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
8 Greatest Failures of the Soviet Space Program
The Soviet space program was responsible for some of the world’s greatest achievements in space exploration, but these achievements were also accompanied by monumental failures.
8 Mysterious Closed Cities of the Soviet Union
Secretive and enigmatic, the Soviet Union had many cities that were closed off from the outside world.
The 8 Most Radioactive Places on Earth
Some places on Earth are so radioactive, they really shouldn’t be visited!
The Story Behind the First Soviet Atomic Bomb
Less than five years after the United States dropped an atomic weapon on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Soviet Union developed its own nuclear bomb.
Russian Revolution: Timeline of the 10 Days That Shook the World
After years of internal strife and social upheaval, the Russian Revolution brought the Bolsheviks to power in just over a week.
How the Mexican-American War Shaped the US-Mexico Border
The Mexican-American War changed not only the borders between the two countries but also had profound effects that still resonate today.
8 Game-Changing Japanese Inventions That Shaped the World
At the forefront of a technological revolution, Japan helped shape the modern world with incredible inventions.
How the Second Sino-Japanese War Shaped East Asia
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a brutal conflict that permanently changed East Asia. Here’s why China and Japan went to war for the second time.
Red America: 9 Most Notable American Communists
With communism’s global influence reaching even the home of capitalism, several Americans became key proponents of the ideology.
Why Did China and Japan Clash in the First Sino-Japanese War?
In the late 1800s Japan and China were embroiled in a bitter conflict over control of the Korean peninsula. Here’s how the first Sino-Japanese War began.
8 Trade Goods That Once Shaped the World Economy, Now Insignificant
From whale oil to preserved bird droppings, these trade goods were of unbelievable value but are now consigned to history.
8 of the Holiest Buddhist Relics
What are the holiest of all the Buddhist relics around the world?