Hello, I’m Stuart

I am a science and medical writer, presenter and educator. As a trained medical doctor and qualified teacher, I passionately communicate science and health sciences; seeking to inspire and engage others about these topics which are all too easily seen as stuffy and irrelevant. Using my experience in medicine and science alongside my powerful personal story as a cancer survivor, I present and write about science and health, making regular appearances on radio, TV and at public events (see below). I have been the food scientist for BBC’s Inside the Factory for over three years and I have authored the international best-selling books, The Science of Cooking, Science of Spice, and Science of Living (sold as Live Your Best Life in North America) which are published globally by DK Books. My writing regularly appears in the printed press and has appeared in both national and international publications. 

My personal background is often greatly inspirational to others. For in 2008, I was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour which, following successful surgery, forced me to leave active medical practice. Retraining as a further education health sciences lecturer, I discovered a passion for science communication – something I now feel fortunate to do fulltime!

I am a past finalist in the Wellcome Trust Science Writer of the Year Award and twice finalist for The South West Digital Awards (Individual Contribution to Technology) in 2012 and 2013. An advocate of brain tumour patients, I have raised over £10,000 for brain tumour charities and have lobbied for improved brain tumour research funding in the Houses of Parliament.

Selected Appearances and Writings:

    • Author: The Science of Cooking: Every question answered to give you the edge (DK Books, published October 2017); Spice: Understand the Science of Spice, Create Exciting New Blends (DK Books, published October 2018); The Science of Living / Live Your Best Life (DK Books, December 2020)
    • Regular food scientist for BBC’s Inside the Factory (BBC Two, July 2017-present),  newspaper reviewer for Breakfast News (BBC One and BBC News, since July 2016),  Masterchef (BBC One, April 2019), ‘The Junk Food Experiment’ (ITV One), Nadiya’s Family Favourites (BBC Two, September 2018), ITV Good Morning (October 2017, February 2018), The One Show (BBC One, August 2017), Countryfile Spring Diaries (BBC One, May 2017), Sky News Sunrise (2016); Food Unwrapped (Channel 4, 2015), Nigel Slater’s Great British Biscuit (BBC Two, 2013);
    • Interviews and appearances on: BBC Radio 2 (The Chris Evans Breakfast Show), BBC Radio 4 (Women’s Hour), BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Points West (TV), British Forces Broadcasting Services Radio, BBC Radio Scotland, Big City (Birmingham), Swansea Sound, XFM, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Wiltshire, West Midlands, Coventry & Warwickshire, Cardiff, Yorkshire, Leicester, Lancashire, Oxford, and Bristol;
    • Keynote speaker: Swindon Mindful Employer Network Annual Conference (October 2019), Edinburgh International Science Festival (2017), MindTorch Talks, London, June 2014;
    • Huffington Post TV Live: Can Fake Meds Heal Us?;
    • Writing: The Independent, New Scientist, The Guardian, BBC Focus, The Tampa Tribune, Daily Mail, Be Healthy Magazine (formerly Benhealth), Wiltshire Times (weekly columnist), Dr Stu’s Blog, Guru Magazine (with The Guru Podcast), The Trowbridge Magazine;
    • My research and work has also appeared in The Independent, Daily Mail, Express, Daily Star, The Sun, The Mirror.
    • Elevator films: Boredom, the documentary; NHS: A Personal Approach (two short educational documentaries);
    • Published academic research in International Journal of Eating Disorders, Neuro-Oncology Advances

On TV and radio…

‘Life Science’, BBC Radio Wilts, samples:

Temperature, taste and sweetness:

Germs in the home:

The science of food pairing: