Mario J. Molina
He was a co-recipient of the Nobel Prize for his role in elucidating the threat to the Earth's ozone layer from CFCs.
Most quoted
"Scientists can and should play a very important role in communicating to the public and to policy makers the risks and the opportunities associated with climate change."
— from Interview with The Nobel Prize organization, 2013
"Our work shows that these compounds are not inert, as was previously thought, but rather that they can have a significant impact on the Earth's protective ozone layer."
— from Stratospheric sink for chlorofluoromethanes: chlorine atom-catalyzed destruction of ozone, 1974
"The beauty of science lies in its ability to unravel the mysteries of nature, to reveal the intricate dance of atoms and molecules that govern our existence."
— from Various interviews and speeches
All quotes by Mario J. Molina (402)
Every molecule counts in the stratosphere.
We were lucky to be in the right place at the right time with the right tools.
Education is the foundation for a sustainable future.
The role of the scientist is to reduce uncertainty, not to eliminate it completely.
Chemical processes in the atmosphere are beautiful and complex.
We must think in terms of planetary stewardship.
The discovery was a team effort. Science is collaborative.
Policy needs to be informed by the best available science, not the other way around.
The precautionary principle is a wise guide for environmental policy.
We altered the atmosphere without knowing it. Now we know, and we must be more careful.
Sustainability is not an option; it is a necessity.
The interaction between chlorine and ozone is a catalytic cycle—one chlorine atom can destroy many ozone molecules.
Our paper was initially met with skepticism, as is often the case with new ideas.
We have a common destiny on this planet.
The scientific method is our most powerful tool for understanding the world.
Do not be afraid to challenge conventional wisdom.
The solution to one environmental problem should not create another.
We are all astronauts on spaceship Earth.
Data is the language of science.
The love for science comes from the joy of discovery.
Contemporaries of Mario J. Molina
Other Chemistrys born within 50 years of Mario J. Molina (1943–2020).