Arthur B. Robinson
Encyclopedia
Arthur B. Robinson is an American scientist and activist. He is the founder, president, and professor of chemistry at the Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine
, which describes itself as a research institute that studies protein chemistry, nutrition
, and predictive and preventive medicine
. He is also the developer of the Robinson Curriculum, described as a "self-teaching" "K-12 home school curriculum". In 2010, he was the Republican
candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives from Oregon's 4th congressional district
.
(UCSD). He was appointed to the UCSD faculty immediately after getting his Ph.D. He resigned his position at UCSD in 1972.
In 1973 Robinson was a co-founder, along with Nobel prize winner Linus Pauling
(who he later successfully sued for defamation in a case whose files run to 18.3 linear feet) and Keene Dimick, of the Institute of Orthomolecular Medicine, later renamed the Linus Pauling Institute
, in Menlo Park, California
. Orthomolecular medicine
is an alternative theory of medicine that often relies on the use of mega-doses of vitamins.
Arthur Robinson and wife Laurelee, along with sons Zachary and Noah, moved to Oregon in 1980. There are today six Robinson children: Joshua, Matthew, Noah, Zachary, Bethany, Arynne. Lauralee died of acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis in 1988 at age 43, leaving 6 children then aged 12, 8, 6, 6 and 16 months.
primary
for Oregon's 4th congressional district
, earning the right to face Democratic
incumbent Peter DeFazio
in the November 2010 general election.
He supports the use of nuclear power as a clean, safe and economical alternative energy source and the use of wind and solar in applicable environments. He opposed the Obama administration's health care proposal, supports tort reform, proposes increasing border security to help stop illegal immigration, suggests deporting illegal immigrants, and is in favor of legal immigration.
He received about 45% of the vote, losing to the incumbent Peter Defazio
.
was part of a conspiracy to retaliate against him for his political activism by expelling his three children, one of whom is a PhD candidate, from the Oregon State University Nuclear Engineering
and Radiation Health Physics
department. Art Robinson has stated in regards to the controversy "I have no proof, that is what I believe." Art Robinson has fought with university administrations over the education of four of his six children, he mounted a similar attack on Southern Oregon University to force them to allow his daughter Arynne to graduate without meeting university requirements because he felt the university courses were "specifically designed to destroy her faith, her innocence, her self-respect, and her happiness in her way of life" Unlike Oregon State University, Southern Oregon University backed down in the face of Art's threats of "law suits, adverse publicity, and 'an ever increasing telephone, fax, and letter campaign'" mounted by his home schooling devotees.
In a statement, OSU would not comment on matters concerning the students without their consent, but declared all the other claims, including those about the faculty, to be unfounded.
.
With his son, Noah E. Robinson, Ph.D., Arthur Robinson authored the Molecular Clocks: Deamidation of Asparaginyl and Glutaminyl Residues in Peptides and Proteins which includes a review of the scientific literature on deamidation
; His work has been discussed in later publications on this subject. Robinson and coworkers formulated the amide molecular clock hypothesis
in 1970.
An American Spectator article concerning Dr. Robinson's history includes discussion of his association with Nobel Laureate Linus Pauling
(Chemistry, 1954 and Peace, 1962), who referred to Robinson as "my principal and most valued collaborator." However, Robinson's research revealed "highly embarrassing" results proving conclusively that Pauling's data on vitamin C
was false. According to the article:
In 1986, Robinson and Dr. Gary North co-authored the pro-civil defense nuclear war survival book Fighting Chance: Ten Feet to Survival (ISBN 0930462106)
Robinson was the senior author of the Oregon Petition
, a petition of over 31,000 people who identified themselves as scientists or engineers (in 2008), intended to show that scientific consensus does not exist on the subject of global warming
. Robinson is a signatory to A Scientific Dissent From Darwinism
, a petition produced by the Discovery Institute
that expresses skepticism about the ability of natural selection
to account for the complexity of life, and encouraging careful examination of the evidence for "Darwinian theory
".
