Ernest J. Briskey
Encyclopedia
Ernest Joseph Briskey was an American
food scientist
who was involved in the biological
studies on meat
tissue during the slaughtering process. He also developed the use of meat science as a career, including the charter of the American Meat Science Association
, both at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
and at Oregon State University
.
, Briskey earned his BS
degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
in 1952 in meat and animal science
, then earned his MS
in animal science from the Ohio State University
in 1955. Briskey finally earned his Ph.D.
from Wisconsin in biochemistry
and meat and animal science in 1958.
After earning his Ph.D, Briskey then joined the faculty of meat and animal science department at Wisconsin where he would work his way up to professor rank and became director of the Institute of Muscle Biology. In 1970, Briskey left Wisconsin to become Vice President, Technical and Administration at Campbell Soup in Camden, New Jersey
, a position he would hold until he became Dean of Agricultural Science at Oregon State University
from 1979 to 1987. Briskey would step down as Dean in 1987, but would remain as a professor in the animal science department until his 1998 retirement. While as a dean at Oregon State, Briskey worked with the United States Department of State
in both Thailand
(1984-86) and Kuwait
(1986-88) as a science advisor. Following retirement, Briskey would retire back to Waunakee, Wisconsin
.
processing involving muscle
biology, which is what changes are involved in slaughterhouse
operations that change the meat into what consumers want. Two terms were developed by Briskey that are used in the meat industry about problems that would occur during slaughter and they are shown below:
, where he would earn their research award in 1966 and their service award in 1978. He was also an active member of the Institute of Food Technologists
(IFT) where he was won the Samuel Cate Prescott Award
in 1965, the Nicholas Appert Award
in 1975, and a Fellow in 1977. Briskey also served as scientific editor of the Journal of Food Science
in 1970-71 and as IFT President in 1975-76.
in Madison, Wisconsin
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
food scientist
Food science
Food science is a study concerned with all technical aspects of foods, beginning with harvesting or slaughtering, and ending with its cooking and consumption, an ideology commonly referred to as "from field to fork"...
who was involved in the biological
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
studies on meat
Meat
Meat is animal flesh that is used as food. Most often, this means the skeletal muscle and associated fat and other tissues, but it may also describe other edible tissues such as organs and offal...
tissue during the slaughtering process. He also developed the use of meat science as a career, including the charter of the American Meat Science Association
American Meat Science Association
The American Meat Science Association is a non-profit professional organization for the advancement of meat science and technology. Founded in 1948 and formerly incorporated in 1964, AMSA is headquartered in Savoy, Illinois, located near the Urbana-Champaign, Illinois area...
, both at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
and at Oregon State University
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
.
Education and career
A native of WisconsinWisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, Briskey earned his BS
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
in 1952 in meat and animal science
Animal husbandry
Animal husbandry is the agricultural practice of breeding and raising livestock.- History :Animal husbandry has been practiced for thousands of years, since the first domestication of animals....
, then earned his MS
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
in animal science from the Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
in 1955. Briskey finally earned his Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
from Wisconsin in biochemistry
Biochemistry
Biochemistry, sometimes called biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes in living organisms, including, but not limited to, living matter. Biochemistry governs all living organisms and living processes...
and meat and animal science in 1958.
After earning his Ph.D, Briskey then joined the faculty of meat and animal science department at Wisconsin where he would work his way up to professor rank and became director of the Institute of Muscle Biology. In 1970, Briskey left Wisconsin to become Vice President, Technical and Administration at Campbell Soup in Camden, New Jersey
Camden, New Jersey
The city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. It is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 77,344...
, a position he would hold until he became Dean of Agricultural Science at Oregon State University
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
from 1979 to 1987. Briskey would step down as Dean in 1987, but would remain as a professor in the animal science department until his 1998 retirement. While as a dean at Oregon State, Briskey worked with the United States Department of State
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
in both Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
(1984-86) and Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
(1986-88) as a science advisor. Following retirement, Briskey would retire back to Waunakee, Wisconsin
Waunakee, Wisconsin
Waunakee is a village in Dane County, Wisconsin, United States . The population was 12,097 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Madison Metropolitan Statistical Area. Waunakee bills itself as "The Only Waunakee in the World." The village was named as #78 in CNN Money's "Top 100 Best Places to...
.
Research involvement
Briskey would be involved in studies of meatMeat
Meat is animal flesh that is used as food. Most often, this means the skeletal muscle and associated fat and other tissues, but it may also describe other edible tissues such as organs and offal...
processing involving muscle
Muscle
Muscle is a contractile tissue of animals and is derived from the mesodermal layer of embryonic germ cells. Muscle cells contain contractile filaments that move past each other and change the size of the cell. They are classified as skeletal, cardiac, or smooth muscles. Their function is to...
biology, which is what changes are involved in slaughterhouse
Slaughterhouse
A slaughterhouse or abattoir is a facility where animals are killed for consumption as food products.Approximately 45-50% of the animal can be turned into edible products...
operations that change the meat into what consumers want. Two terms were developed by Briskey that are used in the meat industry about problems that would occur during slaughter and they are shown below:
- DFD (Dark, film, and dry): This results from meat that has a pH higher than normal. A dead carcassBodyWith regard to living things, a body is the physical body of an individual. "Body" often is used in connection with appearance, health issues and death...
of meat is a dark cutter and is caused by animal stresses prior to slaughter. - PSE (Pale, soft, and exudative): This results from meat that has a pH lower than normal. If meat comes out at high temperature and low pH, it will be soft and mushy from their inability to retain water, and results in light reflecting off the meat's surface.
Professional involvement
Briskey's research and involvement would be important in establishing the American Meat Science AssociationAmerican Meat Science Association
The American Meat Science Association is a non-profit professional organization for the advancement of meat science and technology. Founded in 1948 and formerly incorporated in 1964, AMSA is headquartered in Savoy, Illinois, located near the Urbana-Champaign, Illinois area...
, where he would earn their research award in 1966 and their service award in 1978. He was also an active member of the Institute of Food Technologists
Institute of Food Technologists
The Institute of Food Technologists or IFT is an international, non-profit professional organization for the advancement of food science and technology. It is the largest of food science organizations in the world, encompassing 22,000 members worldwide as of 2006. It is referred to as "THE Society...
(IFT) where he was won the Samuel Cate Prescott Award
Samuel Cate Prescott Award
The Samuel Cate Prescott Award has been awarded since 1964 by the Institute of Food Technologists in Chicago, Illinois. It is awarded to food science or technology researchers who are under 36 years of age or who earned their highest degree within ten years before July 1 of the year the award is...
in 1965, the Nicholas Appert Award
Nicholas Appert Award
The Nicholas Appert Award has been awarded every year since 1942 by the Chicago Section of the Institute of Food Technologists. Given for lifetime and consistent achievement in food technology, it is named after Nicolas Appert, the French inventor of airtight food preservation. Award winners...
in 1975, and a Fellow in 1977. Briskey also served as scientific editor of the Journal of Food Science
Journal of Food Science
The Journal of Food Science is a peer-reviewed scientific journal that was established in 1936 and is published by John Wiley & Sons on behalf of the Institute of Food Technologists in Chicago, Illinois...
in 1970-71 and as IFT President in 1975-76.
Additional honors
- Wisconsin Meat Industry Hall of Fame: Inducted May 4, 2000.
- Oregon State University College of Agricultural Sciences Diamond Pioneer Class of 2006: Posthumous induction on October 26, 2006.
Death
Briskey died on June 24, 2006 after a brief battle with leukemiaLeukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
in Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
.