Maria Skłodowska－Curie
#WednesdayPeopleList #People who influence the world #women
#persistent women #ShePersisted #First double Nobel Prize #France’s first female professor
#patriotic without regrets #workplace sexism
Maria Skłodowska－Curie (1866~1934)
Maria Skwodowska aka. Marie Curie
Born into a financially disadvantaged but spiritually rich family, he relied on his own efforts to first provide for his family and then for himself. Despite his outstanding academic performance, in a sexist Poland, he could only work as a tutor. It was only when he went to study in France that he had the opportunity to pursue his passion for chemical research, although language barriers posed challenges that he overcame through hard work. Eventually, he had the fortune of marrying Mr. Curie, who shared his passion.
The couple did not seek fame and fortune; they believed that science belonged to all humanity. Despite facing difficulties in life, they remained untouched by the lure of fame and wealth. They discovered and extracted radium, earning them the Nobel Prize in Physics and opening doors for the extensive use of radiation. However, due to prolonged exposure to toxic substances, Mr. Curie tragically passed away while experiencing physical discomfort. Afterward, our subject took on the responsibility of raising their two daughters alone while continuing his research, ultimately winning the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
A few years later, due to his emotional attachment as a married man, he became notorious and had to withdraw from public life. However, when the First World War broke out, he put everything aside for the sake of France. He invented the X-ray car, fearlessly facing danger on the front lines to detect and treat soldiers’ wounds with great surgical precision. Throughout his life, he made countless contributions to his country, remaining indifferent to fame and fortune but grateful for the opportunity to give back. Sadly, he eventually passed away from leukemia caused by long-term exposure to radiation poisoning.