During Robinson's 2010 congressional run, controversy arose over racist content in one of the G. A. Henty
novels sold on his website. Robinson's views expressed in Access to Energy and on his websites aroused controversy, including his belief that public education should be abolished and support of the theory of radiation hormesis
(that small amounts of radiation are beneficial to life). Specifically he wrote that the solution to radioactive waste was to "dilute it to a low radiation level and sprinkle it over the ocean - or even over America after hormesis is better understood”
Art Robinson has also written critically of child protective services after an incident in New Jersey. Child protective services were called in after Matthew Robinson was taken to a hospital. Art Robinson writes: "Back at the hospital, they {child protective services} still refused to release Matthew. However, after I agreed to participate in meetings and examinations the next morning, they let him out. We, of course, immediately drove out of the state." Art Robinson alleges child protective services have pecuniary motives in investigating child abuse: "When a child is seized, these programs provide over $100,000 per child which pays the people who seize the child and their retainers in the police dept., child services, foster homes, etc. Our family was worth at least $500,000 to the social services industry of New Jersey."
Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine
The Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine is a 501 non-profit organization located about seven miles from Cave Junction, Oregon. It is a private research institute that studies biochemistry, diagnostic medicine, nutrition, preventive medicine and the molecular biology of aging, and receives no...
, which describes itself as a research institute that studies protein chemistry, nutrition
Nutrition
Nutrition is the provision, to cells and organisms, of the materials necessary to support life. Many common health problems can be prevented or alleviated with a healthy diet....
, and predictive and preventive medicine
Preventive medicine
Preventive medicine or preventive care refers to measures taken to prevent diseases, rather than curing them or treating their symptoms...
. He is also the developer of the Robinson Curriculum, described as a "self-teaching" "K-12 home school curriculum". In 2010, he was the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives from Oregon's 4th congressional district
Oregon's 4th congressional district
Oregon's 4th congressional district represents the southern half of Oregon's coastal counties, including Coos, Curry, Douglas, Lane, and Linn counties and most of Benton and Josephine counties...
.
Biography
Art Robinson has an undergraduate degree in chemistry from Caltech and a doctorate from the University of California, San DiegoUniversity of California, San Diego
The University of California, San Diego, commonly known as UCSD or UC San Diego, is a public research university located in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego, California, United States...
(UCSD). He was appointed to the UCSD faculty immediately after getting his Ph.D. He resigned his position at UCSD in 1972.
In 1973 Robinson was a co-founder, along with Nobel prize winner Linus Pauling
Linus Pauling
Linus Carl Pauling was an American chemist, biochemist, peace activist, author, and educator. He was one of the most influential chemists in history and ranks among the most important scientists of the 20th century...
(who he later successfully sued for defamation in a case whose files run to 18.3 linear feet) and Keene Dimick, of the Institute of Orthomolecular Medicine, later renamed the Linus Pauling Institute
Linus Pauling Institute
The Linus Pauling Institute is a research institute located at Oregon State University with a focus on health maintenance. The mission statement of the institute is three-fold. First, to determine the functional roles of micronutrients and phytochemicals in promoting optimal health and to treat or...
, in Menlo Park, California
Menlo Park, California
Menlo Park, California is a city at the eastern edge of San Mateo County, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, in the United States. It is bordered by San Francisco Bay on the north and east; East Palo Alto, Palo Alto, and Stanford to the south; Atherton, North Fair Oaks, and Redwood City...
. Orthomolecular medicine
Orthomolecular medicine
Orthomolecular medicine is a form of complementary and alternative medicine that seeks to maintain health and prevent or treat diseases by optimizing nutritional intake and/or prescribing supplements...
is an alternative theory of medicine that often relies on the use of mega-doses of vitamins.
Arthur Robinson and wife Laurelee, along with sons Zachary and Noah, moved to Oregon in 1980. There are today six Robinson children: Joshua, Matthew, Noah, Zachary, Bethany, Arynne. Lauralee died of acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis in 1988 at age 43, leaving 6 children then aged 12, 8, 6, 6 and 16 months.
2010 Congressional race in Oregon
In May 2010 Robinson won the RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
primary
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
for Oregon's 4th congressional district
Oregon's 4th congressional district
Oregon's 4th congressional district represents the southern half of Oregon's coastal counties, including Coos, Curry, Douglas, Lane, and Linn counties and most of Benton and Josephine counties...
