The Robert J Stewart Laboratory

The Robert J Stewart Laboratory, based in our department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, was opened in April 1996 thanks to the generous support of Dr Robert J and Mrs Morag Stewart. Since its inception, the laboratory has cemented its position as a valuable resource for undergraduate students to hone their practical skills in Chemistry.

Both Robert and Morag were passionate supporters of the University and the Lab during their lifetime and established the RJ Chemistry Laboratory Fund endowment to support the work of the lab in perpetuity.

Robert's Strathclyde Journey

Born to Scottish parents in Thailand, Robert spent his early years in Southeast Asia before returning to the UK where he attended school in Somerset. Excelling in both academic and practical abilities, he chose to eschew a pure science course in favour of one of the few Applied Chemistry courses offered at the time - at the Royal Technical College, the forerunner to the University of Strathclyde. He began his studies here in 1948 as the only non-Scottish resident student on the course.

After graduating from the ‘Tech’ Robert moved to Toronto in 1952 to study for his Masters. A true entrepreneur at heart, he funded his initial weeks in Canada by selling kitchen gadgets on commission for a British company. By the start of term, Robert had been so successful in this endeavour that he was able to be one of very few students on campus to own a car – a Morris Minor.

Ultimately Robert went on to complete both his Masters and PhD in Toronto with distinction, and it was there in Canada that his career flourished. Beginning as a Research Chemist in polyethylene production, he quickly progressed to increasingly senior roles within Union Carbide.

Over 25 years he gained valuable managerial and business experience, which was put to good use when he acquired, in 1980, Andrew Merrilees Ltd and affiliated companies. Robert led the company through significant expansion and profitability, leading in both domestic and international markets.

The Lab Today

Despite his success in Canada, Robert never forgot his roots in Glasgow. He was a committed ambassador for the University of Strathclyde and today the revenue from his endowed fund supports curriculum enhancing experiments within the lab, with over 250 second and third-year students passing through the lab each year. Most recently, the fund has enabled the purchase of two visible spectrometers to facilitate a new teaching experiment based on the Kinetic Isotope Effect.

The University is incredibly grateful for the support of the Stewart family and their significant investment in our students. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to honour their memory through the delivery of useful learning.