Born: 1897 (Paris, France)
Died: 1956 (Paris, France)
Biography:
Irène Joliot-Curie was a French chemist, physicist, and politician, born on September 12, 1897, in Paris, France. She was the eldest daughter of renowned scientists Pierre Curie and Marie Skłodowska–Curie, and she later married Frédéric Joliot-Curie. Together with her husband, Irène Joliot-Curie was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1935 for their discovery of induced radioactivity. This accolade made them the second-ever married couple to win a Nobel Prize, following in the footsteps of her parents and adding to the Curie family’s legacy of five Nobel Prizes.
In addition to her scientific contributions, Joliot-Curie also played a significant role in French politics and government. She became one of the first three women in French history to hold a government position when she was appointed as the undersecretary for Scientific Research under the Popular Front in 1936. This appointment exemplified her determination to break gender barriers and contribute to shaping scientific policies in her country.
Joliot-Curie’s dedication to science and research extended beyond her own achievements. Her two children, Hélène and Pierre, also followed in their parents’ footsteps and became prominent scientists in their own right. This exemplifies the profound influence and inspiration that Joliot-Curie had on her children, who continued the family tradition of scientific excellence.
In 1945, Joliot-Curie was appointed as one of the six commissioners of the new French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) by General de Gaulle and the Provisional Government of the French Republic. This appointment demonstrates the esteem and respect she commanded within the scientific community.
Tragically, Joliot-Curie’s life was cut short on March 17, 1956, when she passed away in Paris from acute leukemia. Her exposure to polonium and X-rays during her scientific research was identified as a contributing factor to her illness. Despite her untimely demise, Joliot-Curie’s contributions to science, her role in government, and her enduring influence on her children’s scientific endeavors make her an iconic figure in women’s history.