to promote interdisciplinary research across areas including ICT, life science innovation, and environmental sustainability, while fostering collaborations between social scientists and specialists from Science, Engineering, and Medicine.