F. Sherwood Rowland
He shared the Nobel Prize for his work on the depletion of the ozone layer by chlorofluorocarbons.
Most quoted
"Isn't it a responsibility of scientists, if you believe that you have found something that can affect the environment, isn't it your responsibility to actually do something about it, enough so that action actually takes place?"
— from Nobel Prize Lecture, 1995
"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. Especially if you made them feel wrong."
— from Attributed/Paraphrased
"What's the use of having developed a science well enough to make predictions if, in the end, all we're willing to do is stand around and wait for them to come true?"
— from Interview/Speech
All quotes by F. Sherwood Rowland (415)
The future of the planet depends on our actions today.
It's a long road from scientific discovery to public policy.
The beauty of science is that it allows us to understand the world in a deeper way.
We can't afford to be complacent when it comes to environmental issues.
We must listen to the planet, because it's telling us something important.
The biggest challenge is often not the science itself, but getting people to act on it.
Don't be afraid to challenge conventional wisdom if the evidence supports it.
Our work was controversial, but we knew we were on the right track.
The role of a scientist is to observe, to hypothesize, and to test.
We have to think globally and act locally.
It's a privilege to be a scientist, to contribute to human knowledge.
The scientific process is iterative; you learn, you refine, you learn more.
We must be stewards of the Earth, not just inhabitants.
The evidence was overwhelming, and it demanded action.
Never stop asking 'why?'
The ozone layer is a global commons, and we all have a responsibility to protect it.
The scientific community has a vital role to play in addressing global challenges.
It was a difficult time, but we persevered because the stakes were so high.
We have the power to change the course of environmental degradation.
The scientific facts don't care about political opinions.
Contemporaries of F. Sherwood Rowland
Other Chemistrys born within 50 years of F. Sherwood Rowland (1927–2012).