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The Triumphs and Tragedies of a Scientific Career AILEEN MAY G. ANG MS CHEM-I MSU- Iligan Institute of Technology.
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The Triumphs and Tragedies of a Scientific Career AILEEN MAY G. ANG MS CHEM-I MSU- IliganInstitute of Technology www. Nobelprize.org
Marie Sklodowski Curie • (1867-1934) • --------------------------------------------------------------------- • Early Childhood and Family • Born on November 7, 1897 at Warsaw, Poland • Youngest among five children • Fondly called “little Manya” • belongs to a family of learned and cultured but struggled financially • Born into a family of teachers • Her father was a school principal (walking encyclopedia) • Her grandfather was a school principal • Her mother was a headmistress and the manager of the household at the same time.
The first Tragedies………… • Her father lost his job when Russia occupied Poland • Her mother got infected with TB • Her mother died when she was still nine • Her sister’s death from typhus followed • Marie was depressed, could not stop crying • To cope the pain, played a game pretending to be a genius doctor who was able to discover a miracle cure • such fantasy became a real life plan of going to Paris to study medicine (NO MONEY!!!)
EDUCATION • At 15, graduated as valedictorian from public school • while working as governess to support the studies of her sister she attends science classes at the “Flying University” (to satisfy her intellectual loneliness) • Tragedy? • …… falling in love for the first time with the son of her employer…. Rejected by the parents of the guy because of their impoverished financial situation…. • Strengthened and pushed her to continue studying…
“First principle: Never let one’s self be beaten down • by persons or events.” ---- Marie Curie • studied mathematics and physics on her own (6 years) • Went to Paris in 1891 and took a qualifying entrance test in Sorbornne University • Passed the test and enrolled to a degree program equivalent to MS Physics • 1 of the 23 women out of 1825 students at Sorbornne University
Her goal was total immersion in Physics • Moved into the 6th floor of an apartment • not concerned about lack of heat during winter or simple meals made from her cheap stove • She would eat, sleep and breath Physics for 2 years • Graduated her MS Physics degree in 1893 (top student) • After graduation, she enrolled in an MS Mathematics degree • Finished her MS Math within one year (second in class) • Finished her doctorate degree on 1903
The Love life….. • Marie was introduced to Pierre few months before her graduation from MS degree • Pierre was attracted to Marie • Both had been disappointed in love • dedicated their single life to Physics in all its complexity and beauty • Pierre decided to pursue Marie and ask her to spend the rest of their scientific lives together.
Marie and Pierre Curie got married in a simple ceremony on July 26, 1895 Wedding photo of Pierre and Marie Curie, 1895. (www.nobelprize.org)
The Research ……. • Long years of doing research on radioactivity was the most thrilling part of her life • Marie assumed the role of the chemist extracting and purifying radioactive elements in a dirty “potato shed” as her laboratory • Marie relied on a piezo-electrical instrument to measure emissions for her purified sample • Marie decided that her doctorate thesis will be on mysterious x-rays emitted by uranium (find more radioactive elements) • Marie discovered that there was something going on inside the atom that created rays (radioactivity)
Success !!!! • Marie published several papers and set out theories and conclusions about radioactivity • Marie extracted radium from uranium ore • Marie together with Pierre discovered two elements: Radium (after “radiation) and Polonium (after Poland)
The First Nobel Prize….. • In 1903, Marie and Pierre were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for the discoveries about radiation • one thing that they bought with their nobel prize money was a modern bathroom with a toilet for their home Radium (www.google.com)
After the Nobel Prize ….. • Press emphasized the romance of doing physics • Curies became the role models for next generation of physicists • Competed with Rutherford • Marie and Pierre remained to be the world’s leading experts on radioactivity • They were funded by French government to make researches • Continued to produce radium (Marie’s chemical extraction process) • Gave away samples to other physicist (including Rutherford) • Give information to private sectors on how to produce radium • THEY DID NOT PATENT THEIR EXTRACTION PROCESS
The Dangerous Beauty of Radium ….. Both Marie and Pierre were captivated by radium. Marie kept a small vial of radium salts by her bedside. She was enchanted with the soft, blue glow it produced in the dark. Despite, burns on their finger tips and symptoms like fatigue, Marie denied to admit the negative health effects of radiation. She thought only of its potential to heal people.
The Gifts…. Marie with her daughters Irene and Eve.
Marie began to suffer the effects of exposure to radiation during her pregnancies. • She suffered miscarriage (late of 1903). • She felt very disappointed. The tragedy dampened whatever satisfaction she got from obtaining her doctorate degree.
The Death of Pierre Curie In 1906, after many years of daily contact with radioactive substances, Pierre was slowing down from radiation. He was suffering from severe pains in his back and legs. One rainy afternoon, with his vision limited he walked right into an on-coming horse-drawn wagon. He was instantly trampled to death. Marie was devastated. He lost a husband and a research partner. http://www.time.com
After Pierre’s Death….. • Marie took over Pierre’s teaching job at Sorborne University • Marie is the first woman professor in any French University • Became the Director of the Radium Institute • BUT • Marie was pre-occupied. • Had to take care and educate her daughters
The Longing for a male companionship…… • Marie was devastated and turned to a former student of Pierre, Paul Langevin, for companionship • The love affair was exposed by a tabloid newspaper and a scandal resulted • Marie’s reputation and career were nearly destroyed • Physics community did not rush in to support her
“ I believe that there is no connection between my scientific work and the facts of private life. I cannot accept the idea in principle that the appreciation of the value of scientific work should be influenced by libel and slander concerning private life. ” • The Second Nobel Prize • Marie was awarded a Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the discovery of Polonium and Radium • The Courageous act…. • Marie defied the wishes of the academy and attended the ceremony.
World War I …… • Marie and Irene volunteered to took x-rays to locate bullets of wounded soldiers • Marie created 20 mobile x-ray machines and 200 stationary machines
After the War …… • After the war ended in 1918, Marie spent most of her time with her daughters • Marie emphasized that the girls should become independent and able to support themselves • They visited the Grand canyon • Marie, who never owned jewelry, not even a wedding ring, bought some native american jewelry
Declining Health ….. • Marie underwent kidney operation • She developed cataracts in her eyes and suffered from tintinitus (ringing of ears) • She suffered from severe pains due to radiation exposure
Marie’s bold adventure into the atomic universe came to an end. ….. She contracted leukemia and died on July 14, 1934. Her ashes were buried in Pantheon (France’s great monument to its heroes and heroines)
“Life is not easy for us. We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that something must be attained.” -Marie Curie
