Born: 1867 (Warsaw, Poland)
Died: 1934 (Paris, France)
Biography:
Marie Curie, born Marie Salomea Skłodowska-Curie, was a Polish and naturalized-French physicist and chemist who conducted groundbreaking research on radioactivity. She was born in Warsaw, Poland on November 7, 1867, during a time when Poland was part of the Russian Empire. Marie’s pursuit of knowledge began at a young age, and she displayed remarkable intelligence and determination.
Marie’s education was initially hindered by the limitations placed on women’s education at the time. However, she attended the clandestine Flying University in Warsaw, where she studied natural sciences. In 1891, she decided to follow her elder sister Bronisława to study in Paris, France. It was in Paris that Marie truly flourished academically.
In Paris, Marie earned her higher degrees and began her groundbreaking scientific work. In 1895, she married the French physicist Pierre Curie. Together, they conducted extensive research on radioactivity, a term coined by Marie herself. They shared the 1903 Nobel Prize in Physics with physicist Henri Becquerel for their pioneering contributions to the field.
Tragedy struck in 1906 when Pierre Curie died in a tragic street accident. Despite this devastating loss, Marie continued her research and made significant discoveries in the field of radioactivity. In 1911, she became the first woman to win a Nobel Prize in Chemistry for her discovery of the elements polonium and radium. Marie Curie was the first person, and still the only woman, to win Nobel Prizes in two different scientific fields.
Marie’s contributions extended beyond her scientific achievements. She was a trailblazer for women’s education and equality. In 1906, she became the first woman to become a professor at the University of Paris. She shattered societal expectations and proved that women could excel in the male-dominated field of science.
During World War I, Marie Curie demonstrated her dedication to serving others by developing mobile radiography units. These units provided X-ray services to field hospitals and greatly improved medical care for wounded soldiers.
Marie’s legacy lives on through the institutions she founded. In 1920, she established the Curie Institute in Paris, which remains a leading medical research center. In addition, the Curie Institute in Warsaw, founded in 1932, continues to contribute to the advancement of scientific knowledge.
Marie Curie’s life and work were not without challenges. She faced discrimination both as a woman and as a foreigner in France. However, she never lost her sense of Polish identity and maintained a strong connection to her native country.
Marie Salomea Skłodowska-Curie passed away on July 4, 1934, at the age of 66. She succumbed to aplastic anemia, likely caused by her exposure to radiation through her scientific research and her work at field hospitals during World War I. Despite her untimely death, Marie continues to be celebrated and admired for her groundbreaking contributions to science and her unwavering determination.
Awards:
– 1903 Nobel Prize in Physics (shared with Pierre Curie and Henri Becquerel)
– 1911 Nobel Prize in Chemistry
– Numerous other honors and tributes throughout her lifetime, including being the first woman to be entombed on her own merits in the Paris Panthéon in 1995