Michal Smetana is a highly-respected researcher at CU specialising in international relations, security studies, and geopolitics whose research focuses on issues such as international security, global governance, and the role of public opinion in foreign policy. Recently he published a fascinating paper that took inspiration from the Sting song I hope the Russians love their children too, about attitudes of the Russian public towards nuclear weapon use in the time of war and even in defeat. What he and his co-author learned may surprise you. Dr Smetana also clinched an ERC grant this year to study public opinion and security alliances such as NATO, called Project Microcode.