Arnold B. Grobman (April 28, 1918 – July 8, 2012) was an American

zoologist Zoology ( , ) is the scientific study of animals. Its studies include the structure, embryology, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct, and how they interact with their ecosystems. Zoology is one ...

Biography

Grobman was born on April 28, 1918, in Newark, New Jersey as Morton Arnold Grobman, later changing his name to Arnold Brams Grobman, taking his mother's maiden name as his middle name. He received his education in the public school system in

Newark, New Jersey Newark ( , ) is the List of municipalities in New Jersey, most populous City (New Jersey), city in the U.S. state of New Jersey, the county seat of Essex County, New Jersey, Essex County, and a principal city of the New York metropolitan area. ...

and began his post-secondary education at the

University of Michigan The University of Michigan (U-M, U of M, or Michigan) is a public university, public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the state. The University of Mi ...

in Ann Arbor, earning his bachelor's degree in 1939. In 1943, he received a PhD from

University of Rochester The University of Rochester is a private university, private research university in Rochester, New York, United States. It was founded in 1850 and moved into its current campus, next to the Genesee River in 1930. With approximately 30,000 full ...

, then became an instructor in the Department of Zoology, a position that he kept through 1944. From 1944 to 1946, he was a

Research Associate Research associates are researchers (scholars and professionals) that usually have an advanced degree beyond a Bachelor's degree such as a master's degree or a PhD. In some universities/research institutes, such as Harvard/Harvard Medical Scho ...

on the

Manhattan Project The Manhattan Project was a research and development program undertaken during World War II to produce the first nuclear weapons. It was led by the United States in collaboration with the United Kingdom and Canada. From 1942 to 1946, the ...

, later publishing "Our Atomic Heritage" about his experiences. He moved to

Florida Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...

in 1946 to teach at the

University of Florida The University of Florida (Florida or UF) is a public university, public land-grant university, land-grant research university in Gainesville, Florida, United States. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida and a preem ...

in Gainesville, where he stayed until 1959, working as an

assistant professor Assistant professor is an academic rank just below the rank of an associate professor used in universities or colleges, mainly in the United States, Canada, Japan, and South Korea. Overview This position is generally taken after earning a doct ...

, then becoming associate professor of biology, a position he held from 1950 to 1952. From 1952 to 1959, he was the director of the Florida State Museum. In 1959, he moved to Boulder, Colorado, where he became the director or the

Biological Sciences Curriculum Study BSCS Science Learning, formerly known as Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS), is an educational center that develops curricular materials, provides educational support, and conducts research and evaluation in the fields of science and techn ...

(BSCS) at the

University of Colorado The University of Colorado (CU) is a system of public universities in Colorado. It consists of four institutions: the University of Colorado Boulder, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, the University of Colorado Denver, and the U ...

. In 1965, he moved to New Brunswick, New Jersey, taking the position of dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at

Rutgers University Rutgers University ( ), officially Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a Public university, public land-grant research university consisting of three campuses in New Jersey. Chartered in 1766, Rutgers was originally called Queen's C ...

. From 1967 to 1972, he worked as the dean of

Rutgers College Rutgers University ( ), officially Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a public land-grant research university consisting of three campuses in New Jersey. Chartered in 1766, Rutgers was originally called Queen's College and was aff ...

, within the university. In 1972, he became

Vice-Chancellor A vice-chancellor (commonly called a VC) serves as the chief executive of a university in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Kenya, other Commonwealth of Nati ...

of Academic Affairs at the Chicago Circle at the University of Illinois, then was appointed special assistant to the President from 1974 to 1976. In 1976, he moved to Missouri, where he had been selected as the Chancellor and a Professor of Biology at the

University of Missouri The University of Missouri (Mizzou or MU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Columbia, Missouri, United States. It is Missouri's largest university and the flagship of the four-campus Univers ...

St. Louis St. Louis ( , sometimes referred to as St. Louis City, Saint Louis or STL) is an independent city in the U.S. state of Missouri. It lies near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a populatio ...

. In 1986, he retired from the chancellorship and was named Chancellor Emeritus and Research Professor. In 1988, he left St. Louis and moved to Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands, publishing "Lizards of Virgin Gorda." He later moved to Vero Beach, Florida, then to Oak Hammock in Gainesville, Florida. His published works focused on

herpetology Herpetology (from Ancient Greek ἑρπετόν ''herpetón'', meaning "reptile" or "creeping animal") is a branch of zoology concerned with the study of amphibians (including frogs, salamanders, and caecilians (Gymnophiona)) and reptiles (in ...

, but he also published on science and education. He held offices in many organizations, including the

American Association of Museums The American Alliance of Museums (AAM), formerly the American Association of Museums, is a non-profit association whose goal is to bring museums together. Founded in 1906, the organization advocates for museums and provides "museum professionals w ...

, the

American Institute of Biological Sciences The American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) is a nonprofit scientific public charitable organization. The organization's mission is to promote the use of science to inform decision-making and advance biology for the benefit of science an ...

, and the

American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists The American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (ASIH) is an international learned society devoted to the scientific studies of ichthyology (study of fish) and herpetology (study of reptiles and amphibians). The primary emphases of th ...

, of which he was a secretary from 1952 to 1957, and later as a president in 1964. He was married to Hulda Gross Grobman and had two children, Marc Ross Grobman and Beth Alison Grobman. On July 8, 2012, he died in Gainesville, Florida at the age of 94.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Grobman, Arnold B. 1918 births 2012 deaths People from Newark, New Jersey University of Michigan alumni University of Rochester alumni University of Colorado Boulder faculty University of Illinois faculty University of Missouri faculty American zoologists Manhattan Project people