Susan Solomon

Susan Solomon is an American atmospheric chemist, working for most of her career at the <a href="/facts/National_Oceanic_and_Atmospheric_Administration/IvcuqNJg">National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</a> (NOAA). In 2011, Solomon joined the faculty at the <a href="/facts/Massachusetts_Institute_of_Technology/Xk49vNA8">Massachusetts Institute of Technology</a>, where she serves as the <a href="/facts/Ellen_Swallow_Richards/HBo3JBcE">Ellen Swallow Richards</a> Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry & Climate Science. Solomon, with her colleagues, was the first to propose the <a href="/facts/Chlorofluorocarbon/uLApxm7K">chlorofluorocarbon</a> <a href="/facts/Free_radical/qFymuVoT">free radical</a> <a href="/facts/Reaction_mechanism/9lanyVuy">reaction mechanism</a> that is the cause of the Antarctic <a href="/facts/Ozone_hole/ssGWpcx3">ozone hole</a>. Her most recent book, Solvable: how we healed the earth, and how we can do it again (2024) focuses on solutions to current problems, as do books by data scientist <a href="/facts/Hannah_Ritchie/PkvGw6YG">Hannah Ritchie</a>, marine biologist, <a href="/facts/Ayana_Elizabeth_Johnson/AtzT5NLR">Ayana Elizabeth Johnson</a> and climate scientist <a href="/facts/Katharine_Hayhoe/EN3F9WpN">Katharine Hayhoe</a>.
Solomon is a member of the <a href="/facts/National_Academy_of_Sciences/M3oePVeG">U.S. National Academy of Sciences</a>, the European Academy of Sciences, and the <a href="/facts/French_Academy_of_Sciences/zF42DYQv">French Academy of Sciences</a>.
In 2002, <a href="/facts/Discover_(magazine)/JJa1szAl">Discover</a> magazine recognized her as one of the 50 most important women in science.
In 2008, Solomon was selected by <a href="/facts/Time_(magazine)/N4FXc99l">Time</a> magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. She also serves on the Science and Security Board for the <a href="/facts/Bulletin_of_the_Atomic_Scientists/TRCfTtsy">Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists</a>.

Susan Solomon open-in-new

Susan Solomon