Tears Freeze in Antarctica: Tang Prize Laureate Solomon Sees Hope for Earth's Recovery from the Ice Sheets [Interview]

(Central News Agency reporter Lin Honghan, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Special Correspondent, June 15) In the 1980s, a young atmospheric chemist, Susan Solomon, journeyed to Antarctica to unravel the mystery of the ozone hole. Conducting observations in the icy wilderness, she recalls that the cold was so intense her tears froze on her eyelids. This experience profoundly shaped her scientific career.

Now 70 years old, Solomon teaches in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She is one of the most influential atmospheric and climate scientists of our time. Her laboratory is on a high floor, with large windows offering a panoramic view of Boston’s skyline and the Charles River from MIT’s campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

In an interview with the Central News Agency, Solomon recalled her profound experiences conducting scientific research in Antarctica. She described looking down from the plane at the ice sheet, seeing no cities, roads, ships, or lights—only an untouched continent. "It is the most beautiful and pure place in the world, like a crystal palace," she said.

Antarctica’s beauty is matched by its extreme harshness. Solomon said that as soon as the plane landed, the cold air hitting her face felt like being slapped. During outdoor observations, she had to cover her face and eyes to prevent skin exposure. Once, while adjusting a mirror on her instrument, her tears froze on her eyelids due to the cold, making it difficult to open her eyes.

These experiences later became a crucial starting point for Solomon’s understanding of environmental issues. She said that standing before nature as vast and unspoiled as Antarctica allows one to clearly see the impact humans have had on Earth.

Yet, her experience with the ozone hole also convinced her that while humans have caused harm, they also possess the ability to repair damage through science, public trust, and policy cooperation. Countries later regulated ozone-depleting chemicals based on scientific evidence, leading the ozone layer to gradually recover.

Solomon has been awarded the 7th Tang Prize for Sustainable Development this year. Reflecting on her award, she said she was shocked and deeply humbled. Past Tang Prize laureates include Jane Goodall, Gro Harlem Brundtland, and James Hansen—figures she deeply admires. To be mentioned alongside them feels unbelievable to her.

Solomon said she has never thought of her work as "saving the Earth." She describes herself as a shy person who simply wants to bring reliable facts into public discourse so society can understand problems and take action.

Her curiosity about nature began in childhood. At age nine, she watched Jacques Cousteau’s underwater world on a black-and-white television. The beauty of nature captivated her and inspired her to become a scientist.

As a female scientist, Solomon walked a lonely path early in her career. She said women were rare in atmospheric sciences when she was young, and she was often the only woman in meetings. When faced with hostile or dismissive remarks, she learned not to get angry but to use humor to move past them. Her advice to young women: "Don’t get angry—be humorous."

In 2024, Solomon published a book titled "Solvable: How We Healed the Earth, and How We Can Do It Again," reviewing past environmental crises like the ozone hole, acid rain, and smog that humanity has successfully overcome.

She looks forward to attending Tang Prize events in Taiwan and hopes to engage with Taiwanese students. Solomon noted that young people often don’t know humanity has successfully solved major environmental problems before. The ozone hole, she said, is a powerful example reminding people that science, trust, and policy action can work together.

Facing climate change and global environmental crises, Solomon understands that younger generations can easily feel discouraged. She said today’s world is flooded with negative messages, but people must not let those messages turn them negative too. She encourages young people to think about what they can do to help the Earth, because "the Earth truly needs help." (Editor: Wei Shu) 1150615