Marie Curie
A Trailblazer in Science
Marie Curie in her chemistry laboratory at Radium Institute in France, April 1921
Welcome to the tribute page dedicated to Marie Curie, a remarkable scientist who made groundbreaking contributions to the fields of physics and chemistry. Marie Curie, born Maria Skłodowska in 1867 in Warsaw, Poland, was a pioneering physicist and chemist. Despite facing numerous obstacles as a woman pursuing a career in science, she overcame societal expectations and made significant advancements in her field.
Marie Curie attended Sorbonne University in Paris, studying physics and mathematics. She obtained advanced degrees, demonstrating exceptional academic prowess and overcoming societal barriers as a woman in higher education.
Marie Curie's relentless pursuit of scientific knowledge and her groundbreaking discoveries continue to inspire and shape the scientific landscape. Her contributions to radioactivity, her determination as a female scientist, and her unwavering dedication to research serve as a beacon of inspiration for scientists worldwide. Marie Curie's legacy will forever be celebrated and cherished in the annals of scientific history.- 1867: Marie Skłodowska is born on November 7 in Warsaw, Poland.
- 1891: Marie moves to Paris, France, to pursue further education at the Sorbonne University.
- 1895: Marie and Pierre Curie discover and name "radioactivity" and identify two new radioactive elements, polonium and radium.
- 1903: Marie Curie becomes the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, sharing the Nobel Prize in Physics with Pierre Curie and Antoine Henri Becquerel.
- 1906: Pierre Curie dies in an accident, leaving Marie devastated.
- 1911: Marie Curie receives her second Nobel Prize, this time in Chemistry, for her discovery and isolation of radium and polonium.
- 1914: During World War I, Marie Curie establishes mobile radiography units, known as "Petites Curies," to provide X-ray services for field hospitals.
- 1921: Marie Curie visits the United States and receives a gram of radium as a gift from President Warren G. Harding.
- 1929: Marie Curie becomes the first woman to become a professor at the University of Paris.
- 1934: Marie Curie passes away on July 4 in Sancellemoz, France, due to health complications from her prolonged exposure to radiation
I am among those who think that science has great beauty. A scientist in his laboratory is not only a technician: he is also a child placed before natural phenomena which impress him like a fairy tale."
-Marie Curie, Lecture at the Royal Institution, London, 1903.