[1] He was educated at Christchurch Boys' High School, and then studied at the University of Canterbury, graduating Master of Science with second-class honours in chemistry in 1962.
His thesis, titled Studies in the coordination chemistry of certain transition metals,[4] elucidated the first structure of a cluster compound and its unusual delocalised bonding.
[5] Following his retirement, Robinson continued to be an active researcher, including work to develop a post-surgical protective gel based on chitosan from squid.
[5] In 2010 he was awarded a Marsden Medal by the New Zealand Association of Scientists, in recognition of his lifetime contribution to science.
[9] An active Rotarian, Robinson was a recipient of the Paul Harris Fellowship for community service in 2004.