Dr. Mario José Molina, a prominent chemist and Nobel Prize winner, received an honorary UBC degree at the fall 2011 congregation ceremony.
Dr. Molina was awarded the 1995 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on CFCs. CFCs, or chlorofluorocarbons, were once commonly used in aerosol cans and as refrigerants, and were thought to have little impact on the atmosphere. Dr. Molina’s work proved quite the opposite – he discovered the significant and harmful effects that CFC gases were having on the Earth’s ozone layer. In light of this discovery, and as a result of Dr. Molina’s efforts to increase public awareness of the issue, the use of CFCs has since largely declined.
Dr. Molina currently serves as a professor at the University of California, San Diego in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. He has received over 30 honorary degrees in recognition of his scientific efforts.
UBC bestows honorary degrees to nominated individuals that have made outstanding and significant contributions to society. Visit UBC Graduation for more information on honorary degrees.
View the video of the ceremony here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uA_J7So-68Y&list=UULvE33hIuQaAP0uAlliAYxg&index=1&feature=plcp