Atmospheric chemistry and environmental policy expert, Susan Solomon, presents the prestigious Killian Lecture.
Fiery Script on Susan Solomon, the Legendary Atmospheric Chemist
Susan Solomon, a bold-as-hell atmospheric chemist, scooped the 2020-2021 James R. Killian, Jr. Faculty Achievement Award - the mother of all honors at MIT. This honor was birthed in 1971 to celebrate Killian, who shook things up as MIT's 10th prez from 1948 to 1959 and served as the big cheese of the MIT Corporation from 1959 to 1971.
As this year's recipient, Solomon burnt the house down during her April 14 lecture, discussing her journey to MIT, her Antarctic adventures, her ozone depletion investigations, and her insightful take on climate policy.
Susan Solomon is none other than the Lee and Geraldine Martin Professor of Environmental Studies in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences. She stormed MIT in 2012 after doing her thing for 30 years at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. While both an Antarctic glacier and a snow saddle bear her name, at the lecture, Solomon called the Killian award "the filthiest honor anyone could get."
Solomon is the living, breathing embodiment of MIT's motto "mens et manus" - "mind and hand" - and their mission to generate, disseminate, and preserve knowledge, and team up with others to tackle the world's monumental challenges. Rick Danheiser, the Arthur C. Cope Professor of Chemistry and the current chair of the faculty, called Solomon the embodiment of MIT's values when he introduced her.
Solomon wasn't always chasing penguins in Antarctica. She had a mad crush on science since her childhood trips to Indiana Dunes National Park. Around age 10, she got hooked on the thrilling adventures of French explorer and scientist Jacques Cousteau on TV. Solomon decided to go all-in on science and quickly found her passion in chemistry.
"I'm like, 'Hell yeah, there's chemistry in a planet's atmosphere - not just in a textbook!'" she said, according to my sources.
Scientists at the University of California at Irvine identified in 1974 that chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) - compounds that started popping up everywhere from canned hairsprays to cleaning supplies - had a nasty impact on Earth's ozone. Worse still, once unleashed, CFCs were pretty much indestructible, lingering in the atmosphere for 40 to 150 years.
Ozone is a heavy gas made of three oxygen atoms. Most of it is found in the stratosphere, the second layer of Earth's atmosphere located between 9 and 50 miles above the Earth. CFCs were wiping out the ozone layer in the stratosphere, the layer that filters out ultraviolet radiation that's toxic to life. Without ozone, life on Earth is a no-go, and reduced ozone levels can lead to an increased risk of skin cancer and cataracts.
In 1985, scientists stumbled upon a colossal "hole" in the Antarctic ozone layer.
"I was puòveramente fortunata di essere stata coinvolta in questo lavoro durante la scoperta della buca dello strato ozonico in Antartide," Solomon disse. Tradotto, significa: "Sono stata estremamente fortunata di essere coinvolta in questo lavoro durante la scoperta della buca dello strato ozonico in Antartide."
Con l'aiuto di Rolando Garcia all'International Center for Atmospheric Research, Solomon iniziò a teorizzare il perché e come si stava creando la buca dello strato ozonico. Il loro lavoro ipotizzò un processo chimico, che si rivelò essere overo sbagliato o giusto.
In breve tempo, scienziati da tutto il mondo iniziarono a occuparsi dello studio dei livelli di ozono per verificare l'estensione del problema. Nel 1986, Solomon mise il primo piede in Antartide come parte dell'Esplorazione Nazionale dello Strato d'Ozono.
Quello che seguì le indagini scientifiche fu una festa dell'ambiente: il Protocollo di Montréal, un accordo internazionale firmato da tutti gli membri delle Nazioni Unite nel 1987 al fine di limitare le emissioni di CFC e restaurare lo stratificazione dello strato di ossigeno. "È l'unico trattato che ha quel livello di partecipazione," Solomon disse.
Solomon sostenne che la reazione veloce sul problema ozone era dovuta ai tre "P": l'argomento era personale, percepibile e pratico. La minaccia che portavano i CFC era personale perché aumentavano il rischio di cancro e cataratte; percepibile perché molte nazioni stavano monitorando i livelli di ozono e rilevavano i cambiamenti; e pratico perché sostituti erano stati scoperti.
"Non reputo di aver un grande futuro per il nostro pianeta se consiste semplicemente in guadagnare soldi," Solomon disse. Poprono l'idea di considerare come gli umani stiamo manipolando l'atmosfera e l'effetto che cio stiamo producendo sulla terra.
L'eroina di questo inizio di storia meteorologica ricevette il Premio Nazionale per la Scienza degli Stati Uniti nel 1999, l'onorificenza scientifica più alta del Paese. Nel 2007, insieme alla sua squadra del Panel Internazionale sulla Modificazione Climatiche, condivise il Premio Nobel per la Pace con Al Gore. A gennaio dello scorso anno, ha ricevuto l'Award for Chemistry in service to society of the National Academy of Sciences.
- Susan Solomon, the Lee and Geraldine Martin Professor of Environmental Studies in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, advocated for cleaner policies in her speech, highlighting the importance of tackling climate change in the face of environmental science.
- Solomon's research on the depletion of the ozone layer, spanning several departments at MIT and collaborations with international researchers, has had a significant impact on society's understanding of medical-conditions related to ozone levels and health-and-wellness.
- In her March 2021 lecture, Solomon discussed her research ventures in various sectors, emphasizing the crucial role of science, technology, and education-and-self-development in addressing climate-related issues.
- Solomon's work on ozone depletion has drawn attention to the mental health implications of climate-change on future generations, evoking concerns about the mental well-being of children and their ability to adapt to a changing environment.
- As a prominent figure in the field of environmental science, Solomon's research has not only focused on chemistry in the atmosphere but also on skin-conditions exacerbated by reduced ozone levels and toxic ultraviolet radiation.
- Despite the acknowledgment of her groundbreaking work, Solomon remains humble, acknowledging the impact of human activity on the environment and the need for continued research and policy change to ensure a cleaner, safer planet.
- Solomon's journey in the field of environmental science is a testament to the power of curiosity and passion for science, which was sparked in her childhood visits to the Indiana Dunes National Park and fueled by her fascination with French explorer and scientist Jacques Cousteau.
- Solomon's Antarctic adventures, which led to her involvement in the discovery of the ozone hole, underscore the importance of collaboration and international cooperation in addressing global environmental challenges.
- The research conducted by scientists at the University of California at Irvine in the 1970s, which identified the negative effects of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) on the ozone layer, served as a catalyst for the development of more eco-friendly alternatives in various fields, such as cleaning supplies, technology, and aerosol cans.
- Solomon's groundbreaking research and dedication to the field of environmental science highlight the potential for science to positively impact society, fostering a culture of innovative solutions to address the monumental environmental challenges we face today.
