Marion Robinson

Marion Frances Robinson CBE (née Harrison; 9 November 1923 – 25 February 2003) was a New Zealand nutritionist and physiologist. She was professor of nutrition at the University of Otago, and is particularly noted for her investigation of the importance of selenium in the human diet.

Marion Robinson

CBE
Born
Marion Frances Harrison

(1923-11-09)9 November 1923
Died25 February 2003(2003-02-25) (aged 79)
Dunedin, New Zealand
Alma materUniversity of Cambridge
Spouse(s)
James Roper Robinson
​
​
(m. 1951)​
AwardsFellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand (1978)
Scientific career
FieldsNutrition, trace elements, physiology
InstitutionsUniversity of Cambridge
University of Otago

Early life and family

Robinson was born on 9 November 1923,[1] the daughter of Wilfred, a carpenter, and Gladys Harrison.[2] She was educated at Wellington Girls' College and "did well despite a hostile headmistress".[3]

Academic career

Robinson completed a Bachelor of Home Science degree at the University of Otago in May 1945, and followed it immediately with a Master of Home Science degree, graduating in December 1945.[4][5] Robinson received the Anna P. Stout Scholarship for her Master's research.[6] At that time Home Science was the only way of studying biochemistry outside of a medical degree.[7] Robinson studied the fluorine in dental enamel for her Master's degree, having been introduced to the study of trace elements by Muriel Bell.[8]

Robinson moved to the University of Cambridge to work with Professor Robert McCance.[9] She completed a PhD and from 1949 to 1957 was assistant director of research in the Department of Experimental Medicine.[2][10]

While in Cambridge, Robinson published on the physiology of rat livers.[11][12][13] Robinson married James Roper Robinson, a physiologist, in 1951 in Cambridge. Robinson returned to New Zealand with her family in 1957.[14][7]

Robinson's research focused on trace elements and human nutrition. She set up the first trace element laboratory for the School of Home Sciences at the University of Otago, and became internationally renowned for her work on selenium.[7][10] In 1980, she became a full professor, with the award of a personal chair in nutrition.[15][16] In 1985, she worked on the World Health Organisation task group on selenium.[9] She served as the head of the Department of Human Nutrition at Otago between 1985 and 1988,[15] and was conferred with the title of professor emeritus when she retired in 1989.[16]

Death

Robinson died in Dunedin on 25 February 2003, and she is commemorated by a plaque in the Court of Reflections at Andersons Bay Cemetery.[1][17] She was survived by her husband and twin daughters, who both held doctorates themselves.[9] Her husband died in 2007.[18]

Honours and awards

Robinson was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand in 1978,[19] and a Fellow of New Zealand Institute of Chemistry in 1976.[9] In 1988 she was awarded the prestigious McCollum Award by the American Society for Clinical Nutrition.[9] Following her retirement from Otago, she was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, for services to nutrition education and research, in the 1990 New Year Honours.[20] Also in 1990, she was awarded honorary life membership of the New Zealand Dietetic Association / Dietitians New Zealand.[16]

In 2017 Robinson was selected as one of the Royal Society Te Apārangi's 150 women in 150 words.[7]

Selected works

References
  1. "Death search: registration number 2003/4700". Births, deaths & marriages online. Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  2. "ATL: Unpublished Collections". tiaki.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  3. "Marion Robinson, CBE, MHSc NZ, PhD Cantab, FRSNZ, FNZIC". 2003 Academy Yearbook. 2003 – via Royal Society Te Apārangi.
  4. "Graduates of the Year". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 9 May 1945. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  5. "Degree Examinations". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 13 December 1945. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  6. "Scholarships: University of Otago". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 9 May 1945. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  7. "Marion Robinson". Royal Society Te Apārangi. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  8. Marion Robinson (1945), The estimation of fluorine in New Zealand teeth : thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the Degree of Master of Home Science, University of New Zealand, OCLC 988685507, Wikidata Q104570527
  9. Writer, Staff (15–16 March 2003). "Obituaries: World leader in trace element research". Otago Daily Times.
  10. Clarke, Ali (31 August 2014). "Nourishing science". University of Otago 1869–2019. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  11. L M BROWN; M F HARRISON (1 July 1951). "Effect of a single injection of carbon tetrachloride upon the activity of the pseudo-cholinesterase in the liver and serum of male and female rats". Nature. 168 (4263): 83–84. doi:10.1038/168083A0. ISSN 1476-4687. PMID 14852965. Wikidata Q59055172.
  12. M F HARRISON (1 August 1951). "Relation between polyploidy and the amounts of deoxynucleic acid per nucleus in the liver and kidney of adult rats". Nature. 168 (4267): 248–249. doi:10.1038/168248A0. ISSN 1476-4687. PMID 14875063. Wikidata Q59056623.
  13. M F HARRISON (1 April 1953). "Percentage of binucleate cells in the livers of adult rats". Nature. 171 (4353): 611. doi:10.1038/171611A0. ISSN 1476-4687. PMID 13054653. Wikidata Q59085634.
  14. "FreeBMD – Search". www.freebmd.org.uk. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  15. "Obituary: Marion Robinson". University of Otago Magazine. 5: 36. June 2003.
  16. Jensen, Julian; Duncan, Pip (2018). A history: the third quarter century 1993–2018 (PDF). Wellington: New Zealand Dietetic Association. p. 59. ISBN 978-0-473-44220-0. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  17. "Cemeteries search". Dunedin City Council. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  18. "Cemeteries search". Dunedin City Council. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  19. "P-R". Royal Society Te Apārangi. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  20. "No. 51982". The London Gazette (2nd supplement). 30 December 1989. p. 30.
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