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, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, IREX, Open Society Foundations, Grist.org, International Republican Institute, Yandex, 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 480,000 subscribers.

Since 2012, I have written monthly columns on historical films and TV series for the Diletant magazine. That’s over 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, News Shopper, 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, won a storytelling competition, walked across every Thames bridge in London, kayaked the Sea of Japan, and swum in Siberian rivers at 0 °C. Along the way, I’ve been ordained as a minister, had my wedding officiated by an astronomer, performed in several plays—including the role of Lemuel Gulliver—and been 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:

  • Information is Beautiful Awards Longlist (USA, 2025)
  • 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)