Paul Josephson doesn’t do anything halfway.

As a specialist in the history of 20th-century science and technology, an avid runner and an international traveler, Josephson will have a lot to talk about when he presents his lecture, “From Floating Nuclear Power Stations to Nuclear Saunas: Have the Russians Learned Anything from Chernobyl?” at 8 p.m. Tuesday in the Sun Room of the Memorial Union.

“I became interested in Russian history when I was a junior in college,” said Josephson, professor of Russian and Soviet history at Colby College in Waterville, Maine. “I had always thought I was going to be a biologist, but when I started studying early Marxist theory, I realized that both Russia and science could go together.”

Josephson said he has researched Russian history intensively by traveling. “I’ve lost track how many times I have been to Russia. I first went to the Soviet Union in 1984 and since then have probably been 20 or 25 times for a total of two and a half or three years,” Josephson said. “I’ve lived in Ukraine and Kiev. I’ve been to Siberia. I’ve spent a lot of time in Moscow and Leningrad/St. Petersburg. Now I spend more of my time in places that are off the beaten path, especially in connection with my work on nuclear power.”

The subject of nuclear power is the focus of Josephson’s latest book, “Red Atom,” and the lecture he is presenting.

“Red Atom” covers peaceful nuclear programs in the former Soviet Union.

This book on flying, floating and stationary reactors; food irradiation programs; and fusion convinced Josephson that there is no such thing as peaceful nuclear technology.

In addition to an interest in Russian history, Josephson also is working on several projects that deal with the concept of Neo-Luddism.

“Luddism was a movement that began in the Industrial Revolution. Workers began destroying looms because they realized the harm they would cause small business owners. Neo-Luddists recognize we can’t live without technology, but believe the public should have more input. For example, instead of the government spending millions of more dollars to build roads, why not spend more money on bike paths and trails to promote bicycling and outdoor recreation?”

Jim Andrews, professor of history, has known Josephson for “several decades.”

“Paul and I have similar interests in regards to Russia,” Andrews said. “Paul is a master of Russian history, one of the best in the Western Hemisphere.”

Sheila McCarthy, professor of Russian language and literature at Colby College and a colleague of Josephson’s, has known Josephson for several years and shares many of the same advisees with him.

“Paul is a very engaging and informal speaker,” McCarthy said. “He is very approachable and he enjoys mingling and answering questions.”

Josephson said he is very excited to be in the Midwest, and Iowa in particular.

“You guys have the highest literacy rate in the U.S.,” Josephson said. “You also produce the most pork and can’t have hurricanes. I am very excited.”