We are pleased to announce that Prof. Dr. Ilias Kavouras has been appointed Editor-in-Chief of Atmosphere (IF: 2.686, ISSN 2073-4433, https://www.mdpi.com/journal/atmosphere).

Prof. Dr. Ilias Kavouras is a Professor of Environmental Health Sciences at CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy in New York City. He is trained as a chemist and an environmental health scientist. His research integrates natural and health sciences to understand atmospheric dynamics, from the release of contaminants, their fate in the atmosphere and the role of physical and chemical processes to exposure pathways and their relationship with biological mechanisms of toxicity and clinical outcomes. He is particularly interested in the interplay of climate change with atmospheric physical and chemical processes and the resultant environmental and health impacts.

Prof. Dr. Kavouras has been affiliated with research and academic institutes in the US and abroad, working on the aforementioned big-picture topics to address local and regional priorities while considering their diverse and unique characteristics. His experimental study designs include benchtop laboratory analysis and in vitro toxicology, methods development, field studies, community-based exposure and health studies, and integrated geospatial, inverse, and epidemiological modeling.

The following is a short Q&A with Prof. Dr. Ilias Kavouras, who shared his vision for the journal as well as his views on this research area:

1. What appealed to you about the journal and made you want to take the role as its Editor-in-Chief?

I am honored to serve the journal, Editorial Board, authors, and readers as the Editor-in-Chief of Atmosphere. Earth’s atmosphere is the single most important factor for the development and evolution of life on the planet. There is reciprocal and evolving interaction with both the natural and human ecosystems. An increasing number of scientists across many disciplines, from natural sciences to engineering, health, and social sciences are tackling the multifaceted mechanisms and impacts of atmospheric processes using state-of-the-art tools, technologies and methodological frameworks. Under the leadership of Dr. Aiken and the Editorial Board, the journal provides a forum for discipline-specific as well as interdisciplinary research, and facilitates the exchange of ideas and cross-pollination required to meet the scientific and societal challenges of a changing climate. It holds great potential to advance science and innovation on many different levels.

2. What is your vision for the journal?

It is my primary goal to continue and strengthen the journal’s prominence in atmospheric sciences as a forum of high-quality–high-impact, accessible research on fundamental atmospheric disciplines. Building on existing broader themes, it is also in the interests of the journal, the scientific community, and society to expand to atmosphere-driven transdisciplinary basic and applied research. The journal already has scientifically and geographically diverse editors, Advisory Panel Members and Editorial Board Members, but we are lacking in gender and racial diversity. It will be a priority for the editorial team, in consultation with the Advisory and Editorial Board, to further expand expertise, diversity, equity, and inclusion. This is also true for authors and readers. Creating pathways to increase diversity, accessibility, and inclusion of authors, reviewers, and readers from underrepresented and underserved groups is key to the mission and vision of the journal. Social media and interactive platforms of engagement will be integrated to engage a broader network of scientists, professionals, and policymakers across disciplines.

3. What does the future of this field of research look like?

It is a great time to be working in atmospheric sciences today. There have been many breakthroughs in atmospheric sciences over the past few decades, but many more have yet to be discovered. As a result, there are many opportunities moving forward for fundamental processes, direct and indirect impacts on natural and human environments, and research-to-practice studies, covering subjects from climate change to atmospheric dynamics and chemistry, from droughts and wildfires to man-made emissions, from measurements to modeling, from mechanisms to policy and strategies. Due to recent advancements, we can obtain measurements, run simulations, and analyze big data more precisely and efficiently than in the not-so-distant past, allowing us to provide more detail, refine existing knowledge, and test new hypotheses and concepts.

4. What do you think of the development of Open Access in the publishing field?

Accessibility is key to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in science and research. The Open Access model resolves the shortcomings of traditional publishing models by enabling access to published research and studies. Many funding agencies now support the open access of publications through sponsored research. However, funding priorities and disparities pose a challenge in the implementation of the Open Access model, particularly from low- and middle-income regions. I will work with the editorial team to develop initiatives that improve inclusion. The type, character, impact, and size of basic and applied atmospheric research published in the journal are growing. Embedding open and fair data practices is beneficial to the scientific community as well as the publication process. It adds value and content, which is consistent with the Open Access publication model, and further utilizes the strengths of technology to communicate scientific outputs and outcomes.