Scientist, who served as Government Chief Scientific Adviser (1990-95). Born in Glasgow and raised on Islay, where he attended Bowmore Junior Secondary School, Stewart continued his education at Dunoon Grammar School and the University of Glasgow, where he studied botany and went on to specialise in microbiology, in particular the biological fixation of nitrogen. Following lectureships in London and Nottingham, Stewart became the first Chair of Biological Sciences at the University of Dundee (1968-94), where he was a Vice Principal (1985-87). He has published more than 200 scientific papers. He also served as Chief Executive of the Agricultural and Food Research Council (1988-90), President of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (1999 - 2002) and President of the British Association for the Advancement of Science. He chaired the Independent Advisory Group on the Decontamination of Gruinard Island of Anthrax; was Chairman of the Microbiological Research Authority, Porton Down; and of the National Radiological Protection Board. He also served on various other public bodies and was a scientific advisor to several industrial concerns. Stewart holds an honorary degree from the University of Edinburgh and was the first person to receive two such honours from the University of Glasgow (in 1991 and 2001).
