Born March 24, 1942 to Zelma Robinson and Edward H. Robinson. Graduated from Lamar High School in Houston, Texas, 1959.
BS in chemistry, California Institute of Technology, 1963. President of freshman and sophomore classes at Caltech, Secretary of student body, and President of Dabney House. Undergraduate research under Jerome Vinograd and then employed by Linus Pauling to supervise Pauling’s undergraduate research students. Undergraduate research published as Robinson, A. B., Manly, K. F., Anthony, M.P., Catchpool, J. F., and Pauling, L. Science 149, pp 1255-1258 (1965).
PhD in chemistry, University of California at San Diego, 1968, under the direction of Martin D. Kamen, discoverer of Carbon 14. Carried out part of PhD work under R. Bruce Merrifield at Rockefeller University. PhD thesis on the synthesis and characterization of cytochrome-related molecules, original contributions to solid-phase peptide synthesis, and related experimental work.
Assistant Professor, University of California at San Diego, 1968-1972, beginning immediately upon completion of PhD. Taught freshman chemistry and graduate level course in physical chemistry. Directed undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate students and technicians in research on the deamidation of peptides and proteins and also directed Linus Pauling’s experimental research group in nutrition and preventive medicine.
Research Associate, Stanford University 1970-1972, directed undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate research on metabolic profiling (metabolomics). Also, carried out theoretical research with Linus Pauling on the structure of atomic nuclei.
President, Research Director, and co-founder of Linus Pauling Institute of Science and Medicine, 1973-1978. Directed graduate students, postgraduates, and technicians in experimental work on nutrition and preventive medicine and metabolic profiling.
President and Research Director of Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine, 1980-present. Research emphasis is metabolic profiling, deamidation of peptides and proteins, and nutrition and preventive medicine. Deamidation research summarized in book, Molecular Clocks: Deamidation of Asparaginyl and Glutaminyl Residues in Peptides and Proteins by Noah E. Robinson and Arthur B. Robinson.
Extensive work on civilian nuclear weapons defense, 1985-1991, with Conrad Chester, director of civil defense research at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Organized an 8,000 member civil defense advocacy group, built extensive educational nuclear defense equipment for FEMA, and published materials circulated by FEMA to emergency responders.
Writer and publisher of newsletter Access to Energy, a nuclear energy advocacy publication originated and written by Petr Beckman 1973 to 1993 and, after Petr Beckman’s death, written by Art Robinson 1994 to present. Access to Energy also covers other scientific subjects of special public interest, including especially all forms of energy generation and climate and environmental issues.
Chairman of Oregon Republican Party, 2013-2014, and Republican candidate for U.S. Congress in Oregon District 4 in 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2016.
Married to Laurelee Robinson, mother and research chemist, 1971-1988. Laurelee died in 1988, when their children were 12, 10, 8, 6, 6, and 1.5 years old. Art raised and homeschooled their family and did not re-marry. Art Robinson’s children are:
Zachary Robinson, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University.
Noah Robinson, PhD Chemistry, California Institute of Technology.
Arynne Robinson, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University
Joshua Robinson, PhD Nuclear Engineering, Oregon State University
Bethany Jepsen, MS Nuclear Engineering, Oregon State University
Matthew Robinson, PhD Nuclear Engineering, Oregon State University
In addition to their professional work, the Robinson children market a K-12 educational curriculum now used for homeschooling and as a supplement to public schooling by approximately 60,000 students.
Art Robinson has published numerous research papers in scientific journals including the Proceedings of the U. S. National Academy of Sciences, Science, Nature, Mechanisms of Aging and Development, and other professional journals and three books, and has also written for news publications such as The Wall Street Journal. He is best known scientifically for his origination of and work in metabolic profiling and amide molecular clocks in peptides and proteins.
His political work is summarized in the book Common Sense in 2012 by Art Robinson. He also directed the Petition Project concerning the hypothesis of human-caused global warming. Six exemplary personal recommendations published with Common Sense in 2012 include:
“Dr. Robinson is one of the most gifted scientists I have ever met.” – Martin Kamen – Fermi Prize and Discoverer of Carbon 14.
“Dr. Robinson is known to me as a careful, competent, and well-informed scientist” – Edward Teller – Defense Scientist
“Arthur Robinson has the respect of a very significant portion of the scientific community.” – Frederic Seitz – Former President of the U. S. National Academy of Sciences
“I strongly endorse Art Robinson for election to the U.S. Congress. In the 15 years I have known Art, I have found him to be an outstanding scientist, a man of uncompromising integrity. Art’s depth of knowledge of the economic, scientific, energy, and industrial challenges that face our nation is unparalleled. Men of his ability are urgently needed in Washington.” – Steve Forbes – Publisher and Entrepreneur
“In my experience with space flight, I have come to know many men of excellence. Art Robinson is the best can-do guy I know. He’s what we need in Washington, and I think Oregon voters should elect Art Robinson. He’s a treasure.” – Scott Carpenter – Mercury Astronaut
Art Robinson’s philosophy is that the government is far too intrusive in our lives. He understands we have to stop the spending in Washington, the growth of the national debt, and allow the Constitution to function. I strongly recommend the 4th congressional district of Oregon put Art Robinson in the Congress of the United States”. – Harrison Schmitt – Apollo Astronaut and former U. S. Senator