Walter Mathias Urbain (1910 -January 15, 2002) was an American physicist who helped pioneer food science innovation during World War II. His contributions include new patents and methodologies in food engineering, irradiation, and meat science.
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He earned his Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Chicago in 1934, then went to work for Swift & Company from 1934 to 1966 in research and development. Urbain would eventually rise to Director, Engineering Research, holding that position from 1950 to 1966. Urbain left Swift for Michigan State University in 1965 where he worked on irradiation, acting as a lead consultant to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, Austria and also consulting on projects with international governments. Urbain retired in 1975 though he served as a visiting professor to the University of California, Davis and as a consultant to the IAEA.
Urbain played a critical role in the American Chemical Society, the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (American Society of Agricultural Engineers: 1907-2005), and the Institute of Food Technologists, serving in all three organizations. He also earned two patents and published 36 scientific papers as well.
Urbain died in Dallas, Texas on January 15, 2002.