Women's History Month: Marie Curie

 

Pierre and Marie
married 47 years.

Nobel Prize portrait 1903

Madame Curie--won two Nobel Prizes in science. That is what most folks think of when her name comes up. Born in Poland, studying in France, she married a fellow scientist, Pierre Curie.

Marie Curie

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Curie


They were collaborators in the laboratory, and the parents of two daughters,  Eve and Irene.

Madame Curie and her girls.

Irene also won the Nobel Prize, in 1935.  Kudos to Pierre and Marie not only for their careers, but for their family. Eve wrote a biography of her mother in 1937. You can buy it on Amazon. 

Marie Curie: A Biography by E. Curie
https://www.amazon.com/Madame-Curie-Biography-BIOGRAPHY-Apr-02-2001/dp/B00JHWJKP8/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1521747156&sr=1-1&keywords=madame+curie+e+curie+author


But did you know Marie Curie was fearless, brave and dared the horrors of WWI to bring her scientific inventions to the notorious Western Front?

During World War I, the scientist invented a mobile x-ray unit, called a “Little Curie,” and trained 150 women to operate it.

How Marie Curie Brought X-Ray Machines To the Battlefield
 https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-marie-curie-brought-x-ray-machines-to-battlefield-180965240/#6oRDpXoGgo7qC1wr.99 Give the gift of Smithsonian magazine for only $12! http://bit.ly/1cGUiGv 



The recent episode of the television series 'Timeless' references the Petit Curie, Season 2, Episode 1 'The War to End All Wars.'


Quotes from Marie Curie

Have no fear of perfection; you'll never reach it.

Be less curious about people and more curious about ideas.

One never notices what has been done; one can only see what remains to be done.

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

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