Mario Molina was a Mexican-American chemist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1995 for his work on the depletion of the ozone layer. He was born on March 19, 1943, in Mexico City, Mexico, and passed away on October 7, 2020, in Mexico City.
Molina studied at the National Autonomous University of Mexico and later earned his PhD in physical chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley. He worked as a researcher at the University of California, Irvine, and at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he collaborated with F. Sherwood Rowland on research that led to the discovery of the role of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in the depletion of the ozone layer.
Their work helped to raise awareness about the harmful effects of CFCs and led to the Montreal Protocol, an international agreement to phase out the production and use of CFCs and other ozone-depleting substances. Molina was a vocal advocate for environmental protection and served on numerous scientific advisory committees and panels related to climate change and environmental policy.
Throughout his career, Molina received numerous honors and awards for his work, including the National Medal of Science, the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement, and the Albert Einstein World Award of Science. He was also a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.
In conclusion, Mario Molina was a Mexican-American chemist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1995 for his work on the depletion of the ozone layer. His research helped to raise awareness about the harmful effects of chlorofluorocarbons and led to the Montreal Protocol, an international agreement to phase out the production and use of these substances. Molina was a vocal advocate for environmental protection and received numerous honors and awards for his work throughout his career.
