Dr.
Dave Robson
For the Michaelmas Term of 2011-2012 I am the half time Senior Tutor at University College, Durham
I am a Bank Counsellor in the University Counselling Service. Between 1995 and 2010 (when I took early retirement) I was a Deputy Head of Faculty in the Faculty of Science, where one of my main duties was to manage the Natural Sciences degree programme.
e-mail : dave.robson@durham.ac.uk
Outside
Interests
Outside of work, I am a member of the Elvet Striders running club and I
maintain a log of my races.
I used to windsurf and sail regularly at Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club, but I don't do this as
much as I used to because of my running. I also like the theatre and movies. I
am a British Association for Counselling and
Psychotherapy Senior Accredited Counsellor/Psychotherapist and a United
Kingdom Register of Counsellors (UKRC) Registered Independent Counsellor.
Academic
Background
My B.Sc. degree was in Pure Mathematics at the University of
Sheffield (1969-72). I stayed on at Sheffield and studied for an M.Sc. in Pure
Mathematics (1972-73). I returned to studying at the University of Hull, where
I worked for an M.Sc. in Computational and Statistical Methodology (1976-77)
and a Ph.D. in Computer Studies (1977-80). I also studied part-time for a
Certificate in Counselling Skills (1992-93) and an M.A. in Counselling at the
University of Durham (1993-96).
Previous
Posts
After leaving Hull in 1980, I worked as a Lecturer in Computer Science at the University of Southampton (1980-83). I came to Durham in 1983 and spent 1986-87 at the University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
When I took up the half-time post of Sub-Dean in October 1995, my full-time post within the Department of Computer Science was converted to half time. I left the Department of Computer Science in October 2001 when I became Principal (half-time) of St Cuthbert's Society. I resigned from St Cuthbert's Society when the Sub-Dean's post was made full-time in January 2003
In August 2005, the title of Sub-Dean was changed to Deputy Dean, but I still looking after Natural Sciences as well as having other responsibilities. The post was retitled in August 2009 to Deputy Head of Faculty (Natural Sciences)
Teaching
My teaching interests were in the effect of IT on society
and I used to teach a first year module (Information Systems and
People) in this area. I also used to teach social informatics
and computer ethics
Research
My research interests are in the effect of IT on society and
I am particularly interested in social communities on the Internet. In
particular, I have spent some time studying counselling services which are
being offered on the Internet.
Last updated 3 October, 2011