Library Exhibits

Discovery of a Lifetime: F. Sherwood Rowland and the Ozone Layer

Discovery of a Lifetime celebrates the research contributions of world-renowned atmospheric scientist F. Sherwood "Sherry" Rowland, 1995 Nobel Prize winner for Chemistry, and UCI Donald Bren Research Professor of Chemistry in Earth System Science. The exhibit traces Rowland's ground-breaking work as one of the first scientists to warn that chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) released into the atmosphere were depleting the earth's vital ozone layer.  His research, along with postdoctoral colleague Mario Molina, contributed to the passing of the 1987 Montreal Protocol to eliminate CFCs from aerosols, and brought worldwide attention to the impact of human-contributed greenhouse gases on a planetary scale.   

Rowland  is internationally recognized not only for his work in the laboratory, but also for his efforts to inform other scientists, the public, and policymakers about threats posed by chemical pollutants to earth's atmosphere. The exhibit explores Rowland's career as a researcher and statesman; his relationship with the media, and his role as a scientist and national advocate. Mitchell Brown, Research Librarian for Chemistry, Earth System Science & Russian Studies is curator. Rowland generously donated his personal papers to the UCI Libraries and these rich materials are now available for scholarly research in the Libraries' Department of Special Collections and Archives.  

May 2011 - October 2011 

Opening night event | event video | event photos | checklist (pdf)  | brochure (pdf) | UCI feature article "Deconstructing Sherwood Rowland"