Ian Tellam

Ian is a social anthropologist and postdoctoral research associate with The UoM. He previously worked in the IT sector and developed relationships between technology and culture. His PhD project focused on the adoption of novel technologies such as robotics and AI for nuclear decommissioning, with a focus on the barriers to innovation and organisational change within such a highly regulated and risk averse industry. Following this, his current work also looks at the role of regulation and risk management in the construction industry, and the efforts to encourage culture change in the sector.

Efficiency and reliability are factors…but building trust requires more than that…

The question may seem obvious, but how do you actually define a robot?

Ian draws fascinating comparisons between the decommissioning of Sellafield and the construction of great cathedrals.

Vladimir Vernadsky may not be a household name in the west like Marie Curie or Albert Einstein, but the legacy of the Russian-Ukrainian geochemist in his home countries is great.

Led by The University of Manchester, this project explores social and cultural processes of technological innovation in decommissioning the Sellafield nuclear site.