Eric P. Grimsrud, author of Thoughts of a Scientist, Citizen, and Grandpa on Climate Change: Bridging the Gap between Scientific and Public Opinion

Eric Grimsrud was raised in Zumbrota, Minnesota, graduated from St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota, and the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where he received his PhD degree in Analytical Chemistry in 1970. He then held teaching and research positions at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Washington State University, Pullman, and Montana State University, Bozeman, where he was a Professor of Chemistry for 29 years.

Dr. Grimsrud's research interests have focused on the development of new and more powerful instruments to be used for the trace detection of specific compounds of interest in complex samples. Several of these methods have led to the detection of environmentally important compounds in the Earth's atmosphere.

For example, in 1974 one of these methods led to the first detection and analysis of the two most abundant chlorinated compounds in the atmosphere, chlorofluorocarbon-12 and methyl chloride, the first of which was subsequently shown to contribute to the destruction of our protective layer of ozone in the Earth's stratosphere.  At Montana State University, Dr. Grimsrud's research group provided the first detection of several other halogenated compounds of both anthropogenic and natural origins that contribute to both stratospheric ozone depletion and greenhouse gas warming.

While at all of the universities referred to above, Dr. Grimsrud taught a wide range of courses in chemistry and the atmospheric sciences to both introductory and graduate level students. Twenty graduate students also received their Masters or PhD degrees through research performed in his laboratory. These accomplishments are described in more than 100 articles and book chapters published in the top journals of chemistry and atmospheric science. For his contributions to Montana State University, Dr. Grimsrud received their highest awards for teaching and research and was granted the title of Emeritus Professor of Chemistry in 2004.   

Since his retirement from full-time employment in 2006, Dr. Grimsrud has focused on increasing the general public's understanding of the scientific issues that are of the greatest national and global importance. So far, these activities have included teaching special topics courses at Flathead Valley Community College, Kalispell, Spokane Community College, Spokane, WA, and at Montana State University, Bozeman. In addition, Dr. Grimsrud has provided many presentations to various public organizations and has written numerous guest columns for newspapers in Montana, Minnesota, Nevada and California. His lastest book, Thoughts of a Scientist, Citizen, and Grandpa on Climate Change, is an updated version of his first book by this name published in 2009. 

Dr. Grimsrud now lives near Kalispell, Montana, and Glacier National Park with his wife and writing companion, Kathy, and their Labrador, Svart som Bek (black as pitch in Norsk). In addition to enjoying the many outdoor attractions of the Northwest, including golfing, tennis, hiking, skijoring and 3-cockpit kayaking (so that Bek can be included), Eric and Kathy do their best to keep up with the expanding families of their children spread across the states of Washington, Minnesota and Wisconsin. They now have five grandchildren all under that age of five.