Born: 1988 (Almaty, Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic, now known as Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan)
Biography:
Alexandra Asanovna Elbakyan, born on 6 November 1988, is a Kazakhstani computer programmer and the creator of the website Sci-Hub. She has gained recognition for providing free access to research papers without regard for copyright. Elbakyan is celebrated as a pioneer for her efforts to make scholarly literature accessible to all.
Born in Almaty, Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic (now known as Alma-Ata in Kazakhstan), Alexandra identifies as multiracial, with Armenian, Slavic, and Asian roots. Raised by a single mother, who was an accomplished computer programmer, Elbakyan was exposed to the world of technology from a young age. At just 12 years old, she began programming and developing web pages in HTML. As her skills advanced, she dabbled in PHP, Delphi, and Assembly languages.
Elbakyan’s tenacity and curiosity led her to attempt a groundbreaking project at a young age. She aimed to create a Tamagotchi powered by artificial intelligence, showcasing her early interest in the intersection of programming and cutting-edge concepts. This drive remained with her throughout her journey, propelling her forward even in the face of challenges.
At the age of 14, Alexandra embarked on her first significant computer hack. Utilizing SQL injection, she gained access to all logins and passwords of her home internet provider. Discovering further vulnerabilities of the cross-site scripting type, she dutifully reported these issues to her provider in the hopes of securing a job, but instead, her internet access was cut off.
In her blog, Elbakyan recounted hacking a publisher’s website when she was 16. Frustrated by the paywall restricting access to MIT Press’ online books on neuroscience, she developed a PHP program that exploited a vulnerability on the website. This enabled her to download paywalled books without payment, highlighting her determination to overcome barriers in accessing knowledge.
In 2009, Elbakyan obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science from the Kazakh National Technical University, specializing in information security. During her academic journey, she encountered the persistent obstacles of paywalls blocking access to vital journal articles. This experience sparked a deep interest in developing solutions for open access to scientific research.
Motivated to explore the potential of brain–computer interfaces, Alexandra joined the University of Freiburg in 2010. Her work on this project eventually led to a summer internship in neuroscience at the Georgia Institute of Technology in the United States. In the same year, she spoke at the Humanity+ Summit at Harvard, addressing the topic Brain-Computer Interfacing, Consciousness, and the Global Brain. Elbakyan’s visionary idea sought to merge human and machine qualia through a unique brain-machine interface.
Elbakyan’s groundbreaking work on Sci-Hub has revolutionized the accessibility of scholarly literature. The website, founded by her in 2011, provides free access to nearly all academic papers. Despite facing numerous legal and ethical challenges due to copyright infringement, Sci-Hub remains a testament to Alexandra’s unyielding commitment to knowledge democratization.
Recognized as Science’s Pirate Queen, Elbakyan’s influence extends far beyond the realm of academia. In 2016, the prestigious journal Nature acknowledged her as one of the top ten individuals who had a significant impact on science. Alexandra’s unwavering dedication to breaking down barriers and fostering global scientific collaboration has reshaped the landscape of scholarly publishing.