I am passionate about humanity and research with social impact. I am an interdisciplinary scholar with a variety of interests between engineering and social science with a PhD from the University of Manchester. Currently I am interested in developing rapid production capabilities to quickly reply to capacity for emergency production, and hold junior research fellowship at Clare Hall College, Cambridge in this subject. I am also intrigued by the developments of post growth economies, societal resilience to catastrophic disruptions, and regeneration of environmental habitat using AI.

Besides, I love playing my cello. Here is my recording of J-S Bach Prelude and Gigue from 1st Suite: https://youtu.be/x1WAwELVXbo?feature=shared

In terms of sport, I enjoy rowing with Clare Hall college boat club (Yeah Clare Hall!).

----
Until 2016 I was actively volunteering in the youth projects across Europe funded by the Association of European Students (AEGEE), Erasmus plus, and the Council of Europe Youth Directorate. We used inter-cultural dialogue to connect young people for weekly events. My profile on Facebook is boosted with connections from this period of my life. Perhaps I know several future prime ministers.
https://www.facebook.com/nikolai.kazantsev

In 2014 I initiated my project called "Music as a common language for peacebuilding". The project brought musicians for a week to Georgia. As such musicians from Russia (me), Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Spain, Czech Republic and Hungary have formed music bands and played together at the camps of internally displaced people, engaged locals into songs and dances, thus reducing post-conflict stress, and showcasing the possible social reality of peace and coexistence. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Music-as-a-common-language-for-peacebuilding/1457781421122931. Sadly nothing was published by the end of the project - the impact was terrific.

In 2015 I coordinated the EURO-BRICS Summit that has brought together young leaders of the European Union, Brasil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa to the series of debates on diplomacy, economics, peacebuilding and culture. This network is no longer operational as the world has changed a bit since then.
----

(!) Important: if you write a CS request mention 'Theories of common sense'. That's the name of the book I write about the power of small theories in the daily life. I would be interested to know: "What is the obvious knowledge available in your domain that all people should know but they rarely do ?"

By answering this I will also understand that you have read through my interests and don't copy paste request.

Cheers!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Couchserfing is a database of wonderful personalities who help me to understand the world better. I surf almost every time I travel anywhere.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I started my CS experience in Germany, and flourished in the US: Silicon Valley (Milpitas, San Jose, etc), in New Zealand, and in many other places. I hosted in Moscow, Manchester, and Cambridge.

Interests

Post-growth economy
Cultural diversity
Club theory (cs is a club!)
Collaboration for good
Rapid response capability
Data sharing
World history and music
Modern architecture
Modern art
Caucasus
Conflict transformation

• arts
• architecture
• modern art
• music
• history
• volunteering

Music, Movies, and Books

Music - Bach cello Suites
Movie - Rainman, Freedom writers
Book - Trozdem ja zum leben sagen (Viktor Frankl)

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I have met russian peasants from the middle ages and can tell stories about them.

These are old believers - ultra-conservative groups that follow the Orthodox Christianity in the style before 1666. Not surprisingly, much of their culture (that much depend on religion!) has not been changed since: they sew clothes, angle fish, grow seeds and try to be invisible and not to mix with local population. Caused by that they look like aliens coming with the time machine from the medieval times: long beards, traditional clothes and old Russian dialect. You can hardly meet other medieval people, rather than these Russian ones. Amish are looking artificial in contrast to them, believe me !

I was able to disclose some of their villages that could be now seen on Google maps:
- in Alaska, US: Kachemak Selo , Nikolaevsk, Vosnesenka
- in Christchurch, New Zeeland, Waiao
- in Australia, Sydney
- in Moldova, Kunichi

UPD: Old believers from Sydney were mostly hospital. They have migrated through Hong Kong to Sydney with 3 weeks ferry trip after Mao intended to send them to Stalin's Russia. Took away multiple stories from their life in China in 1940s where the efficiencies of their farming has been investigated by the Japanese occupational regime. They kindly gave me the box of delicious "pirozhki" (small pies) which was a generous present.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can cook a variety of breakfasts/brunches: Russian, German or English - it could surprise you!

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can help you develop your own theory

Countries I’ve Visited

Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao, Macedonia, Moldova, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Germany, Northern Ireland, Russian Federation, United Kingdom

•