2 June 2009 Order of Merit honour for Lincoln University plant pathology professor

The Director of the Lincoln University-based Bio-Protection Research Centre, Professor of Plant Pathology Alison Stewart, becomes Lincoln's University's fourth academic in 12 months to be admitted to the New Zealand Order of Merit in recognition of outstanding research work.

In the Queen's Birthday Honours List announced on 1 June,  Professor Stewart was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) for her work on biological control systems for plant diseases.

The honour follows Order of Merit awards to soil scientists Professor Keith Cameron and Professor Hong Di in the 2008 Queen's Birthday List and to economist Professor Caroline Saunders in the 2009 New Year Honours.

Professor Stewart has been a staff member at Lincoln University since 1994. Initially appointed as an Associate Professor, she was promoted to a Personal Chair in Plant Pathology in 1999.

Scottish-born with a BSc (Hons) from the University of Glasgow and a PhD from the University of Stirling, Professor Stewart is a specialist in the ecology and control of fungal diseases of economically important vegetable crops.

In dealing with soil-borne pathogens she has been particularly interested in developing non-chemical methods of control  -  the biological and cultural approaches of integrated disease management.

In November 2002 when Lincoln University won its bid for Centre of Research Excellence funding to establish a National Centre for Advanced Bio-Protection Technologies, Professor Stewart was named as the centre's Director.

She continues in that role today with the centre now being known by the shorter title of Bio-Protection Research Centre.