Iain Stewart

Iain Simpson Stewart, MBE FGS is a Scottish geologist and currently Professor of Geoscience Communication at the University of Plymouth. He graduated in 1986 from Strathclyde University with a first class honours Bachelor of Science, he obtained his doctorate, entitled “The evolution of neotectonic normal fault scarps in the Aegean Region” in 1990 from the University of Bristol. From 1990 to 2001 he taught geology at the West London Institute of Higher Education and then Brunel University London. After a couple of years in Scotland as a science broadcaster he took up a lectureship at the University of Plymouth, becoming Professor in 2013.

He is a member of the board of directors at the Centre for Research into Earth Energy Systems, University of Durham. He is a Fellow of the Geological Society of London and President of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society. He is a patron of the English Riviera Geopark, a member of the Scientific Board of UNESCO’s International Geoscience Programme, and also a member of the UK National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement’s Academic Action Research group.

Internationally known both for his academic expertise and charismatic ability to communicate with the general public (he was a child actor on TV at the age of 14), Professor Stewart’s expertise is in the area of Earth hazards and natural disasters, particularly in identifying past major earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions in the Mediterranean region. Through his television programmes he has brought the reality of geology to everyone in showing globally how geology has generated the environment in which we live, the catastrophic forces that have affected mankind and the climate change issues that shape our future.

In 2010 Iain Stewart was recognised by the Royal Geographical Society for “popularising geography and earth sciences”. He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2013 Birthday Honours for services to geology and science communication. In 2013 Stewart was the recipient of the Athelstan Spilhaus Award by the American Geophysical Union.