Marion Robinson

Marion Frances Robinson (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.

Early life and family Robinson was born on 9 November 1923, the daughter of Wilfred, a carpenter, and Gladys Harrison. She was educated at Wellington Girls' College and "did well despite a hostile headmistress".

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. Robinson received the Anna P. Stout Scholarship for her Master's research. At that time Home Science was the only way of studying biochemistry outside of a medical degree. Robinson studied the fluorine in dental enamel for her master's degree, having been introduced to the study of trace elements by Muriel Bell.

Robinson moved to the University of Cambridge to work with Professor Robert McCance.

While in Cambridge, Robinson published on the physiology of rat livers. Robinson married James Roper Robinson, a physiologist, in 1951 in Cambridge. Robinson returned to New Zealand with her family in 1957. In 1985, she worked on the World Health Organisation task group on selenium. She was survived by her husband and twin daughters, who both held doctorates themselves.

Honours and awards Robinson was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand in 1978, and a Fellow of New Zealand Institute of Chemistry in 1976. In 1988, she was awarded the prestigious McCollum Award by the American Society for Clinical Nutrition. Also in 1990, she was awarded honorary life membership of the New Zealand Dietetic Association / Dietitians New Zealand.

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

Selected works