Michael Thomas, PhD is an academic with research interests in applied linguistics, online and distance education, and digitally mediated communication. He attended Norham High School and Tynemouth Sixth Form College and holds degrees from Newcastle University, the University of Manchester and the University of Leicester in the UK. He has published over 12 books in these fields and is founding and lead editor of two international book series, Digital Education and Learning and Advances in Digital Language Learning and Teaching, as well as the International Journal of Virtual and Personal Learning Environments. He is currently a senior lecturer in Language Learning Technologies at the University of Central Lancashire and is active as a researcher within the areas of modern languages and cultures. He is director of the Language, Literacy and Digital Education Research Group. He is also a member of the Research Unit for Speech and Language. He is project coordinator and principal investigator of the EU-funded CAMELOT Project on language learning with machinima, a two-year project consisting of nine EU partners. 

January 1st, 1969 in (Age 55)