Marion Robinson, born 1923. Talks about her parents who both had academic backgrounds, mentions school background, and specialising in home science at Otago University. Talks about receiving Anna P Stout Scholarship in 1945 during her Masters year, and working with Muriel Bell on fluoride and enamel levels in New Zealanders' teeth. Discusses Cambridge University 1948-1952 where she completed a PhD. Discusses marriage, family, money and thesis. Married in England, had two daughters, based at home initially. UK reseachers were surprised New Zealand levels of fluoride were so low, unless they drank a lot of tea. Discusses mentors, notably Professor Frederick Soper, and in New Zealand Arthur Campbell (chemistry) and Norman Edson (biochemist). Talks about apparent lack of disadvantages for women scientists at Cambridge, yet distressed New Zealand Universities were slow at appointing women to chairs. Talks about the battle to get nutrition accepted as a subject into the Science Faculty, and discusses resistance as a possible gender issue.

Talks about returning to New Zealand in 1957, started lecturing in Home Science. Talks about supervising students. Describes research in metabolic studies measuring trace element status, a Nuffield grant, Medical Research Council grants, established techniques such as faecal markers. Describes institutional politics dramatically affecting funding for nutrition research. Talks about later establishment of the Otago Nutrition course in Science Faculty and the Nutrition Society of New Zealand. Describes getting published in prestigious 'Nature' journal and her fluoridation work in more detail. Describes juggling part-time work, family and study leave. Outlines research projects, and becoming a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand in 1978. Discusses the significance of her selenium research, and becoming involved in national nutrition policy work.

Interviewer(s) - Ruth Barton

Accompanying material - Interview information form, parent's Who's who entries, curriculum vitae (with additions), publications list

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-008499 - OHLC-008500

Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 transcript(s).

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - transcript(s) available OHA-2637.

Search dates: 1994

Original recordings not available for playback. Surrogate copies will be provided.

Alternative form available: Listening copies OHLC-009145 - OHLC-009147