“Coming to Slovenia: for science and so much more"

asistent, raziskovalec Michael “Mike” Burnard, Univerza na Primorskem, Inštitut Andrej Marušič

Mike is a wood scientist and researcher working for UP IAM, and is nearing completion of his Ph.D. with the Faculty of Management at UP. His primary area of study is investigating the human health impacts of wood use in the built environment (to determine how to create positive effects for building users). In addition to this he enjoys working on interdisciplinary projects involving wood and wood products that involve computer science, data science, mathematics, kinesiology, psychology, physiology, or business that bring produce actionable science with direct impacts for society.

Mike completed a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in his home state of Oregon in the USA. His undergraduate degree is in Management with an emphasis on strategic and operational management. For his Master’s degree in wood science, he investigated crack development in decorative panels (like the kind found in kitchen cabinets).

He is now happy to call Slovenia “home” although he misses his family, friends, and disc golf. He enjoys the country’s variety of natural landscapes and phenomenon. He also enjoys the country’s position in Europe as a geographical and cultural connecting point. The recent growth in microbreweries producing high quality beers, and the range of hot sauces that have recently become available in Slovenia please him greatly.

In his spare time, he enjoys the outdoors, spending time with his friends, spy novels and movies, and his board game collection, which he has slowly moved over from the US when he has extra space in his luggage.