Córdoba, Argentina 09 August 2013 – The Center for Human Rights and Environment congratulates Dr. Mario Molina as a recipient of the Medal of Freedom.
President Obama announced that Dr. Mario Molina has been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, along with former President Bill Clinton, and 14 others. The Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian honor in the US, given to acknowledge those who have made especially meritorious contributions to the country’s security or national interests, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant endeavors.
The White House announcement stated, “Mario Molina is a visionary chemist and environmental scientist … [who] earned the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for discovering how chlorofluorocarbons deplete the ozone layer. Dr. Molina is a professor at the University of California, San Diego; Director of the Mario Molina Center for Energy and Environment; and a member of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.” Dr. Molina, who is a dual citizen of the U.S. and Mexico, told the U-T San Diego that he “was stunned” and “very humbled” to learn that he was receiving the medal.
Romina Picolotti, President of the CEDHA stated ¨ we had the honor to known Prof. Molina and work with him on this new opportunity for climate and clean air which is Short-Lived Climate Pollutants. His vision, his solidarity, his tireless commitment with the planet and humankind makes him a truly heroe of our times. ¨
In his Nobel Prize lecture, Molina said, “I was already fascinated by science be fore entering high school; I still remember my excitement when I first glanced at paramecia and amoebae through a rather primitive toy microscope. I then converted a bathroom, seldom used by the family, into a laboratory and spent hours playing with chemistry sets. With the help of an aunt, Esther Molina, who was a chemist, I continued with more challenging experiments along the lines of those carried out by fresh man chemistry students in college.”
The ceremony presided by President Obama will be held at the White House.