Mr. Andrew Stewart | Resource Discovery Award | Best Researcher Award

Mr. Andrew Stewart, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, New Zealand

Mr. Andrew Stewart, a distinguished alumnus of Victoria University of Wellington 🎓, is a prominent figure at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. With a robust career spanning from Assistant Curator to his current role as Curator NE (Fishes), Andrew has made remarkable contributions to the museum’s Vertebrates collection, particularly in Fishes. His leadership has seen the expansion of collections, including a pioneering DNA tissue repository and a cutting-edge alcohol storage facility. Andrew’s taxonomic expertise shines through his extensive publications and contributions to “The Fishes of New Zealand,” solidifying his legacy in fish biology and taxonomy. His dedication has earned him prestigious awards, reflecting his profound impact on the field and his effective science communication efforts 🐟.

🌐 Professional Profile:

Orcid

Education and qualifications

Mr. Andrew Stewart is an alumnus of Victoria University of Wellington in Wellington, NZ, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree 🎓. His educational journey at this esteemed institution equipped him with the foundational knowledge and skills essential for his career path and ongoing professional development.

Employment Summary

• 2023–present: Curator NE (Fishes), Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
• 2018–2023: Assistant Curator: Vertebrates (Fishes), Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Achievements

Andrew has significantly expanded the Fishes collection, developed a large DNA tissue collection, and led the construction of a state-of-the-art alcohol storage facility. He has been a pivotal figure in media interactions related to fish biology and taxonomy, authored substantial sections of “The Fishes of New Zealand,” and published numerous peer-reviewed papers. His taxonomic expertise is widely recognized, and several fish species bear his name in recognition of his contributions.

Awards and Recognition

Andrew has received accolades such as the best oral presentation at the International Biosafety 8th Annual ABSANZ Conference in 2018 and the Royal Zoological Society of N.S.W. Whitley Medal for his book on the Natural History of Australasian Animals. He was also honored with the New Zealand Association of Scientists’ Science Communicator Award in 1996.

Publication Top Notes:

1.  Upside‐down swimming: in situ observations of inverted orientation in Gigantactis, with a new depth record for the Ceratioidei

Year: 2024-03

2.  Dichichthyidae, a New Family of Deepwater Sharks (Carcharhiniformes) from the Indo–West Pacific, with Description of a New Species

Year: 2024-03-28

3.  The first record of Australian flatback mangrove goby Mugilogobius platynotus (Günther 1861) (Gobiidae; Tridentigerinae) from New Zealand

Year: 2022-05-19

4.  A new species of deep-water triplefin (Pisces: Tripterygiidae) in the genus Ruanoho from coastal New Zealand waters

Year: 2021-06-03

5.  First record of male freshwater eels (Anguilla dieffenbachii) caught at sea

Year: 2019-04-03