Prof. Quanqin Shao received a B.S. from Nanjing University in 1984, an M.S. from Nanjing University in 1987, and a Ph.D. from the Chinese Academy of Sciences Geography Science and Resource Institute in 2001. She is a researcher at the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS. Prof. Shao is the director of the Regional Environmental Change Comprehensive Detection and Simulation Laboratory. She has won two second prizes in China's National Science and Technology Progress Awards, two first prizes in provincial and municipal Science and Technology Progress awards, and one second prize in the Ministry of Environmental Protection Science and Technology Award. She received a special allowance from the China State Council in 2004. She is mainly engaged in research on GIS applications, comprehensive monitoring and assessment indicator systems of terrestrial ecosystems, satellite-ground integrated technology systems, and regional environmental change detection and simulation.