On March 19th, 2022, Google Doodle commemorated Dr. Mario Molina‘s 80th birthday. He was a distinguished chemist from Mexico and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1995 for his pioneering research on the depletion of the ozone layer in the atmosphere.
The interactive Doodle presented on the Google homepage portrayed Dr. Mario Molina in his laboratory, with the earth and the ozone layer depicted in the background. The animation paid tribute to Dr. Molina’s research by highlighting the crucial role played by the ozone layer in shielding the planet from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays.
Dr. Molina was born in Mexico City in 1943 and pursued his studies in chemistry and chemical engineering in Mexico and Germany. In 1974, he joined the University of California, Berkeley, and initiated his research on atmospheric chemistry, specifically on the impact of human activities on the environment.
During the 1970s, Dr. Molina collaborated with another scientist, F. Sherwood Rowland, to investigate the effects of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) on the ozone layer. Their research findings revealed that CFCs were a major contributor to the depletion of the ozone layer, which led to the development of the Montreal Protocol – an international agreement aimed at phasing out the production of CFCs.
Dr. Molina’s research has had a profound impact on the understanding of the ozone layer and the formulation of policies to safeguard it. Although he passed away in 2020, his legacy endures through his research and advocacy for the environment.