Marie Curie, an outstanding scientist and feminist

A Life Devoted to Science and Progress

Marie Curie, born Maria Salomea Skłodowska, hailed from a 19th-century Polish family. Born on November 7, 1867, in Warsaw, she was the fifth and last child of Władysław Skłodowski, a physics professor, and Bronisława Skłodowska, a mathematics teacher. Infused with intellectual values, her family played a crucial role in her early education.

From a young age, Marie Curie displayed signs of exceptional curiosity and intelligence. Despite restrictions on women's access to higher education, she persevered and enrolled at the University of Warsaw. Later, in Paris, she continued her studies at the Sorbonne, establishing a deep connection with France.

During her time in Warsaw, she clandestinely taught, defying the ban on higher education for women. Her determined character and passion for education also led her to become a tutor, contributing to the education of young minds in the challenging context of Russian occupation in Warsaw.

Her arrival in France in 1891 marked the beginning of a new era for Marie Curie. She pursued her studies at the Sorbonne, where she met Pierre Curie, a renowned physicist. Their scientific collaboration and mutual love led to their marriage in 1895. Together, they embarked on a scientific adventure that would revolutionize the understanding of radioactivity.

Marie Curie's work on radioactivity and her discovery of two new elements, polonium and radium, were rewarded with two Nobel Prizes, in physics in 1903 (shared with Pierre Curie and Henri Becquerel) and in chemistry in 1911. This official recognition attested to the exceptional quality of her contributions to science and her enduring impact on the understanding of matter.

Her tenacity and scientific genius were exceptional, especially at a time when women were largely excluded from the scientific scene.

However, Marie Curie's life was not without tragedies. The premature death of Pierre Curie in 1906 plunged her into a period of mourning and difficulties.

In 1910, at the age of 43, Marie Curie, already a widow for four years, found herself at the center of a media scandal when she began a passionate affair with Paul Langevin, a colleague and longtime friend, and a former student of her late husband Pierre Curie. The problem was that Langevin was married and a father of four. The context of the time, marked by strict social norms and moral prejudices, amplified the scandal when it was revealed by the press in November 1911. Despite the media turmoil, Marie Curie reacted with dignity, avoiding public justifications. Her choice to remain focused on her scientific work demonstrated her determination not to let her personal life interfere with her professional legacy. However, the press exploited the scandal, exposing Marie Curie's private life and fueling moral criticisms. Despite the social and professional consequences, she remained resilient and continued to contribute significantly to science, illustrating her ability to overcome obstacles, even in the most challenging moments of her life.

During World War I, Marie Curie did not merely observe from the front lines. She mobilized her radiology skills to equip ambulance cars with X-ray units, known as "petites Curie." These mobile units allowed for the diagnosis of injuries on the battlefield, revolutionizing emergency medical care. Marie Curie's commitment during this tumultuous period was not only scientific but also humanitarian.

Marie Curie's daughters, Irène and Ève, were witnesses and active participants in their mother's scientific and humanitarian legacy. Irène joined her mother in humanitarian efforts during World War I, collaborating on the "petites Curie" project, mobile radiology units deployed on the front lines, when she was just 17. After successful studies, she continued to collaborate in the laboratory of the Radium Institute, working with her mother in the pursuit of scientific discoveries, and she received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1935.

Marie Curie was known for her simplicity, humility, and high standards for herself and others. She remains an unparalleled figure, characterized by her indomitable determination, scientific genius, and ability to break the barriers of her time. By defying social conventions and becoming the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, lead a laboratory, and be a professor at the Sorbonne, Marie Curie paved the way for a new era for women in scientific research. Her courage and perseverance continue to inspire, reminding us that barriers are merely challenges to overcome for those who aspire to push the boundaries of knowledge.

Just like her husband Pierre, she declined the Legion of Honor.

The transfer of the ashes of Pierre and Marie Curie to the Panthéon in Paris in 1995 consecrated the official recognition of their monumental impact on science. This symbolic gesture honored the legacy of this couple of scientists, pioneers of radioactivity, by placing them among the great figures of French history.

A Trailblazing Woman

Marie Curie was the first woman to enroll at the Sorbonne, one of the most prestigious academic institutions of the time. She overcame social barriers and gender biases to access higher education, thereby setting a new standard for women aspiring to a scientific career.

She also became the first woman to earn a degree in physics in 1893. This remarkable achievement surpassed the expectations of the patriarchal society of the time and demonstrated her exceptional intelligence.

In 1903, Marie Curie achieved another milestone by becoming the first woman to earn a doctorate in France. Her thesis on the magnetic properties of tempered steels marked a significant advancement in the field of physics.

That same year, Marie Curie shared the Nobel Prize in Physics with her husband Pierre Curie and Henri Becquerel, becoming the first woman to receive a Nobel Prize. This recognition acknowledged their groundbreaking work on radioactivity, challenging gender stereotypes prevalent in the scientific community.

Marie Curie did not settle for one first. In 1911, she received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for her discoveries of radium and polonium, making her the first woman to win two Nobel Prizes in distinct scientific fields.

In 1906, Marie Curie became the first female professor at the Sorbonne. This appointment was a significant breakthrough, enabling other women to pursue academic careers in fields traditionally dominated by men.

After Pierre Curie's death, Marie took charge of the laboratory at the Radium Institute, becoming the first woman to lead a research laboratory of such magnitude. This achievement testified to her outstanding competence and leadership.

Pierre Curie and Piezoelectricity

Pierre Curie, in collaboration with his brother Jacques Curie, made significant contributions to physics and the discovery of remarkable material properties. One of their most significant inventions was the discovery of piezoelectricity in 1880. They found that certain crystals, such as quartz, produce an electric charge when subjected to mechanical stress. This discovery paved the way for many practical applications, including the creation of the piezoelectric electrometer, a device used to measure weak electric charges, and the use of piezoelectricity in various devices, including ultrasonic transducers. Marie Curie extensively used this measuring device in her research.

Unique bookends for the Curie Museum

Since 2020 we've been cooperating with Warsaw's Curie Museum (Muzeum Marii Skłodowskiej-Curie) with our Pierre and Marie Curie bookend model.

The physicist couple are shown at work in their laboratory. Pierre Curie, document in hand, stands in front of an electroscope of his own invention. Marie Curie, meanwhile, is seated in front of a piezoelectric electrometer still developed by her husband Pierre, which enabled her to measure the electricity produced by the passage of radioactive rays. It was on the basis of initial studies carried out by physicist Gabriel Lipmann that Pierre and his brother Jacques, then young scientists, studied, developed and applied the piezoelectric effect with this measuring device, which was subsequently essential in the couple's work on the study and discovery of radioactivity.  

Marie Curie is a particularly popular figure with Japanese visitors.

Pair of Pierre and Marie Curie bookends in the Marie Curie museum gift store
Design Jacques Lahitte - © Tolonensis Creation