Research output per year
Research output per year
Personal profile
Personal profile
After completing his Bachelor's degree in Human Geography and International Politics (BA) at Aberystwyth University in 2014, Nick joined Royal Holloway where he received a distinction in Geopolitics and Security (MSc), before joining the CDT in September 2015.
Research
Nick’s research is primarily grounded in Estonia, focusing on the multitude of digital technologies its government have started to employ since the regaining of independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Exploring initiatives such as Estonian e-Residency, the government’s use of blockchain technology, and now the utilisation of ‘data embassies’, Nick’s work aims to develop a greater understanding of the impact these technologies have on our traditional conceptualisations of the nation-state, border and embassy.
Thesis title: Distributed Denial-of-Government: the Data Embassy and the geopolitical, diplomatic and legal implications of extraterritorial data storage
Nick also has additional research interests, namely around the intersection of geopolitics, diplomacy, technology and (social) media. This has led to further research and collaboration on Embassy social media accounts and their role geopolitically and diplomatically.
Other
Nick recently spent time working as a Policy Advisor for the Open Innovation Team situated within the Cabinet Office. His main role was to help lead on projects in the Digital Government Partnership, which was announced as part of the UK Digital Strategy in 2017. This included work on cross-government interest in Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), future 5G adoption, and human aspects of cybersecurity.
Education/Academic qualification
Geopolitics & Security, MSc, Estonian e-Residency: a geopolitical appraisal, Royal Holloway, University of London
Sept 2014 → Aug 2015
Award Date: 16 Dec 2015
Human Geography and International Relations, BA, Department of Geography and Earth Sciences, Aberystwyth University
Sept 2011 → Jul 2014
Award Date: 18 Jul 2014
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
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Estonia: a curious and cautious approach to artificial intelligence and national security
Robinson, N., Hardy, A. & Ertan, A., May 2022, (E-pub ahead of print) Routledge Companion to Artificial Intelligence and National Security Policy.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
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Estonia: From the Bronze Night to Cybersecurity Pioneers
Hardy, A. & Robinson, N., 2021, The Routledge Companion to Global Cyber Security.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
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Distributed Denial-of-Government: The Data Embassy and the geopolitical, diplomatic and legal implications of extraterritorial data storage
Robinson, N., 2020, (Unpublished)Research output: Thesis › Doctoral Thesis
File501 Downloads (Pure) -
Encountering precarity, uncertainty and everyday anxiety as part of the postgraduate research journey
Butler-Rees, A. & Robinson, N., Nov 2020, In: Emotion, Space and Society. 37, 7 p., 100743.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile67 Downloads (Pure) -
The Estonian Data Embassy and the Applicability of the Vienna Convention: An Exploratory Analysis
Robinson, N., Kask, L. & Krimmer, R., 3 Apr 2019, p. 391-396. 6 p.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review
Open AccessFile157 Downloads (Pure)
Activities
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1st International Workshop on the Extraterritoriality of Data
Nicholas Robinson (Organiser)
19 Sept 2019Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in workshop, seminar, course
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TalTech University
Nicholas Robinson (Visiting researcher)
17 Sept 2018 → 14 Dec 2018Activity: Visiting an external institution › Visiting an external academic institution
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RGS-IBG Postgraduate Forum Mid-Term Conference
Nicholas Robinson (Organiser), Laura Shipp (Organiser), Alexander Hardy (Organiser), Emily Hopkins (Organiser), Nina Willment (Organiser), Nicola Wendt (Organiser), Ed Brookes (Organiser) & Adam Badger (Organiser)
18 Apr 2018 → 20 Apr 2018Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in conference
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Workshop on The Crypto Wars 2.0
Nicholas Robinson (Organiser)
4 May 2017 → 5 May 2017Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in workshop, seminar, course
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Workshop on the Internet of Things
Nicholas Robinson (Organiser)
5 May 2016 → 6 May 2016Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in workshop, seminar, course