James Baquet

    By any measure, Marie Curie (1867-1934) was an amazing woman. She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize (in Physics in 1903, with her husband Pierre and their colleague Henri Becquerel), the first person — and the only woman to date — to win two Nobel Prizes (the second was for Chemistry in 1911), and one of two people — with Linus Pauling — to win Nobel Prizes in two categories. She was the first female professor at the University of Paris. And in 1995, her remains were entombed in the Pantheon in Paris, a place of rest for distinguished citizens of France. One other woman had been buried there before her, but only as the wife of an accomplished man. Marie was the first to be placed there because of her own accomplishments.

    Born in Poland as Maria Salomea Sklodowska, the fifth and youngest child of two teachers, she began her studies in Warsaw before moving to Paris at 24. There she took graduate degrees and pursued scientific research. She had made a deal with her sister Bronislawa: She worked in Poland to support her sister’s medical studies in Paris; then, when her sister was ready, she would support Marie’s studies. Nevertheless, Marie saved much of her tuition and living expenses before leaving Poland.

    In Paris she met her future husband, Pierre Curie. He was a science professor and helped her find laboratory space for her research. They had a mutual love of science, which led Pierre to propose to her. She refused, hoping to return to Poland. Pierre said he would follow her there if necessary. However, when she did go to Poland, she was unable to find a position, and Pierre convinced her to return to Paris. They were married in 1895, and in addition to their scientific work, they enjoyed long bicycle trips and traveling abroad.

    She and Pierre worked largely in the area of radioactivity (a term that they coined), and they discovered and studied two new elements, radium and polonium. The latter was named after Marie’s native Poland.

    Marie Curie — often today called “Madame Curie” — died at age 66 as a result of exposure to radiation during her work.

    Vocabulary

    1. a place where research is done

    2. highly skilled; expert

    3. shared by two (or more) people

    4. quality of emitting high energy

    5. French for “Mrs.”

    6. respectable

    7. money paid for school

    8. things one has done

    9. ask someone to marry

    10. the second of two things