The Brilliance of Marie Curie

Born as Marya Sklodowska in 1867 in Warsaw, Poland, Marie Curie’s family struggled heavily under an oppressive Tsarist regime that had a goal of wiping off the legacies of Polish culture. While their parents were teachers, their employment was perilous and the family sunk deeper and deeper into poverty, with the series of unfortunate events culminating in the death of Curie’s mother and sister to illnesses. Thus, she and her sister vowed to help each other obtain university educations.

“I am among those who think that science has great beauty.”

To Curie, science opened a new world for her- the literal manifestation of “A Whole New World” from Aladdin. Curie, the relentless Princess fighting for her place in a male-dominated field, her loving husband Pierre who- sharing the same ambitions and goals- fought with her, and Henri Becquerel, who like the magic carpet, provided the inspiration and introduction to the recently discovered uranium. While uranium was radioactive, Curie found a new element 400 times more radioactive than uranium: polonium. Amazingly enough, Curie soon discovered radium- an element even more radioactive than polonium and uranium. Her research and work in “radiation phenomena” included a fundamental discovery that radiation was not dependent on the organization of atoms at the molecular level, rather, there was something inside the atom itself.

“I was taught the way of progress was neither swift nor easy.”

As a woman, Marie Curie was a pioneer in a male-dominated field. She faced countless forms of discrimination early in her career, as she was not allowed to attend the University of Warsaw because the government banned women from it. In her struggle to enter a university, The French Academy refused her admittance despite their later confession that she was the foremost scientist in France. The sole reason for her rejection was that it was deemed inappropriate for people to associate women with scientific discussions. Then, after the groundbreaking research on radiation, French academics only proposed to give the Nobel Prize to Henri, but Pierre insisted for Curie be recognized.

“I have frequently been questioned, especially by women, about how I could reconcile family life with a scientific career. Well, it has not been easy.”

After the death of her beloved husband Pierre Curie, Marie Curie continued her path for scientific progress and the advancement of humanity. During World War I, she championed the use of X-rays to help battlefield surgeons to operate more accurately on wounded soldiers. She utilized her expertise in radiography to set up stations where doctors diagnose and treat patients. While Curie’s accomplishments to the world have not always been recognized, she slowly gained more prominence after winning two Nobel Prizes and helping to save countless lives during World War I, paving the way for better medical technology and future scientific breakthroughs, like the discovery of the neutron and artificial radioactivity. Curie’s own legacy not only lies in the establishment of the Curie Foundation and the Radium Institute but in her effect on young women decades after her. Through her relentless pursuit of science, she broke societal norms at the time that women did not be in science. Through her rich intellect, she demonstrated that female scientists were just as informed as their male counterparts. Finally, through her passion to help others, she adds to a proud lineage of leaders who dedicated themselves to saving lives and aiding humanity.

“You cannot hope to build a better world without improving the individuals. To that end, each of us must work for his own improvement and, at the same time, share a general responsibility for all humanity…”