The Dundee born scientist who heads the key Quality Health and Nutrition programme at SCRI has been made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Dr Derek Stewart BSc, PhD (44) has worked at SCRI - Scotland’s leading centre for research on crops - since 1987.

For the last two years he has run a team of scientists who are working to understand the processes that regulate the quality and nutrition aspects of our major commodity crops. It’s part of the government’s drive for a healthier Scotland.

One of Dr Stewart’s most recent research projects identified the humble British blackcurrant as a “superfruit” with greater levels of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants than 20 other fruits tested.

Dr Stewart said: ““I am honoured that the RSC has bestowed this award on me.  It reflects the active support that SCRI has given to my programme’s research. It is also a recognition that chemistry plays a vital part in all aspects of science.”

SCRI’s Director and Chief Executive Professor Peter Gregory said: “This is a real honour and on behalf of everyone at SCRI we offer our congratulations that his work has been acknowledged in this way.”

The Royal Society of Chemistry is the largest organisation in Europe for advancing the chemical sciences. Supported by a worldwide network of members and an international publishing business, its activities span education, conferences, science policy and the promotion of chemistry to the public.

It has a global membership of more than 43,000, and the longest continuous tradition of any chemical society in the world.

Dr Stewart is married with one child and lives in Dundee.

More information is available from:

Phil Taylor, Head of Communications, SCRI, Invergowrie, Dundee, DD2 5DA. Tel: 01382 562731.