Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 18

Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 18-Senators Raggio, Adler, Augustine, Coffin, Jacobsen, James, Mathews, McGinness, Neal, O'Connell, O'Donnell, Porter, Rawson, Regan, Rhoads, Schneider, Shaffer, Titus, Townsend, Washington and Wiener

March 17, 1997
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Read and adopted

SUMMARY--Congratulates Dr. F. Sherwood Rowland for being selected as recipient of Nevada Medal given by Desert Research Institute and sponsored by Nevada Bell. (BDR R-1457)

EXPLANATION - Matter in italics is new; matter in brackets [ ] is material to be omitted.

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION--Congratulating Dr. F. Sherwood Rowland for being selected as the recipient of the Nevada Medal given by the Desert Research Institute and sponsored by Nevada Bell.

Whereas, A layer of ozone in the upper atmosphere of the Earth protects our biosphere by absorbing ultraviolet radiation from the sun; and
Whereas, Dr. F. Sherwood Rowland and his colleague Dr. Mario Molina of the University of California at Irvine first discovered in 1973 that man-made compounds called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) play a major role in the destruction of this essential but fragile ozone layer; and
Whereas, Drs. Rowland and Molina discovered that CFCs, which are chemically stable at the surface of the Earth, are broken up by ultraviolet radiation high in the atmosphere and then destroy ozone at a rapid rate, and they published their findings in the prominent journal Nature in 1974; and
Whereas, Since this important discovery, Dr. Rowland has provided continuing scientific leadership in the study of atmospheric pollutants and the influence of humanity on the climate of this planet; and
Whereas, Dr. Rowland's international efforts in the laboratory, in the field and in public education have led directly to the Montreal Protocol, which provides for the worldwide replacement of CFCs with environmentally benign substitutes; and
Whereas, Dr. Rowland holds the distinguished Bren Research Professorship at the University of California at Irvine and has contributed significantly to scientific knowledge through the publication of over 300 articles; and
Whereas, Dr. Rowland has served as the President of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and a fellow of the American Physical Society; and
Whereas, Dr. Rowland's many achievements in the field of atmospheric chemistry have garnered him much deserved praise and have earned him numerous honors, including the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1995; and
Whereas, The Nevada Medal is an honor conferred by the Desert Research Institute of the University and Community College System of Nevada in recognition of outstanding scientific, engineering and technical achievements; and
Whereas, The Nevada Medal is sponsored by Nevada Bell, a member of the Pacific Telesis Group and provider of a variety of telecommunication services to northern Nevada; and
Whereas, Dr. F. Sherwood Rowland, whose research has contributed monumentally to the reduction of the global use of CFCs and continues to enlighten us on issues relating to atmospheric chemistry, is the 10th recipient of the Nevada Medal, which includes a $5,000 prize; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate of the State of Nevada, the Assembly Concurring, That the members of the 69th session of the Nevada Legislature hereby congratulate Dr. F. Sherwood Rowland for being named the recipient of the 1997 Nevada Medal given by the Desert Research Institute; and be it further
Resolved, That Nevada Bell is hereby commended for its continued sponsorship of this medal, which offers well-deserved recognition to persons who have demonstrated outstanding scientific, engineering and technical achievements; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate prepare and transmit a copy of this resolution to Dr. F. Sherwood Rowland.