Prof Stuart Monro graduated with first class honours in geology at Aberdeen University in 1970 and has a PhD from Edinburgh University. He spent much of his career with the British Geological Survey (BGS) but for many years has been heavily committed to the application of geological data to environmental issues. He held the part-time position of Scientific Director of the Scottish Consortium for Rural Research, bringing researchers together across the field of rural research in universities and research institutions.

He was the founding Scientific Director of Dynamic Earth facilitating a better public understanding of the processes that have shaped the Earth, a tutor in Earth Science with the Open University, a Trustee of the National Museums Scotland and the first Independent Co-Chair of the Scottish Science Advisory Council, advising Scottish Government on science policy.

He has been a member of the Council of the Open University, of the Court of the University of Edinburgh and its vice-convener, Deputy Chair and subsequently Acting Senior Lay Member of Court at St Andrews University and was a member of the Steering Committee responsible for the drafting of the 2017 iteration of the Scottish Code of Good Higher Education Governance. He is an Honorary Professor at Edinburgh University and has served twice as President of the Royal Scottish Society of Arts and the Edinburgh Geological Society and also served as a non-executive Director of the Edinburgh International Science Festival.

He was awarded an OBE for services to science, the Distinguished Service Award of the Geological Society, honorary doctorates from the Open University, Heriot-Watt, Edinburgh University and St Andrews University and an honorary fellowship from the Royal Scottish Geographical Society. He is now delighted to be taking up the role as Chair of SAMS.