, earning the right to face Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
incumbent Peter DeFazio
Peter DeFazio
Peter Anthony DeFazio is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1987. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes Eugene, Springfield, Roseburg and part of Corvallis. As Oregon's most senior member of Congress, he is the dean of Oregon's House of Representatives delegation...
in the November 2010 general election.
He supports the use of nuclear power as a clean, safe and economical alternative energy source and the use of wind and solar in applicable environments. He opposed the Obama administration's health care proposal, supports tort reform, proposes increasing border security to help stop illegal immigration, suggests deporting illegal immigrants, and is in favor of legal immigration.
He received about 45% of the vote, losing to the incumbent Peter Defazio
Peter DeFazio
Peter Anthony DeFazio is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1987. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes Eugene, Springfield, Roseburg and part of Corvallis. As Oregon's most senior member of Congress, he is the dean of Oregon's House of Representatives delegation...
.
Claim of retaliation against Robinson's children
In 2011 Robinson alleged that Oregon State UniversityOregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
was part of a conspiracy to retaliate against him for his political activism by expelling his three children, one of whom is a PhD candidate, from the Oregon State University Nuclear Engineering
Nuclear engineering
Nuclear engineering is the branch of engineering concerned with the application of the breakdown as well as the fusion of atomic nuclei and/or the application of other sub-atomic physics, based on the principles of nuclear physics...
and Radiation Health Physics
Health physics
Health physics is a field of science concerned with radiation physics and radiation biology with the goal of providing technical information and proper techniques regarding the safe use of ionizing radiation...
department. Art Robinson has stated in regards to the controversy "I have no proof, that is what I believe." Art Robinson has fought with university administrations over the education of four of his six children, he mounted a similar attack on Southern Oregon University to force them to allow his daughter Arynne to graduate without meeting university requirements because he felt the university courses were "specifically designed to destroy her faith, her innocence, her self-respect, and her happiness in her way of life" Unlike Oregon State University, Southern Oregon University backed down in the face of Art's threats of "law suits, adverse publicity, and 'an ever increasing telephone, fax, and letter campaign'" mounted by his home schooling devotees.
In a statement, OSU would not comment on matters concerning the students without their consent, but declared all the other claims, including those about the faculty, to be unfounded.
Writings
He is currently the editor and publisher of the newsletter Access to Energy, which was originated by Petr BeckmannPetr Beckmann
Petr Beckmann was a statistician and physicist who became a well-known advocate of libertarianism and nuclear power...
.
With his son, Noah E. Robinson, Ph.D., Arthur Robinson authored the Molecular Clocks: Deamidation of Asparaginyl and Glutaminyl Residues in Peptides and Proteins which includes a review of the scientific literature on deamidation
Deamidation
Deamidation is a chemical reaction in which an amide functional group is removed from an organic compound. In biochemistry, the reaction is important in the degradation of proteins because it damages the amide-containing side chains of the amino acids asparagine and glutamine.In the biochemical...
; His work has been discussed in later publications on this subject. Robinson and coworkers formulated the amide molecular clock hypothesis
Hypothesis
A hypothesis is a proposed explanation for a phenomenon. The term derives from the Greek, ὑποτιθέναι – hypotithenai meaning "to put under" or "to suppose". For a hypothesis to be put forward as a scientific hypothesis, the scientific method requires that one can test it...
in 1970.
An American Spectator article concerning Dr. Robinson's history includes discussion of his association with Nobel Laureate Linus Pauling
Linus Pauling
Linus Carl Pauling was an American chemist, biochemist, peace activist, author, and educator. He was one of the most influential chemists in history and ranks among the most important scientists of the 20th century...
(Chemistry, 1954 and Peace, 1962), who referred to Robinson as "my principal and most valued collaborator." However, Robinson's research revealed "highly embarrassing" results proving conclusively that Pauling's data on vitamin C
Vitamin C
Vitamin C or L-ascorbic acid or L-ascorbate is an essential nutrient for humans and certain other animal species. In living organisms ascorbate acts as an antioxidant by protecting the body against oxidative stress...
was false. According to the article:
A sharp divergence of political opinion between the two men also became apparent. A few years after he won the Nobel Peace PrizeNobel Peace PrizeThe Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel.-Background:According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize shall be awarded to the person who...
