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)
Life on Earth depends on a thin veil of ozone; we cannot afford to tear it.
Scientists have a duty to communicate risks clearly.
The Montreal Protocol was a triumph of science over shortsightedness.
Every atom counts in the balance of our atmosphere.
Reflection on my career: Persistence in the face of doubt defines progress.
Humor in science: Sometimes the best hypothesis is the one that explodes myths.
The ozone layer's recovery shows policy can heal what science reveals as broken.
In chemistry, reactions are predictable; in society, they require vigilance.
My work with Molina was a partnership that changed the world.
Witty remark: CFCs were cool refrigerants until they heated up the debate.
Professional observation: Atmospheric chemistry is Earth's invisible guardian.
On meaning: Science gives purpose to protecting future generations.
The fight against ozone depletion taught me resilience.
Key passage: Chlorine atoms catalyze ozone destruction cycles endlessly.
In letters to colleagues: Let's not wait for disaster to act.
Speech excerpt: The sky is not infinite; our impact is.
Personal reflection: Curiosity drove me from lab to legislation.
Joke: Why did the chemist study ozone? To keep things under cover.
Observation: Global warming and ozone issues are linked by human folly.
On wisdom: True knowledge comes with ethical application.
Contemporaries of F. Sherwood Rowland
Other Chemistrys born within 50 years of F. Sherwood Rowland (1927–2012).