NEW»YORK»STATE»AGRICULTURAL»EXPERIMENT»STATION CORNELL Station NewsU N I V E R S I T Y GENEVA NEW V () R K V O LU M E LXXVIX • N O . 1 JANUARY 9-16,1998 EMINENT FOOD CHEMIST DIES BRIEFS — WWW SITE NEWS Looking for a web site that is educa­ tional and also entertaining? Try NASA’s home page at: www.nasa.gov. NASA was one of first institutions to truly utilize the Web in order to promote its work. Today, NASA’s site remains one of the best, most informative and easy to view. The site contains everything you will probably ever need or want to know about NASA and the space program. Topics in­ clude: current projects NASA is working on (Hubble, Pathfinder, Lunar Prospector), how to do business with NASA, and research opportunities at NASA. The current projects section is especially well done. All of NASA’s current projects are briefly summa­ rized so the casual reader can get a quick and general understanding of all the latest hap­ penings. These summaries are updated on a fairly regular basis. For those who want more information, each summary links to a full story. This full story features complete information, pictures (in many graphic for­ mats) and even animations and videos. The site currently features some of the latest photos of nebulae from Hubble. NASA has also been instrumental in doing live “webcasts” of some of their big­ ger events. For example, when Pathfinder landed on Mars, NASA broadcast many (if not all) of the photos they received over their web site as soon as they received them from Mars and, thus, gave “the masses” (you and me) access to the photos at the same time the “traditional press” received access. This demonstrates the true beauty of the Web when it comes to delivering information. J. Zcikour HORT SOCIETY SHOW The NYS Horticultural Society Hort Show is January 15-16. Pre-registration is due to the NYS Hort Society office by Janu­ ary 8. For Cornell employees who pre-regis­ ter, admission is free and lunches are $15. Lunch for the day is provided for speakers. The Hort Society will bill your department for lunches if you choose this option on the registration form. SURPLUS FOR SALE The following vehicles are being surplused by Buildings and Properties. Mini­ mum bid price is given. Send sealed bids to A1 Fairbrother, B&P, by January 16 at 2:00 pm. Please be sure to include your name, campus telephone number, and department (Continued on page 2) Dr. Willard B. Robinson, the retired director of the Institute of Food Sci­ ence of Cornell University (CIFS), and the retired chairman of the Department of Food Science and Technology (FS&T) at Geneva, died on Dec. 28 in Clifton Springs. Dr. Robinson established an interna­ tional reputation in his career as a food chemist and enologist. He was also a gar­ dener and a musician interested in politics. He is remembered very fondly as a good leader, an excellent researcher, and a “Re­ naissance man” in interests and accomplish­ ments. Dr. Robinson was born on April 19, 1918, in State College, Pa., the son of the late Clair and Helen Bancroft Robinson. He received his bachelor of science degree from Pennsylvania State University, and his master’s degree and doctorate from the Uni­ versity of Illinois. He was named assistant professor, associate professor, and professor of chemistry at the Experiment Station in 1944, 1951, and 1955, respectively. He was named chairman of the Department of FS&T from 1967 until his retirement in 1982, and was appointed head of CIFS in 1975. The Institute was established to help coordinate teaching, research and extension activities in food science on both the Ithaca and Geneva campuses. At the time of his retirement, in recognition of his service to agriculture, the Cornell trustees awarded him the title of professor emeritus. Dr. Robinson was recognized nationally and internationally as an authority on nutrition and food safety. He was a member of a number of committees of the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences and was a member of the Food and Nutrition Board of that organization, serving as chairman of the Committee on Food Chemicals Specification. He served on the Food Protection Committee of the National Research Council as its secretary and as a member of its subcommittees on food technology, artificial sweeteners, GRAS additives, and chemical use in food processing. He was a member of the panel on saccharin of the Institute of Medicine of the National Research Council. As a consultant to the U.S. Interdepartmental Committee on Nutrition for National Development, he served as food technologist for nutrition surveys in Colombia, Bolivia, and Honduras. He also served as a food technology consultant in Bolivia for the Pan American Health Organization and the World Health Organization of the United Nations. Some of Dr. Robinson’s most important contributions were on behalf of the grape and wine industry. While he was department chair, he hired Gil Stoewsand in 1967 to investigate a German study that labeled grapes as so “toxic” they promoted growth abnormalities in chickens. The study dispelled the notion of “toxic” grapes, and revealed the abnormalities to be the result of deficient chicken feed. Because of the study, confidence in the New York grape and wine industry was restored to commercial viability. For two years, Dr. Robinson co-authored a regular column in the Geneva Times, “From Vine to Wine,” with his daughter Robin Pulver. He also organized a Wine Industry Advisory Committee to serve as a means of exchanging technical information between Cornell faculty and the wineries. He organized wine seminars and workshops. He also helped organize the Eastern Section of the American Society of Enologists, and served as its chairman. He 1974, he was awarded the