Senior Research Scientist, Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute

Since 1977, Stewart has conducted wide-ranging research on the ecology, physiology, population biology and genetics, and behavior of all vertebrate groups except amphibians, on all seven continents, and in all of Earth’s oceans, with particular emphasis on seals, sea lions, whales, dolphins, penguins and other sea birds, sea turtles and whale sharks. During his research career Stewart has initiated, developed, and executed applied and basic research studies of marine mammals, seabirds, penguins, sea turtles, sharks and some terrestrial wildlife, mostly in remote polar, temperate, and temperate regions under contracts and grants to a variety of U.S. and international government agencies, corporations, private foundations, and NGOs. The objectives of virtually all of these studies has been to help identify and resolve conflicts between humans and wildlife, and vice versa; and wildlife and wildlife to strive to keep wildlife populations, communities, species and ecosystems on Earth, for at least a little while longer. He has often pioneered and applied a variety of technologies to engage in these studies.

Stewart earned a BA in biology from UCLA (where he was an NCAA student athlete) in 1977, a MS in ecology from San Diego State University, a PhD in biology from UCLA, and a Juris Doctorate in law from Boalt Hall at the University of California at Berkeley. He was awarded a Science & Diplomacy Fellowship by the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1999, serving with the Bureau of Oceans at the U.S. Department of State through 2001 under Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.