I recently learned that I have been awarded a Civic Recognition Award, in the Arts and Academia category, from The City of Mississauga! I was nominated by my Ward 3 Councillor, Chris Fonseca, to recognize my contributions in the area of STEM education via my professional work and my children’s book series, my Elizabeth series:
“Betty Robinson is a long-time book editor turned author, a lifelong learner and science student and educator specializing in the science of astronomy. She has been an amateur astronomer and active member of The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada since 1981, holding several positions with the Toronto and Mississauga Centres. She is currently the First Vice President of the RASC. Betty has worked on many publications on astronomy for major educational publishers and over the recent years focused on writing a series of STEM books for girls, following the adventures of a young science enthusiast named Elizabeth. Her profession as an educational science editor sparked an interest in writing. Elizabeth Goes to Mars!, is her third book, and the first in her children’s book Elizabeth series. Book 2, Elizabeth’s Enlightening Day at the Zoo, came out in early 2022. Book 3, Elizabeth’s First Total Solar Eclipse, came out in 2023. And book 4, which is about kitchen chemistry, has just been published. Betty’s work has been recognized with the 2025 Simon Newcomb Award for her contributions to spreading scientific knowledge in the field of astronomy.
To celebrate and acknowledge her work in astronomy, Betty was honoured with an asteroid named after her: minor planet (20026) Bettyrobinson.
Betty is married to Randy Attwood, an amateur astronomer and long-time supporter of astronomy education. Betty and Randy met through the RASC in 1981 and honeymooned in Papua New Guinea in 1984 while there to witness a total solar eclipse. They have a daughter, Elizabeth Attwood.”