Kirsten Robinson is a PhD student in Systems Design Engineering at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada. Her research focuses on non-linear multiscale data assimilation for sea ice forecasting. She also works at The Waterloo Institute for Social Innovation and Resilience at Waterloo developing models to support decision makers. As an engineer, she has worked in robotics and electrical engineering creating ethanol from waste cellulose, reducing pain from pressure on neruofibromas, and on building underwater robots, adjustable high-heeled shoes, operating systems for Blackberries, and energy models.