Mario Molina Biography: Nationality, Death, Son, Wife, Wikipedia, Education

Mario José Molina (March 19, 1943 – October 7, 2020) was a Mexican-born physical chemist whose pioneering work on chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) revealed how human-made chemicals could destroy Earth’s protective ozone layer.

His discoveries led to major international action, including the Montreal Protocol, and earned him the 1995 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

Profile Data

• Full Name: Mario José Molina-Pasquel Henríquez
• Born: March 19, 1943
• Died: October 7, 2020 (aged 77)
• Birthplace: Mexico City, Mexico
• Nationality: Mexican
• Occupation: Chemist, Scientist, Professor
• Spouse: Luisa Tan (divorced), later married Guadalupe Álvarez
• Children: One son (with Luisa Tan)

Early Life and Education

Born and raised in Mexico City, Molina showed an early curiosity for science. After schooling that included time in Switzerland, he studied chemical engineering at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), graduating in the mid-1960s. He pursued graduate studies in Germany at the University of Freiburg and later moved to the United States for his Ph.D. in physical chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned his doctorate in 1972.

The Breakthrough: CFCs, Ozone Depletion, and Scientific Courage

In the early 1970s Molina joined F. Sherwood Rowland’s research group. Together they asked a simple but consequential question: what happens to chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) released into the atmosphere? Their theoretical and laboratory work showed that CFCs could rise into the stratosphere, be broken down by ultraviolet light, and release chlorine atoms that catalytically destroy ozone molecules. This mechanism meant that tiny emissions of stable industrial chemicals could cause large-scale depletion of the ozone layer — the shield that protects life on Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation.

From Science to Global Policy: The Montreal Protocol

Molina’s research, followed by observational evidence such as the Antarctic “ozone hole,” created the scientific imperative for policy change. That evidence and the scientists’ advocacy were central to adoption of the Montreal Protocol (1987), the international treaty to phase down ozone-depleting substances. The Protocol is widely regarded as one of the most successful multilateral environmental agreements — it averted large-scale increases in UV radiation and helped protect public health and ecosystems.

Nobel Prize and Recognition

In 1995 Mario Molina shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry with F. Sherwood Rowland and Paul J. Crutzen “for their work in atmospheric chemistry, particularly concerning the formation and decomposition of ozone.” The prize recognized not only the scientific discovery but also the real-world impact of their work — linking fundamental chemistry to environmental policy and global action.

Academic Career and Leadership

Molina balanced laboratory science, teaching, and public policy roles across several institutions. Over his career he held positions at UC Irvine, the California Institute of Technology, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and later the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and Scripps Institution of Oceanography. At MIT he held joint appointments in chemistry and Earth, Atmospheric & Planetary Sciences; later, he worked on air quality, climate, and the intersections of science and policy.

Advocacy, Policy Advising, and Public Engagement

Molina believed scientists should help translate evidence into policy. He advised governments and international organizations, served on presidential and national advisory committees in the U.S. and Mexico, and engaged in public outreach on air pollution and climate change. His advocacy extended to advising on fast-action climate interventions and short-lived climate pollutants as practical steps to reduce warming and protect public health.

Awards, Honors, and Legacy

In addition to the Nobel Prize, Molina received many awards including the Presidential Medal of Freedom (2013) and numerous honorary degrees. Scientists and policymakers often point to him as a model for how rigorous research combined with public engagement can produce global benefit. The Montreal Protocol’s success is a strong part of his legacy: a case study in evidence-driven policy and international cooperation.

Personal Life

Molina married fellow chemist Luisa Tan in the 1970s (they later divorced). He later married Guadalupe Álvarez. He was both a proud Mexican and an international scientist who worked in the U.S. and Europe, and he remained committed to scientific capacity-building in Latin America.

Final Years and Passing

Mario Molina continued research and public engagement into his later years. He was a Distinguished Professor and researcher at UC San Diego and associated with Scripps Institution of Oceanography. He died suddenly in his Mexico City home on October 7, 2020, at age 77 — leaving a global scientific and policy legacy.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Who was Mario Molina?

Mario Molina was a Mexican-born chemist who co-discovered how CFCs deplete the stratospheric ozone layer and shared the 1995 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for this work.

What did Mario Molina discover about CFCs?

Molina’s research showed that chlorine released from CFCs in the stratosphere catalytically destroys ozone molecules, which led to the understanding that CFC emissions could thin the ozone layer.

When did Mario Molina win the Nobel Prize?

He received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1995, shared with F. Sherwood Rowland and Paul J. Crutzen.

Where did Molina work during his career?

Molina held positions at UNAM (Mexico), UC Irvine, Caltech, MIT, and UC San Diego/Scripps, and he founded the Mario Molina Center in Mexico City.

What is the Montreal Protocol and how is Molina related to it?

The Montreal Protocol (1987) is an international treaty to phase out ozone-depleting substances; Molina’s science was a driving force behind recognition of the problem and development of policy responses.

Conclusion

Mario Molina’s biography is the story of how clear science, professional courage, and public engagement can alter the course of global policy. From a curious child in Mexico City to a Nobel laureate, Molina connected chemistry to planetary stewardship.

His research alerted the world to a previously invisible danger and helped produce one of the most effective global environmental agreements in history. For students, scientists, and policymakers alike, his life is both inspiration and a blueprint: rigorous research paired with relentless communication can protect the planet and improve human health.