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Journey of a Scientist

The Genius of Marie Curie

M arie Curie is the woman who changed science. Her curiosity and scientific

drive made her icon in the world of modern science . Shewas a renowned
physicist and chemist, who is remembered for her discovery of Radium,

Polonium and her contribution to finding treatment for cancer. Her life
journey and work is incredible. Her perseverance and passion for science
made her one of the most famous scientists in the world.
She was the first person to get Nobel prize twice in two different scientific
fields. Once she said, “I am among those who think that science has great
beauty. A scientist in his laboratory is not only a technician, he is also a child
place before natural phenomenon, which impress him like a fairytale.”

Early years

She was born Maria Skolodwska on November 7, 1867 in Warsaw, Poland which was
then a part of Russian Empire. She was the youngest of five children.
Her mother died of tuberculosis, when she was 10 years old.
She attended a secret school called the ‘Floating University,
where she was taught physics, natural history, polish
history and culture. Her father was a science teacher.

She was a bright and curious student. Her school
examination results were excellent but she had to stop
her studies as University education for women was
not available in Poland at that time. So, she went to
Paris in 1891 at the age of 24 to pursue her higher
education. She was enrolled at Faculty of sciences at the
Sorbonne where she earned a degree in physics in 1893
and Mathematics in 1894. She began a study on the
magnetic properties of steel in 1894.

For assistance, she met Pierre Curie, an expert in
magnetism in 1894.Pierre Curie was professor of the School of
Physics. He was a physicist who had been studying crystals ,
symmetry and magnetism. He was well known for his
discovery on piezoelectricity ( electric charge produced in
solid materials under pressure).

Pierre was taken by Marie’s rare intellect, curiosity
and passion for science. Maria Skolodwska and Pierre
Curie got married in 1895. Their first daughter Irene
was born in 1897.

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