American Wine Society Annual Award of Merit. He served as co-chairman of the annual New York State Fair wine tasting competition from its inception in 1978 until his retirement from the Experiment Station. According to his wife, Alice, to whom he was married for 55 years, Dr. Robinson was especially fascinated by gladioli, a life-long hobby that he first took up when he was 12 years old. Ever the researcher, he developed the color classification system used by the North American Gladiolus Society. Dr. Robinson was also a musician and a politician. He sang in his church choir and played the flute. He served as chairman of the Phelps Democratic Committee, and was a member of the school board of the Phelps Central School District. He is survived by his wife Alice, five children, nine grandchildren, two siblings, and several nieces and nephews. m m CALENDAR of EVENTS W T JANUARY 9-16, 1998 ------ EVENTS/MEETINGS-------- Tuesday, January 13, 10:30 am 348 Morrison Hall, Ithaca CALS Chairs’ meeting Tuesday, January 13, noon G19 Hedrick Hall Geneva Arboretum Association meeting SEMINARS Date: Monday, January 12, 1998 Time: 11:00 am Place: Jordan Hall Staff Room Speaker: Dr. Robert Andersen Topic: Exploring for Fruit Varieties in Newly Friendly Republics JANUARY 9-16, 1998 CORNELL EMPLOYEE FAMILY DAY The Cornell Employee Family Day is scheduled for Saturday, January 24. Tickets are $3 for the basketball game and $2.50 for the meal. They must be purchased by Janu­ ary 14 from Colleen VanAllan, Room A 108, Barton Lab. PEOPLE • Congratulations Mrs. Susan Brightman (Research Sup­ port Specialist) in the Dept, of Food Science & Technology gave birth to a baby girl on 1/ 3/98. Her name is Kaitlin Lee. • Condolences The Station family extends special con­ dolences to Roscoe ‘Pat’ Krauss, on the death of his wife, Millie, on December 25, after a long illness. Condolences are also extended to Mart Van Kirk, on the death of his father, Mart Van Kirk, Sr., on January 1. SPORTS CORNER ENTOMOLOGY HOLIDAY PARTY A “Family Feud” contest was conducted at the Entomology holiday party, with the final round using questions from the Station survey conducted this past fall by e-mail. The student team of Ariel Diaz, Jennifer Grant, Jody Gangloff, Amy Roda, and Paul Robbins (left to right in picture) were the victors over the runner-up team of Jenni Hawley, Callie Musto, Donna Roelofs, Holly King, and Tom Glover in determining how people at the Station think. The most popular beliefs of the 72 respondents from around the Station are as follows with top answer first: 1. Favorite breakfast place: home, Perkins, Sweet Sue’s, Mary’s Diner, Denny’s, Dunkin’ Donuts 2. Most common motor vehicle: Honda Accord, Honda Civic, Chevy pick-up, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Camry, Dodge Caravan 3. Most popular magazine: Newsweek, Time, National Geographic, Better Homes and Gardens, Sports Illustrated, Reader’s Digest 4. Number of cups of coffee consumed/day/person: 3; 4; 3.5; 2; 4.5 5. Number of lies told/day/person: 0; 5; 2; 10; 1 6. Superbowl winner: Packers, Bills, Broncos, Cowboys, (Steelers-Giants-49ers) Also at the party, raffle tickets for 14 different baskets of goodies put together by various groups in the department were drawn. Since many tickets were bought by individuals outside the department, with 4 winners from outside, it might be interesting to report that $402 was collected in this raffle (plus gift certificates of $50 from Wegmans and $10 from Madia’s) and this was all given to the Geneva Food Pantry, sponsored by the Center of Concern, and the Geneva Community Lunch Program, sponsored by the Office of Social Ministry. Coordinators of these programs were genuinely appreciative and grateful for these donations, and they expressed how these gifts would radiate out to feed many families in our community this Christmas. W. Roelofs Squash Anyone?? Squash players wanted! Games weekly. All are welcome. Contact Mark Schmaedick (ext. 453, mas8@cornell.edu), Juliet Tang (ext. 343, jdt2@cornell.edu), or Gus Gubba (ext. 433, ag36@cornell.edu). 14th Annual Station Club Bowling Party Saturday, January 31 • 9:00 pm Pick up a sign-up sheet sent with this issue of News! ■ : :: CLASSIFIEDS WANTED TO RENT: House or large apartment in Geneva area for family of three. No pets.Call Bill Lamb at 789-3077. ROOM FOR RENT: First floor. Walking distance to Station. Parking space. Kitchen privileges. Female only, Call 789-1837. FOR RENT: Furnished room in private home near Colleges (HWS professor); ca. 1 mile from Station. Use of kitchen, laundry facilities, telephone. Garage. Avail­ able immediately to non-smoker. $250/month. 7893226. (BRIEFS, cont.) i on your bid. The Station has the right to reject any or all bids. Bid#] (marked on windshield): 1989 Ford Mini Van, 107,000 miles, exhaust and rear end noise. 0e>o\rx. S o p e r 1 33i.^ftinimum bid: $1,200 Bid #2 (marked on windshield): 1978 Chevrolet 1/2 ton pick-up, 45,000 miles, broken windshield. —----- — —_A_ Lx*,. . A' Minimum bid: $400 The Field Research Unit has the following surplus items for sale : Minimum Bid 1954 A/C “G” tractor painted with hydraulics $2,000 1953 A/C “G” tractor no hydraulics $1,200 1954 A/C “G” tractor, needs clutch, battery $800 1977 Int. 186 hydro tractor $10,000 1983 Riverside trailer, 20’ deck, 12 ton capacity $4,000 1966 Int. Cub tractor with Woods belly mower 5’ $2,600 1967 Royer shreader/mixer, portable $3,000 12 John Deere flex planters with hoppers $25 each Sealed bids will be accepted atFRU by Mark Scott until Tuesday, January 20, 1:00 pm. Bids will be opened at 1:05 pm and will be posted outside the FRU office. Bid should include name, item, phone number, and bid. If you have any questions, please call Mark at x296. 2