In addition, he is a member of The Earth Under Surveillance research group. This international team carries out research on the geophysical and environmental sciences of the Cold War era; in this context, Matthew is particularly interested in the history of uranium prospection and atomic programs more generally.

He is married to Dr. Erika Balog. The one recommendation he would make that doesn’t quite enter into the answers to the 20 questions below is for anyone interested in hiking not to miss all of Hungary’s wonderful hills, both near Budapest (the Buda Hills, the Pilis Hills, the Börzöny) and farther away.


1. When did you arrive in Hungary and what brought you here?
2005, my marriage.

2. Have you ever been an expatriate elsewhere?
Yes, in France.

3. What surprised you most about Hungary?
People on the metro escalators don’t all stand to the right to let others pass. Why not?

4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do?
Where to begin? I would send them to the National Gallery (assuming it remains in the castle), and if the weather’s good, suggest strolls on Margaret Island and through City Park.

5. What is your favourite Hungarian food?
Hortobágyi palacsinta.

6. What is never missing from your refrigerator?
There is always something missing from my refrigerator.

7. What is your favourite Hungarian word?
Életművész.

8. What do you miss the most from home?
Optimism.

9. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?
Landscape painter.

10. What's a job you would definitely never want?
Miner.

11. Where did you spend your last vacation?
Sárközújlak, Romania.

12. Where do you hope to spend your next one?
If money grew on trees, Paris; if time stood still, Virginia; otherwise, I’d happily return to Sárköz.

13. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?
The only one that persists to this day is playing basketball, which, given my lack of skill, qualifies as a hobby.

14. Apart of temptation what can't you resist?
Going for an extended stroll on a sunny day.

15. Red wine or white?
Depends. What’s for dinner?

16. Book or movie?
Book.

17. Morning person or night person?
Lunch person.

18. Which social issue do you feel most strongly about?
Equal access for all to quality, progressive education.

19. Buda side or Pest side?
Live in Pest, visit Buda.

20. What would you say is your personal motto?
Enjoy and treat kindly who you’re with.