David W. Robinson Award for International Agriculture Students

California’s importance in the global economy has long been recognized, and animal agriculture contributes much to this prominence. Moreover, the cultural diversity of California and the UC Davis campus supports broad appreciation for people and their welfare throughout the world. In this spirit, and in memory of a beloved faculty member, the Department of Animal Science has initiated fund-raising efforts to establish a student award in international agriculture to honor the memory of Dr. David “Dave” Robinson.

Dave Robinson was a member of the Animal Science faculty from 1968 until his untimely death in 1985. Born in England, he spent much of his first nine years in Spain and Morocco with his missionary parents. As a graduate student at the University of Nottingham, he was awarded a travel scholarship to visit research institutions in several countries. These early experiences no doubt contributed to his lifelong interest in travel and in people from other cultures.

At UC Davis, Dave was the first program director of the Small Ruminant Program, the first of the Collaborative Research Support Programs authorized by the U.S. Congress under the 1975 Famine Prevention and Freedom From Hunger Act.  He developed a new kind of international agriculture based on collaborations between U.S. and host country scientists. The mechanisms established under his leadership provided a model for future international aid programs that contributed not only to more effective use of funds than traditional programs but also increased the probability that the research would continue when U.S. involvement ended.

Memorial gifts of almost $4,000 were received by the Department of Animal Science at the time of Dave’s death. The funds were placed in an interest-bearing account with income over the years used to support student activities. The Department now plans to add to the account as possible, and when a goal of $10,000 is reached, to establish an endowment fund to support a new student award in Professor Robinson’s memory . This award, aimed at offsetting educational expenses,.  will be given to a full-time undergraduate or graduate student in the Department of Animal Science who has demonstrated by his or her activities and achievements a genuine interest in a career in international agriculture.

Gifts to the fund should be sent to the Department of Animal Science. For convenience, donors may use the insert and envelope included with this newsletter. Progress toward the goal of establishing the endowment in memory of Professor David W. Robinson will be accounted in future issues of Highlights.