Michael graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Botany (1984, Manchester University), followed by an MSc in Pollution and Environmental Control (1986, UMIST / Manchester University) and a PhD in Physical Organic Chemistry (1990, Northumbria University). He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC) and an Associate Professor in Environmental Science at Northumbria University. His research interests are in air quality monitoring and modelling, land contamination, carbon sequestration in aquatic environments, sonochemistry, peroxide chemistry, and green chemistry.