Robin Gillham
@robin-james-gillham

Robin GillhamUnited Kingdom

Member since Jul 01, 2021

About Robin Gillham

Robin is keenly fascinated by Soviet history, especially the period following the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in the 1980s. He has written two dissertations on the social impact of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster and traveled to the abandoned nuclear town of Pripyat and the exclusion zone. He also has a passion for the history of space exploration, photography, and Japanese folklore. He holds a BA in History from Bangor University and an MA in Russian and Post-Soviet Politics from UCL. In his spare time, he explores abandoned Soviet military bases and documents his experiences through his photography.

Education

MA Russian and Post-Soviet Politics

University College London, 2016

BA History

Bangor University, 2014

Areas of Expertise

Soviet UnionChernobylSoviet Space ProgramNASAHistory of Nuclear Power
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8 NASA Inventions That Transformed the World

From a good night’s sleep to perfect vision and improved hearing, a number of NASA inventions have improved the lives of millions down on Earth.

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8 Legendary Soviet Dissidents Who Defied the Regime

The USSR brutally oppressed dissidents who criticized the regime. However, a few brave individuals stood up against the Kremlin. Here are their stories.

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8 Unsung NASA Heroes Who Pioneered Space Exploration

While the astronauts got all the glory, behind the scenes were NASA heroes who deserved just as much credit!

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8 Soviet Engineering Mega Projects That Shaped the USSR

From railways to space stations, the Soviet Union built monumental feats of engineering over the course of nearly seventy years. What did they build, and why?

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soviet space milestones

8 Soviet Space Milestones You Need to Know

For years, the Soviet Union led the way in exploring our solar system, achieving many successes before the Americans. Here are 8 important Soviet space milestones.

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German sailors revolting during World War I

The Kronstadt Rebellion: A Turning Point in Soviet Russia

During the Russian Civil War, an uprising at the Kronstadt naval base in Saint Petersburg threatened the nascent Soviet Union.

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How an Emperor Cult Forged Japan’s Militaristic State

The rise of fascism in Japan was influenced by myriad internal and external factors that turned a relatively isolationist nation into one of violent militarism.

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The Underground Press Samizdat That Defied Soviet Censorship

Samizdat brought the works of Russian authors to the West and helped Soviet activists avoid censorship.

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Protests in the Soviet Union: Resistance Behind the Iron Curtain

Despite the huge amount of state control on social life, people still managed to organize protests in the Soviet Union.

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The Fall of Saigon: How Exactly Did the Vietnam War End?

The fall of Saigon was a chaotic series of events that brought the Vietnam War to an end.

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8 Innovations From the Soviet Union

Throughout its history, the Soviet Union was a land of innovation, making progress in space exploration, sport, war, music, and fashion.

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nasa failed missions

NASA’s Space Projects That Went Horribly Wrong

From the near-fatal Apollo 13 mission to the Challenger Shuttle disaster, the history of American space exploration has been punctuated by catastrophes.

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