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J. Stevenson has made foundational contributions to astronomical instrumentation, most notably through leadership in developing the 2dF (Two-degree Field) facility at the Anglo-Australian Observatory. This pioneering multi-object spectroscopy system, detailed in their highly cited 2002 paper (350 citations), revolutionized wide-field surveys by enabling up to 400 target fibres to be independently positioned by a sophisticated robot over a 2° field of view. The two spectrographs deliver spectra at resolutions from 500 to 20,000, allowing astronomers to simultaneously observe hundreds of galaxies, stars, or quasars. Stevenson’s work directly enabled landmark surveys of large-scale structure, galaxy evolution, and dark energy, making the 2dF facility one of the most productive instruments of its era. Their engineering and scientific vision transformed how observatories conduct spectroscopic surveys, setting standards for subsequent multi-object spectrographs worldwide. This achievement cemented Stevenson’s reputation as a key figure in optical instrumentation, with the 2dF system remaining a benchmark for multiplexed astronomical observation.