Robert A. Plane, Professor Emeritus of Chemistry, discussed his multifaceted, distinguished career with colleague Robert Hughes on September 8, 2012. He described his path into chemistry, how he came to co-author with Michell J. Sienko multiple textbooks in chemistry (including the famous text, Chemistry), his view on the future role of textbooks, his research interests and then his also distinguished career as an administrator. As an administrator Plane became Chair of the Chemistry Department at Cornell, Provost of the University while Dale Corson was president, President of Clarkson University, Director of the NYS Agricultural Experiment Station (Geneva) and President of Wells College. In retirement he became a vintner–extending his long-term hobby and his work at the NYS Experiment Station. Supplementary resources include public domain versions of his earliest textbooks.

Producer: J. Robert Cooke

Videographer: Peter Carroll