Born On: November 7, 1867
Born In: Warsaw, Vistula Country, Russian Empire
Died On: July 4, 1934
Career: Physicist and Chemist
Nationality: Polish, French
A Polish by birth and French by citizenship, Marie Curie was a pioneer in the field of radioactivity. A physicist and chemist by profession, Marie Curie made remarkable contribution to science, along with her husband. Marie had too many firsts in her life - she was the first and only person till date to be honored with two Nobel Prize in different fields, first female professor at the University of Paris and also the first person to initiate treatment of neoplasms. Marie Curie dedicated her life towards the progress of science and is recognized for her services in the advancement of both, physics and chemistry.
Childhood & Family
Marie Sklodowska was the youngest child of Bronislawa and Wladyslaw Sklodowski, both of whom were well-known teachers. The death of her mother and older sibling caused Marie to give up Catholicism and become agnostic. Till 10 years of age, Marie attended a boarding school, in which her mother had worked as a teacher. She also worked as a governess for sometime, during which she went through an unhappy love affair. Marie lived in Warsaw until 24 years of age, after which she shifted base to Paris, following her sister, to attain higher education and performed her subsequent scientific work.
Marriage & Career
It was in 1891 that Marie joined her sister and attained her undergraduate degree in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry, ranking first. During her years in the University of Paris, she met and married Pierre Curie, with whom she shared her interests. Since both had similar mindset, they started doing their research work together. It was, thence, that they discovered the presence of polonium, a substance much more radioactive than uranium. Later that year, Marie-Pierre discovered yet another element present in pitchblende, which was far more radioactive than the former and named it radium.
Marie received her first Nobel Prize in Physics, becoming the first woman ever to receive such an accolade. This was in 1903, the same year, in which she received her DSc from the University of Paris. Marie was the first woman in France to complete a doctorate. In 1909, she was appointed as a professor in the University of Paris. In 1911, Marie received her second Nobel Prize, this time for Chemistry. With this, she became the first person till date to win or share two Nobel Prizes, in two different fields.
Marie extended her knowledge to help the wounded soldiers, during World War I. She encouraged the use of mobile radiography units, known as petites Curies ‘Little Curies’, for their treatment. Marie also donated her as well as her husband's gold Nobel Prize medals for the war effort. She founded the Warsaw Radium Institute, in which her sister was a director. Marie also headed the Pasteur Institute, along with a radioactivity laboratory, which was created for her by the University of Paris.
Death
Aplastic anemia was the cause of the demise of the talented Marie Curie, on 4th July, 1934. The anemia was because of her excessive exposure to radiation. Marie was buried near Pierre Curie - her husband and scientific collaborator. After about six decades, the remains of the couple were transferred to the Panthéon in Paris, as a tribute to their contribution towards Science. Marie’s laboratory is still preserved in the Musée Curie.
Awards & Honors
Marie curie was awarded a Nobel Prize in Physics, in the year 1903. It was in the same year that she received Davy Medal, following which she was honored with Matteucci Medal (1904). In 1911, Marie became the first woman to receive a second Nobel Prize. This time, she received it for her contribution in the field of Chemistry. Till date, Marie is the only person who has been honored with two Nobel Prizes, in two different fields. Curie was adorned with the French Legion of Honor. Curie, a unit of radioactivity, has been named after Marie-Pierre.
While in Poland, Marie received honorary doctorates from the Lwów Polytechnic, Poznan University, Kraków's Jagiellonian University and Warsaw Polytechnic. In 1967, a museum devoted to Sklodowska-Curie was established. There are also a number of institutions named after Marie Curie - Maria Curie-Sklodowska University - in Lublin, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Institute of Oncology - Warsaw, Pierre and Marie Curie University, The Curie Institute and Curie Museum - Paris, Marie Curie (School) and Curie Metropolitan High School.
