text: Dr Erika von Schneidemesser received her PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA in 2009 from the Environmental Chemistry and Technology Program, with a specialisation in atmospheric chemistry. She did a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Leicester, UK investigating air pollution and air quality and climate change feedbacks, with a focus on urban areas. From 2011-2012 she was an American Association for the Advancement of Science & Technology Policy Fellow, at the US National Science Foundation working on the issues of international collaboration. She joined the IASS in 2012.