Multi-award-winning scientist, Professor Mike Wood, has spent the last two decades studying radiation and its environmental impacts. Journey with him through the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, exploring the abandoned landscape that acts as his natural laboratory. Along the way, you will learn about the accident, the people and the wildlife of Chernobyl, uncovering the ‘truths’ within the myriad of myths that surround the world’s worst nuclear accident. Through the power of virtual reality, you will also have the opportunity to explore Chernobyl for yourself. Developed by Professor Wood and colleagues at the University of Salford, Virtual Chernobyl has enabled audiences around the world to experience what it is really like to walk within this radioactive wilderness and venture into areas of Chernobyl that others seldom visit.

Join us at Chapman Building, The University of Salford from 6pm for a virtual reality exhibition of Chernobyl, followed by the Inaugural Professorial Lecture of Professor Mike Wood at 7pm. A drinks reception following the lecture will provide the opportunity to network with other guests.

Event Timings

6-7pm - Virtual Chernobyl drop in exhibition

7pm-8pm - Inaugural Professorial Lecture of Professor Mike Wood

8pm-9pm - Drinks Reception

This lecture will also be streamed virtually on Microsoft Teams Live at 7pm . Should you wish to attend online, please register for a Teams Live ticket to receive the Live event link. This will be emailed to you the day before the event.

About Professor Mike Wood

Professor Mike Wood holds the Chair in Applied Ecology at the University of Salford and is Director of the Ecosystems and Environment Research Centre. He gained his BSc (Hons) in Zoology in 1998 from the University of Liverpool and then spent a year working as a fruit machine installation engineer to save up enough money to pay for his MSc at the University of Manchester. In 2000, Mike began his career in radiation protection at the University of Liverpool – first as an environmental consultant and then as an academic. He has spent the last two decades working on the development of the international environmental radiation protection system and conducting underpinning radioecological research. During his time at Liverpool, Mike also completed a PhD in radioecology. Mike is a Chartered Radiation Protection Professional, Society for Radiological Protection Council member and Editorial Board member for the Journal of Radiological Protection. He has been an invited expert for various International Atomic Energy Agency and European Commission activities in the areas of radiation protection and risk communication. Mike’s research in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone has received extensive media coverage and he has developed various innovative approaches to public engagement and education, including Virtual Chernobyl (http://virtualchernobyl.com/). His contributions to radioecology and radiation protection have been recognised through prestigious awards, including the Society for Radiological Protection’s Jack Martin Prize (2013) for “outstanding academic excellence”, the Times Higher Education Research Award (2016) for his “ground-breaking” research and the Society for Radiological Protection’s Founders’ Medal (2018) for his contributions to the Society.

Email: m.d.wood@salford.ac.uk

Twitter: @ProfMikeWood