May 23, 2015

The public is invited to a free talk called “How Science and Policy Solved the Global Ozone Crisis” with Dr. Paul Newman in thePickford Theater, third floor, Madison Building, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., on Thursday, May 28 at 12:30 p.m. EDT.
Imagine a world where a five minute walk could give you a sunburn. This could have happened if not for the Montreal Protocol, signed in 1987. In his presentation, Newman will talk about the world we might have had if scientists and diplomats had not cooperated to tackle the ozone crisis and regulate chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). Attendees will also learn about the current status of the ozone layer and the prospects for the future.
Dr. Paul A. Newman is the Chief Scientist for Atmospheric Sciences, in the Earth Sciences Division at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Dr. Newman is also the co-chair of the Scientific Assessment Panel (SAP) to the Montreal Protocol. The SAP is charged with drafting reports on the state of ozone depletion every four years. Newman is principally involved in the analysis of stratospheric meteorological and trace gas observations.
Newman also manages NASA’s Ozone Watch page:http://ozonewatch.gsfc.nasa.gov/. The Ozone Watch page provides the latest status of the ozone layer over the Antarctic, with a focus on the ozone hole. Satellite instruments monitor the ozone layer, and NASA uses their data to create the images that depict the amount of ozone. The site also provides ozone facts, multimedia, meteorology and educational information.
The Library of Congress maintains one of the largest and most diverse collections of scientific and technical information in the world. The Science, Technology and Business Division provides reference and bibliographic services and develops the general collections of the library in all areas of science, technology, business and economics. For more information, visit www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/.
The Library of Congress is the nation's oldest federal cultural institution and the largest library in the world and holds nearly 151.8 million items in various languages, disciplines and formats. The library serves Congress and the nation both on-site in its reading rooms on Capitol Hill and through its award-winning website at www.loc.gov.
For inquiries about this or upcoming talks at the Library of Congress, the public can contact the LOC Science, Technology and Business Division at 202-707-5664. ADA accommodations should be requested five business days in advance at 202-707-6382 (voice/tty) or ada@loc.gov.
The lecture will be later broadcast on the Library’s webcast page and YouTube channel “Topics in Science” playlist.

Image: The Library of Congress flyer for Paul Newman's talk on May 28, 2015.