Bangor University Professor’s BBC Documentary on Ukraine Now Available on BBC Sounds

The documentary, which aired on Wednesday, 19 March, follows Professor Dunn’s journey to Ukraine, where he worked alongside Khmelnytskyi National University to investigate the environmental impact of war.

As part of his research covered by the BBC, he collaborated with Ukrainian scientists to collect soil samples from agricultural sites that had been directly hit by missile and drone strikes.

The research, conducted alongside Professor Davey Jones from Bangor University, is helping to assess the long-term consequences of conflict on the country’s agriculture.

It is feared that explosives hitting fields used for growing crops could pollute the soil and local water sources, preventing plants from growing healthily in the future.

Reflecting on his experience, Professor Dunn said, “I really enjoyed the entire process of pitching and presenting this documentary, which is the second I’ve made for BBC Radio 4. The opportunity to tell such an important story was an incredible privilege.”

“Visiting Ukraine was an unforgettable and deeply moving experience. Seeing the resilience of the people and some of the devastating impacts of war firsthand was something that will stay with me forever.”

To prepare for the trip, Professor Dunn underwent BBC hostile environment training, equipping him with the necessary skills to operate safely in a conflict zone.

The documentary was produced by Harrison Lewis, who praised Professor Dunn’s work on the project, “Christian was fantastic to work with on Scarred—his passion for storytelling and science made the documentary truly compelling.”

“His ability to connect with people and explain complex issues in an engaging way is what makes him such a great presenter,” he added.

Scarred is now available to listen to on BBC Sounds: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0028zyd