Paul J. Crutzen

Biography

Abstract

Paul Crutzen is an atmospheric and environmental chemist at the Max-Planck-Institut für Chemie. He was awarded the 1995 Nobel Prize in Chemistry along with Mario J. Molina and F. Sherwood Rowland "for their work in atmospheric chemistry, particularly concerning the formation and decomposition of ozone."

Important Dates

December 3, 1933Birth, Amsterdam (Netherlands).

1954 – 1958Engineer, Bridge Construction Bureau of the City of Amsterdam, Amsterdam (Netherlands).

1959 – 1974Researcher and Professor of Meteorology, Stockholms universitet (Stockholm University), Stockholm (Sweden).

1963Obtained MSc in Mathematics and Meteorology, Stockholms universitet (Stockholm University), Stockholm (Sweden).

1968Obtained PhD (Filosofie Licentiat) in Meteorology, Stockholms universitet (Stockholm University), Stockholm (Sweden).

1969 – 1971Fellow, European Space Research Organization, Oxford University, Oxford (England).

1973Obtained PhD (Filosofie Doctor) in Meteorology, Stockholms universitet (Stockholm University), Stockholm (Sweden).

1974 – 1977Consultant, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Boulder (Colo.).

1974 – 1980Research Scientist (1974-1977) and Senior Scientist and Director of the Air Quality Division (1977-1980), National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), Boulder (Colo.).

1976 – 1981Professor of Atmospheric Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins (Colo.).

1980Member, Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften (Max-Planck-Society for the Advancement of Science).

1980 – 2017Director, Department of Atmospheric Chemistry; Executive Director, Chemistry Division (1983-1985); and Emeritus Professor, Max-Planck Gessellschaft (Max-Planck Institute), Mainz (Germany : Landkreis).

1984Awarded Rolex-Discover Scientist of Year.

1986Fellow, American Geophysical Union.

1986Foreign Honorary Member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

1987 – 1991Professor of Geophysical Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago (Ill.).

1988Member, Academia Europaea.

1992 – presentProfessor (1992-2008) and Emeritus Professor (2008-present), Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla (San Diego, Calif.).

1994Awarded Max-Planck Research Prize.

1995Awarded Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Mario J. Molina and F. Sherwood Rowland "for their work in atmospheric chemistry, particularly concerning the formation and decomposition of ozone".

1997Member, American Meteorological Society.

1997Member, European Geophysical Society.

1997 – 2000Professor, Universiteit Utrecht (Utrecht University), Utrecht (Netherlands).

2000 – 2017Institute Scholar, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA).

2004Member, European Geosciences Union.

2007International Member, American Philosophical Society.

January 28, 2021Death, Mainz (Germany : Landkreis).

Occupation

Atmospheric and environmental chemist.

Places

Birth

Amsterdam (Netherlands)

Employment

Amsterdam (Netherlands)

Stockholm (Sweden)

Stockholm (Sweden)

Oxford (England)

Boulder (Colo.)

Fort Collins (Colo.)

Mainz (Germany : Landkreis)

Chicago (Ill.)

San Diego (Calif.)

Mainz (Germany : Landkreis)

Graduate Education

Stockholm (Sweden)

Death

Mainz (Germany : Landkreis)

Subjects

Atmosphere, Upper.

Atmospheric chemistry.

Environmental chemistry.

Ozone.

Relationships

People

Family

Crutzen, Anna Gurk

Mother.

Crutzen, Jozef

Father.

Crutzen, Terttu Soininen

Wife.

Advisors & Collaborators

Ariya, Parisa A.

Advised by Crutzen at Max-Planck-Institut fuer Chemie (Max-Planck Institute for Chemistry).

Bolin, Bert, 1925-2007

PhD advisor at Stockholms universitet (Stockholm University).

Chen, Deliang

Advised by Crutzen at Johannes Gutenberg-Universität (Johannes Gutenberg University).

Molina, Mario J.

Awarded 1995 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Crutzen and Rowland "for their work in atmospheric chemistry, particularly concerning the formation and decomposition of ozone."

Rowland, F. S.

Awarded 1995 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Crutzen and Molina "for their work in atmospheric chemistry, particularly concerning the formation and decomposition of ozone."

Witt, Georg

PhD advisor at Stockholms universitet (Stockholm University).

Additional

Brasseur, Guy

Cox, Tony (R. A.)

Harris, Neil R. P.

Institutions

Major Positions

Colorado State University

Professor of Atmospheric Sciences.

International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis

Institute Scholar.

Max-Planck-Institut für Chemie (Otto-Hahn-Institut)

Director, Department of Atmospheric Chemistry; Executive Director, Chemistry Division; and Emeritus Professor.

National Center for Atmospheric Research (U.S.)

Research Scientist; Senior Scientist; and Director, Air Quality Division.

Rijksuniversiteit te Utrecht

Professor.

Scripps Institution of Oceanography

Professor and Emeritus Professor.

Stockholms universitet

Obtained MSc in Mathematics and Meteorology (1963), PhD (Filosofie Licentiat)(1968), and PhD (Filosofie Doctor) in Meteorology (1973). Research and Professor of Meteorology.

United States. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Consultant.

University of Chicago. Department of the Geophysical Sciences

Professor of Geophysical Sciences.

Professional Activities & Affiliations

Academia Europaea

Member.

American Academy of Arts and Sciences

Foreign Honorary Member.

American Geophysical Union

Fellow.

American Meteorological Society

Member.

American Philosophical Society

International Member.

European Geophysical Society

Member.

European Geosciences Union

Member.

European Space Research Organisation

Fellow.

Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften

Member.

Resources

Archival Resources

Subject

Oral history interview with Guy Brasseur, 2009 June 25.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Neil R. P. Harris, 2009 March 16.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Tony Cox, 1999 October 12.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Published Resources

Subject

Encyclopaedia Britannica Paul Crutzen

Paul J. Crutzen Nobel Prize biography.