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.

Over the last two decades, I have worked with the British Council, Novartis, Caterpillar, Novo Nordisk, American Bar Association, Siemens, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, IREX, Goethe-Institut, Open Society Foundations, Grist.org, IMAX, Nokia, 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 450,000 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, The Guardian, News Shopper, 7×7, The Calvert Journal, Animal, Spektrum.de, MDR, Delfi, El Diario, Lifehacker, and in other outlets.

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

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, and won a storytelling competition sponsored by Grant’s whisky. I’ve walked across every Thames bridge in London in two days, walked the Pilgrims’ Way in nine days, completed most of the Thames Path in two weeks, kayaked the Sea of Japan, and swum in Siberian rivers at 0 °C — and helped clean rivers and lakes along the way. I’ve been ordained as a minister, had my wedding officiated by an astronomer, performed in several plays, 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 Silver + two longlisted features (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)