Description
F. Sherwood Rowland was the Donald Bren Research Professor of Chemistry in Earth System Science at the University of California,
Irvine, beginning at UCI as a founding faculty member in 1964 and continuing as a professor and researcher until 2012. This
collection documents his professional career in radiochemistry and atmospheric science. Included are materials documenting
his research; awards including the Nobel Prize in chemistry (1995); professional service; and his global efforts to educate
the public and policymakers about stratospheric ozone depletion, global climate change, and related environmental issues.
Materials document the public controversies surrounding the chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) theory of ozone depletion and efforts
to negotiate international agreements, including the Montreal Protocol, to ban CFC production. Forms of materials include
audiovisual recordings, speeches, manuscripts, correspondence, notes, reports and report drafts, publications, clippings,
photographs, and digital material.
Background
F. Sherwood Rowland was the Donald Bren Research Professor of Chemistry in Earth System Science at the University of California,
Irvine, beginning at UCI as a founding faculty member in 1964 and continuing as a professor and researcher until 2012. In
1995, he shared the Nobel Prize in chemistry with Mario Molina and Paul Crutzen, "for their work on atmospheric chemistry,
particularly concerning the formation and decomposition of ozone." Rowland, a specialist in atmospheric chemistry and radiochemistry,
has authored or co-authored more than 430 scientific publications. He has been internationally recognized with numerous awards
and honors, not only for his groundbreaking 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.
Extent
204.8 Linear Feet
(340 boxes and 2 oversized folders)
Restrictions
Property rights reside with the University of California. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and
their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or to publish, please contact the Head of Special Collections and Archives.
Availability
The collection is open for research.