Biography
Mike Flood
Mike studied chemistry at Leeds University
(1965-1971) but after graduation won a SSRC Conversion Fellowship to study sociology and science policy at Bath University (1972-74). He subsequently went on to pursue his interest in the environment, and the social impact of science and technology.
The Origins of Powerful Information
In the mid-1980s Mike started travelling to different parts of the world to broaden his understanding of environmental issues. He spent time in Thailand, India and Nepal, and in late 1989 travelled to West Africa to investigate how developing countries might respond to global warming / climate change. It was during this trip that he conceived the idea of Powerful Information (as described in the Overview).
In 1991 Mike applied for and won a Winston Churchill Travel Fellowship and this enabled him to travel to the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia (in 1991) and Bulgaria and Romania (in 1992) where he establish contact with literally dozens of environmental organisations as they were emerging from the collapse of the Soviet Union.
In the mid-1980s Mike started travelling to different parts of the world to broaden his understanding of environmental issues. He spent time in Thailand, India and Nepal, and in late 1989 travelled to West Africa to investigate how developing countries might respond to global warming / climate change. It was during this trip that he conceived the idea of Powerful Information (as described in the Overview).
In 1991 Mike applied for and won a Winston Churchill Travel Fellowship and this enabled him to travel to the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia (in 1991) and Bulgaria and Romania (in 1992) where he establish contact with literally dozens of environmental organisations as they were emerging from the collapse of the Soviet Union.
So this is how Powerful Information
came to be working in two geographically and culturally distinct regions.
Other Relevant Experience
Mike worked for the Friends of the Earth on its national energy campaign (1975-1982) — this included spending a year at Kings College London studying nuclear terrorism (in 1976). He went on to help develop FOE's strategy on renewable energy — this was at a time when renewables like offshore wind and solar electricity were considered beyond the pale for mainstream generation.[1]
Mike joined the Open University as a temporary lecturer (in 1982), where he wrote a number of course units for a third level design course before electing to become a tutor on the OU’s Technology Foundation Course (1984-1994).
Mike is an active member of Humanists UK and is chair of Milton Keynes Humanists. He got rid of his car over 20 years ago and cherishes his trusty bike.
Mike worked for the Friends of the Earth on its national energy campaign (1975-1982) — this included spending a year at Kings College London studying nuclear terrorism (in 1976). He went on to help develop FOE's strategy on renewable energy — this was at a time when renewables like offshore wind and solar electricity were considered beyond the pale for mainstream generation.[1]
Mike joined the Open University as a temporary lecturer (in 1982), where he wrote a number of course units for a third level design course before electing to become a tutor on the OU’s Technology Foundation Course (1984-1994).
Mike is an active member of Humanists UK and is chair of Milton Keynes Humanists. He got rid of his car over 20 years ago and cherishes his trusty bike.
Powerful Fake Information
During the 2016 EU Referendum in Britain and Presidential Election in the United States Mike grew increasingly concerned about the way that fake news and misinformation were being used to manipulate public opinion and voting patterns; and in early 2017 he set up Critical Information to help facilitate public dialogue about the threats to democracy posed by lies and falshoods spread increasingly on social media.
During the 2016 EU Referendum in Britain and Presidential Election in the United States Mike grew increasingly concerned about the way that fake news and misinformation were being used to manipulate public opinion and voting patterns; and in early 2017 he set up Critical Information to help facilitate public dialogue about the threats to democracy posed by lies and falshoods spread increasingly on social media.
The intention behind Critical Information
is not to try to compete with the many organisations and statutory bodies that are now working to tackle the problem, rather it aims to complement their efforts by helping to explain and publicise their work to a broader public. Advances in social media and artificial intelligence have magnified the problem and the speed at which things happen, as has the malign effort by foreign powers to influence domestic politics. Indeed, today events are moving so fast that it has become difficult for anyone to keep up with events. Someone described modern day as 'like history speeded up'.
Mike is focusing the campaign on schools and colleges, and on the civil society sector, especially local humanist and secularist groups, and environmental and international development NGOs. If you'd like to know more, and perhaps get involved, visit the Critical Information
website and blog.
Making Contact
You can contact Mike on: mike@powerfulinformation.org or [+44] 1908 666275; or you
can send a message using the form below and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
can send a message using the form below and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
Notes
1 During this period, Mike wrote a number of books, most notably: 'Nuclear Prospects: a comment on the individual, the state & nuclear power' (co-authored with Robin Grove White; 1976); ‘Solar Prospects: the potential for renewable energy’ (1983); 'Energy without End' (1986); and 'The End of the Nuclear Dream: the UKAEA and its role in nuclear R & D' (1988).
