Mhairi Stewart

Dr Mhairi Stewart is Head of the Berlin School of Public Engagement and Open Science, and Deputy Head of the Public Engagement and Impact Unit in the Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin. Through her work she supports national and international community and network building for the School and the field of public engagement, bringing the public, academia, industry and policy makers into productive dialogues for mutual benefit. She undertakes interdisciplinary research on the boundaries of current engagement theory and practice, evidencing the value of engagement to institutions and research individuals as well as audiences.

Formerly, she was Head of Public Engagement at the University of St Andrews, and the Chairperson of the Scottish Public Engagement Network, ScotPEN, an inclusive network of people involved in public engagement in Scotland, providing advocacy and a platform to share good engagement practice. She is also a member of the Royal Society of Edinburgh’s Young Academy of Scotland. With a strong research background including positions in Scotland and Germany, Mhairi has significant recognition for producing and directing engagement programmes and activities, especially in co-production between external partners and researchers from multiple disciplines.

In 2015 Mhairi received the Royal Society of Edinburgh prize for innovation in public engagement and is a recipient of a 2017 Wellcome Image Award. Her projects driving institutional culture change have themselves gained recognition. For example, Cell Block Science, bringing informal science learning to Scottish Prisons was awarded the Herald Higher Education Award for Partnership in 2018 and also was selected a winner at Falling Walls Engage 2020.

Mhairi Stewart was a part of 2024 Int. Spring Gathering, 2020 Winner Science Engagement, 2021 Advisory Board Engage, 2020 Winner