Melvin B. Robin

Science High School | Newark, NJ | 1996

Melvin B. Robin Portrait Photo

The official biography below was current at the time of the award. Awardees may choose to provide their latest biographical information on their profile page.

Robin, a retired chemist from AT&T Laboratories, has served as a volunteer at Science High School, a small, public magnet school in a large urban city, Newark, N.J. since 1991. His accomplishments include: I. Establishment of the Student Independent Research Program, which engages interested students in the pursuit of long-term science research projects and encourages them to enter state and national competitions such as the New Jersey Science Fair, Rutgers University Junior Science Symposium, NAACP ACTSO, National Black Chemist and Chemical Engineers Science Bowl; II. Secures grants to maintain the program, which is not maintained by the school district -- project SEED, an American Chemical Society grant, and A.T.& T. Minority Grants program; III. Directs his own funds into the program; IV. Spends countless hours coaching, mentoring, and acquiring materials and equipment for urban schools that serve primarily Black and Hispanic students; and V. Of the 21 students participating since 1992, 18 are underrepresented students (15 Black or Hispanic and three white females). All have received awards for their achievement, including one Westinghouse semi-finalist, and a four-year scholarship to Stevens Institute of Technology for another. Students attend other schools such as M.I.T., Dartmouth, Bates, and Rutgers University. As a retiree from industry, Robin was recommended for this award on the basis of the quality and outcomes of his work with underrepresented minorities in science and mathematics.