The author's academic journey spans from undergraduate studies in London to a professorship in Alberta, focusing on Ukraine and Belarus. It explores the significant transformations during the late Soviet and post-Soviet eras, enriched by personal travel narratives and experiences, including visits to Chernobyl. With over 25 trips to Belarus, he navigated political challenges, while in Ukraine, he evolved from an outsider to a prominent scholar, analyzing the intersection of scholarship, politics, and social media during pivotal moments like the Euromaidan uprising.