, Pauling also won the Lenin Peace PrizeLenin Peace PrizeThe International Lenin Peace Prize was the Soviet Union's equivalent to the Nobel Peace Prize, named in honor of Vladimir Lenin. It was awarded by a panel appointed by the Soviet government, to notable individuals whom the panel indicated had "strengthened peace among peoples"...
. He told Robinson that he was more proud of the SovietSoviet UnionThe Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
than the NorwegianNorwayNorway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
award. For his part, in the spring of 1978 Robinson had given a speech at the Cato InstituteCato InstituteThe Cato Institute is a libertarian think tank headquartered in Washington, D.C. It was founded in 1977 by Edward H. Crane, who remains president and CEO, and Charles Koch, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of the conglomerate Koch Industries, Inc., the largest privately held...
, then in San Francisco, deploring the government funding of science as harmful to the independence that is essential to scientific inquiry.
In 1986, Robinson and Dr. Gary North co-authored the pro-civil defense nuclear war survival book Fighting Chance: Ten Feet to Survival (ISBN 0930462106)
Robinson was the senior author of the Oregon Petition
Oregon Petition
The Global Warming Petition Project, usually referred to as the Oregon Petition, is a petition opposing the Kyoto Protocol and similar efforts to mitigate climate change. It was organized by the Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine , a non-profit organisation run by Arthur B. Robinson, between...
, a petition of over 31,000 people who identified themselves as scientists or engineers (in 2008), intended to show that scientific consensus does not exist on the subject of global warming
Global warming
Global warming refers to the rising average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans and its projected continuation. In the last 100 years, Earth's average surface temperature increased by about with about two thirds of the increase occurring over just the last three decades...
. Robinson is a signatory to A Scientific Dissent From Darwinism
A Scientific Dissent From Darwinism
A Scientific Dissent from Darwinism is a statement issued in 2001 by the Discovery Institute, a conservative non-profit public policy think tank based in Seattle, Washington, USA, best known for its advocacy of intelligent design.The statement expresses skepticism about the ability of random...
, a petition produced by the Discovery Institute
Discovery Institute
The Discovery Institute is a non-profit public policy think tank based in Seattle, Washington, best known for its advocacy of intelligent design...
that expresses skepticism about the ability of natural selection
Natural selection
Natural selection is the nonrandom process by which biologic traits become either more or less common in a population as a function of differential reproduction of their bearers. It is a key mechanism of evolution....
to account for the complexity of life, and encouraging careful examination of the evidence for "Darwinian theory
Darwinism
Darwinism is a set of movements and concepts related to ideas of transmutation of species or of evolution, including some ideas with no connection to the work of Charles Darwin....
".
During Robinson's 2010 congressional run, controversy arose over racist content in one of the G. A. Henty
G. A. Henty
George Alfred Henty , was a prolific English novelist and a special correspondent. He is best known for his historical adventure stories that were popular in the late 19th century. His works include Out on the Pampas , The Young Buglers , With Clive in India and Wulf the Saxon .-Biography:G.A...
novels sold on his website. Robinson's views expressed in Access to Energy and on his websites aroused controversy, including his belief that public education should be abolished and support of the theory of radiation hormesis
Hormesis
Hormesis is the term for generally favorable biological responses to low exposures to toxins and other stressors. A pollutant or toxin showing hormesis thus has the opposite effect in small doses as in large doses...
(that small amounts of radiation are beneficial to life). Specifically he wrote that the solution to radioactive waste was to "dilute it to a low radiation level and sprinkle it over the ocean - or even over America after hormesis is better understood”
Art Robinson has also written critically of child protective services after an incident in New Jersey. Child protective services were called in after Matthew Robinson was taken to a hospital. Art Robinson writes: "Back at the hospital, they {child protective services} still refused to release Matthew. However, after I agreed to participate in meetings and examinations the next morning, they let him out. We, of course, immediately drove out of the state." Art Robinson alleges child protective services have pecuniary motives in investigating child abuse: "When a child is seized, these programs provide over $100,000 per child which pays the people who seize the child and their retainers in the police dept., child services, foster homes, etc. Our family was worth at least $500,000 to the social services industry of New Jersey."
External links
- Art Robinson for Congress
- Oregon State Outrage - Provides Robinson's point of view on OSU's actions with respect to his children
- The Robinson Self-Teaching Curriculum website