My name is Elia Kabanov, and I’m a science writer covering the past, present, and future of technology. I’m interested in climate change, renewable energy, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, culture, and numerous other topics.

I curate two newsletters:

  • Hypertextual covers universities, museums, laboratories, startups, the newest discoveries and obscure inventions.
  • Siberian explores how scientists and ordinary people cope with Russia’s faltering regime, war, and repression.

I also work as the editor-in-chief at Urbi Atlas, a new media outlet focused on sustainability in city planning.

Over the last two decades, I have worked with the British Council, Novartis, American Bar Association, Siemens, Yandex, Grist.org, International Republican Institute, and Meduza.

In 2008, I founded metkere.com, an award-winning science, culture, and technology blog. From 2018 to 2022, I worked as a science writer and digital advisor for Tayga.info, one of Russia’s last remaining independent media outlets. In 2022, I became a co-author and presenter at a brand new YouTube channel on all things science. It now has more than 430,000 subscribers.

For more than twelve years, I have written monthly columns on historical films and TV series for the Diletant magazine. That’s 150 reviews and counting.

In 2011, I co-authored the book Scientific Answers to Space Questions. In 2016, I composed and edited a handbook on science communications. I am writing a book based on my course at ITMO University, aiming to provide a comprehensive resource for aspiring science communicators.

My interviews and expert commentaries were featured on BBC, DW and BILD, in The New York Times, CoinDesk, Le Monde, 7×7, The Calvert Journal, Animal, Spektrum.de, MDR, Delfi, El Diario, Lifehacker, and in other outlets.

Over the years, I was affiliated with corporations, startups, media, NGOs, museums, and universities. Contact me if you think my experience will be helpful to your organization.

I have given public lectures all over the world, including in India, Bangladesh, Germany, Belarus, Uzbekistan, and Russia.

I reside in London with my wife, Anastasia. Previously, I lived and worked in Vilnius, Seattle, Moscow, and Novosibirsk. I’ve visited 43 countries, crossed the Arctic Circle eight times, dined in the Kremlin, sailed the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas, kayaked the Sea of Japan, and swam in Siberian rivers at 0 °C. Along the way, I’ve been ordained as a minister, performed in several plays—including the role of Lemuel Gulliver—and was kissed on the cheek by the first woman in space. I have also tried, so far unsuccessfully, to prosecute Vladimir Putin for his war crimes.

I love bees.

Achievements:

— International Center for Journalists A Journey of Shared Discovery Fellow (USA, 2019)
— Erice International School of Science Journalism Fellow (Italy, 2017)
— Deutsche Welle The Best of Blogs Winner as the Best Russian Blog (Germany, 2010)