Mario Molina

Mario Molina
Janwikifoto · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Name	Mario Molina
Caption	Molina in 2011
Birth date	19 March 1943
Birth place	Mexico City, Mexico
Death date	7 October 2020
Death place	Mexico City, Mexico
Nationality	Mexican
Fields	Chemistry, Atmospheric chemistry
Workplaces	University of California, Irvine, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of California, San Diego
Alma mater	National Autonomous University of Mexico, University of Freiburg, University of California, Berkeley
Doctoral advisor	George C. Pimentel
Known for	Ozone depletion, CFC research
Prizes	Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1995), Presidential Medal of Freedom (2013)

Mario Molina was a distinguished Mexican chemist whose pioneering work fundamentally changed our understanding of the Earth's atmosphere and global environmental policy. He is best known for his crucial role in discovering the threat that chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) pose to the ozone layer, research that earned him the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. His scientific advocacy was instrumental in the creation of the Montreal Protocol, an international treaty hailed as a landmark success in environmental protection. Throughout his career, he held prominent positions at institutions like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of California, San Diego, and served as a science advisor to President Barack Obama.

Early Life and Education

Born in Mexico City, he demonstrated an early passion for science, reportedly converting a bathroom into a makeshift laboratory as a child. For his undergraduate studies, he attended the National Autonomous University of Mexico, where he earned a degree in chemical engineering. Seeking further specialization, he pursued postgraduate studies in polymer chemistry at the University of Freiburg in West Germany. He then moved to the United States to complete his Ph.D. in physical chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley, working under the guidance of renowned chemist George C. Pimentel.

Career

After completing his doctorate, he conducted postdoctoral research at the University of California, Irvine, where he began his historic collaboration with F. Sherwood Rowland. He later joined the Jet Propulsion Laboratory as a research scientist, focusing on atmospheric phenomena. In 1989, he accepted a professorship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he established a leading research group in atmospheric chemistry and environmental science. He subsequently moved to the University of California, San Diego, holding a joint appointment in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. He also served on the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology under the Obama administration.

Research and Discoveries

His most famous scientific contribution began with his collaborative work with F. Sherwood Rowland at UC Irvine in the early 1970s. They investigated the atmospheric fate of industrially produced chlorofluorocarbons, which were widely used in aerosol sprays and refrigeration. Their groundbreaking paper, published in the journal *Nature*, demonstrated that CFCs migrate to the stratosphere where ultraviolet radiation breaks them apart, releasing chlorine atoms that catalytically destroy ozone molecules. This research predicted the formation of the ozone hole, a discovery later confirmed by observations from the British Antarctic Survey. His work provided the critical scientific foundation for the Montreal Protocol, which successfully phased out the production of numerous ozone-depleting substances.

Awards and Honors

In recognition of his transformative environmental research, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1995, sharing the honor with F. Sherwood Rowland and Paul J. Crutzen. Among his many other accolades are the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement, the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal, and the Wolf Prize in Chemistry. In 2013, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama. He was elected to prestigious academies including the United States National Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Medicine, and the Pontifical Academy of Sciences. He also received honorary doctorates from numerous universities, such as Yale University and Harvard University.

Personal Life and Legacy

He was married to fellow chemist Luisa Tan Molina, who was also his collaborator. A dedicated advocate for science education and environmental policy, he remained actively engaged in global issues, serving on the board of the Environmental Defense Fund and contributing to reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. He passed away in Mexico City in 2020. His legacy endures as that of a scientist who directly and successfully translated fundamental research into worldwide action, safeguarding the planetary atmosphere for future generations. Institutions like the Mario Molina Center in Mexico City continue his mission of linking science with public policy.

Category:Mexican chemists Category:Nobel laureates in Chemistry Category:Atmospheric chemists