Marie Curie, an extraordinary scientist and human being who still inspires us
Abstract
Maria Salomea Skłodowska-Curie (7 November 1867 – 4 July 1934), known simply as Marie Curie, is surely the best-known scientist remembered as the first and only person and woman awarded with the Nobel Prize twice and in two different scientific fields: in physics for her research of radiation phenomena (1903) and in chemistry for the discovery of polonium and radium (1911).1 She was also the first woman in France to earn a Ph.D. and later became the first woman professor at the Sorbonne University (1906).
Marie Curie is often remembered as one of the most famous women in the history of science for her groundbreaking research in radioactivity, a term she coined along with her husband, Pierre Curie.
What is less well-known is her unwavering dedication to her research. Her remarkable qualities included a passion for science, high intelligence, a strong belief that her work would benefit humanity, and the perseverance to face the challenges ahead. For all these reasons, she chose not to patent her discoveries, believing that science should be accessible to all. This act of altruism reflects her deep belief in the importance of sharing knowledge and scientific progress for the common good.[...]
References
- Nobel Prize Outreach. Nobel Prize in Physics 1903. Available from: https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physics/1903/marie-curie/biographical
- British Red Cross. Marie Curie, the Red Cross, invisible light and WWI. Available from: https://www.redcross.org.uk/stories/our-movement/our-history/marie-curie-invisible-light-the-red-cross-and-wwi
- Cervellin G. Alla Ricerca della guarigione. Storie di medicina. Mimesis Ed., Milano, 2023, pagg 279-282.
- Curie M. La Radiologie et La Guerre. Paris, 1921.
- Goldsmith B. The inner world of Marie Curie. Great Discoveries, 2004.
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