Dr. Anya Bernstein

Biography

Anya Bernstein is a Professor in the Department of Anthropology at Harvard University, focusing on the intersections of speculative futures, science, technology, religion, secularism, and the human condition in contemporary contexts. Her research explores a range of themes including body and time, human-animal relations, and responses to climate change through visual ethnography, particularly in Russia and Inner Asia. Bernstein's notable publication, "Future Immortality: Remaking Life and Death in Contemporary Russia" (2019), analyzes historical and contemporary efforts aimed at achieving human immortality within the Russian context. Currently, she is working on another significant project, "Pleistocene Park: Extinction and Eternity in the Russian Arctic," which examines the scientific and ethical implications of de-extinction efforts. Bernstein is also known for her documentary filmmaking on shamanism and Buddhism in Buryat culture. Her scholarly output is widely published in esteemed journals, and she has received numerous fellowships and awards for her research efforts. Bernstein's academic journey includes degrees from Georgetown University, the University of Manchester, and New York University, culminating in a PhD in Anthropology. She is actively engaged in promoting interdisciplinary approaches to understanding the complex narratives surrounding religion and technology.

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Experience

Awards