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Robert C. Seem is a native of the Allentown area in eastern Pennsylvania. He acquired all of his higher education from The Pennsylvania State University, having received degrees in botany (B.S.) and plant pathology (M.S. and Ph.D.). In 1975, Dr. Seem joined the Department of Plant Pathology at Cornell University’s New York State Agricultural Experiment Station as an assistant professor of plant pathology. He rose through the academic ranks and currently is professor of plant pathology. Dr. Seem specializes in the epidemiology, biology, and control of fruit and vegetable diseases with emphasis on the development of decision support systems, ranging from simple models of disease to sophisticated simulation models. Investigations often focus on the role of the abiotic environment on disease development and management including the application of new weather forecasting and information management techniques. He has carried out research in Australia, New Zealand, and Norway and has provided technical assistance in the People’s Republic of China, Hungary, and Morocco. Along with his students and support staff, he has produced over 150 research publications. Since 1990, Dr. Seem has also served as the associate director of the experiment station, where he assists in the day-to-day management of this 119-year-old, SUNY-supported research and extension institution. The campus is located in Geneva, New York, with 52 faculty members, over 300 employees, 70 graduate students, 800 acres of research plots, and a budget exceeding $22 million.
