# Mario Molina

_Mexican chemical engineer (1943–2020)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/mario-molina
Last updated: 2026-11-01

> Mario José Molina-Pasquel Henríquez was a Mexican physical chemist. He played a pivotal role in the discovery of the Antarctic ozone hole, and was a co-recipient of the 1995 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his role in discovering the threat to the Earth's ozone layer from chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) gases. He was the first Mexican-born scientist to receive a Nobel Prize in Chemistry and the third Mexican-born person to receive a Nobel prize.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 19 March 1943 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q19045#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Mexico City ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q19045#P19))
- **Died:** 7 October 2020 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q19045#P570))
- **Place of death:** Mexico City ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q19045#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Mexico; United States ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q19045#P27))
- **Occupation:** chemist; engineer; university teacher ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q19045#P106))
- **Education:** National Autonomous University of Mexico; University of California, Berkeley; University of Freiburg ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q19045#P69))
- **Spouse:** Luisa T Molina ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q19045#P26))
- **Awards:** Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic; Presidential Medal of Freedom; Nobel Prize in Chemistry; NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal; Willard Gibbs Award; Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement; Volvo Environment Prize; Max Planck Research Award; Fellow of the American Physical Society; Knight of the Legion of Honour; Heinz Award; honorary doctorate from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru; honorary doctor of the University of Madrid Complutense; Newcomb Cleveland Prize; honorary doctor of the University of Miami ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q19045#P166))

## Questions

**When was Mario Molina born?**  
Mario Molina was born on 19 March 1943 in Mexico City.

**Where did Mario Molina study?**  
Mario Molina was educated at National Autonomous University of Mexico, University of California, Berkeley, University of Freiburg.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Mario Molina](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mario_Molina) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q19045](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q19045) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Mario Molina 1c389 8387.jpg by Janwikifoto (CC BY-SA 3.0)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mario_Molina_1c389_8387.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Mario Molina, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Mario Molina 1c389 8387.jpg — Janwikifoto, CC BY-SA 3.0.

## Cite this page

"Mario Molina". DigiNepal. Last updated 1 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/mario-molina. Retrieved 8 November 2026.