(1886-1967) A distinguished Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His interests and contributions spanned many areas of nutrition and biochemistry. Of special note is his discovery of the conversion of carotenes to vitamin A, the production of vitamin D by ultraviolet irradiation, and his central participation in demonstrating that copper and iron cure nutritional anemia. The production of vitamin D by ultraviolet irradiation virtually abolished rickets, a widespread and debilitating disease. Professor Steenbock patented the irradiation process for producing vitamin D and conceived the idea of the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, a nonprofit foundation which invests the proceeds from patents for support of research in the natural sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Professor Steenbock assigned his valuable patents to the Foundation, and revenue from them has provided uniquely flexible resources for fostering sustained scientific development on the Madison campus.

To honor Professor Steenbock, the Steenbock Endowment sponsors a symposium at the
University of Wisconsin-Madison.