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Marie Curie

- Life Story -

Early Life
Marie Curie was born as Maria Salomea Skłodowska on
November 7, 1867 in Warsaw in modern-day Poland. As a
child, she excelled at her studies, graduating at the top of her
class in her secondary school. However, at the time, the
University of Warsaw only accepted male students, so Marie
joined an underground “floating university” to continue her
education. She and her older sister Bronisława made a pact to
take turns studying abroad and working to support the other.
While her sister studied in Paris, Marie worked as a governess
and tutor. She eventually joined her sister in Paris and earned
her master’s degrees in physics and mathematics from the
University of Paris.

“Be less curious about people Marie began working with physics instructor Pierre Curie, and
and more curious about ideas.” the two developed romantic feelings for each other. However,
Marie still wanted to return to her native Poland. When she applied for work there, she was denied
because she was a woman. Pierre convinced her to return to Paris for her doctorate. Marie and
Pierre married in 1895. They had two children together.

Personality & Characteristics


Marie Curie was known for her honesty and humble lifestyle. She and her husband often refused
awards and medals, and she donated much of her Nobel Prize money to friends, family, students,
and research associates.

Life Story
Marie and Pierre became a research team, working in a
converted shed near the school. They built off the work of
French physicist Henri Becquerel. Marie came up with the term
“radioactivity” to describe the rays that came out of uranium,
which she theorized was due to the atomic structure. The
Curies found two new elements, polonium and radium, that
were also radioactive. Polonium was named after Marie’s
homeland Poland. They were able to extract pure radium from a
material called pitchblende. Marie and Pierre Curie

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Pierre and Becquerel were nominated for the Nobel
Prize in Physics in 1903. Pierre complained that Marie
should be included as well, so the three of them shared
the 1903 Nobel Prize in Physics for their work on
radioactivity, making Marie the first female Nobel
Laureate. The two of them did not go to Stockholm to
personally accept the prize, as they were busy with
research. The University of Paris gave Pierre a
professorship and the chair of physics.

“I was taught that the way of progress In 1906, Pierre died in a traffic accident, devastating
was neither swift nor easy.” Marie. She took on her husband’s job at the University
of Paris and became the school’s first female professor,
vowing to build a world-class laboratory in his honor. In 1909, she headed the Radium Institute, a
radioactivity laboratory jointly created for her by the Pasteur Institute and the University of Paris.

Marie succeeded in isolating radium in 1910. The following year, she won the Nobel Prize in
Chemistry for her earlier discovery of radium and polonium as well as her radium isolation, making
her the first person to win a Nobel Prize twice and the only person to win a Nobel Prize in two
different sciences.

Later Life
After the war, Marie traveled throughout different countries to give lectures
and raise funds for a new institute in Warsaw, of which her sister Bronisława
became director. She continued leading the Radium Institute, which went on to
produce four more Nobel Prize winners, including her own daughter and son-
in-law. She also served on the International Atomic Weights Committee.

On July 4, 1934, at the age of 66, Marie Curie passed away from aplastic
anemia. Many think her death was caused by prolonged exposure to radiation.
Marie Curie in
the 1920s
Legacy
Marie Curie’s research laid groundwork for modern understanding of physics and chemistry.
Overshadowed, by her work as it applied to science, her discovery lead to breakthroughs in
diagnostic and therapeutic medicine. Today, she is considered a pioneer of radiology and radiation
therapy. She is seen as a role model for scientists, especially for women, for her dedicated work
and her determination amidst opportunities denied to her because she was a woman. The curie, a
unit of radioactivity, is named in honor of her and Pierre.

Marie’s papers and items from the 1890s are kept in lead-lined boxes, as their exposure to
radioactivity made them dangerous to handle without protection.

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Reflection Questions
Answer the following questions in complete sentences.

1. Marie Curie made numerous contributions to science. Describe three such contributions that
you think were most impactful and explain why.

2. Today, Marie Curie is considered a pioneer in medicine. This was not something she set out
to do, but her work laid the foundation for radiation therapy (often for cancer treatment)
and advancing x-rays. Have you or your family personally benefited from these discoveries?
Describe one such situation.

3. Marie Curie is one of the most well known female scientists in history. Describe how her
work may have influenced future generations. Is there anything in her biography that made
her especially equipped to reach this level of success?

4. If you had an opportunity to meet Marie Curie, what would you want to say to her? What
would you like to ask?

-3- © Clark Creative Education


Marie Curie
- Life Story -

Early Life

Marie Curie was born on November 7, 1867 in


Poland. She was a very good student and graduated
top of her class at high school. However, at that time
her local university in Warsaw only let male students
in. She therefore joined a secret university so she
could keep studying. She eventually got a degree in
physics and math from the University of Paris.

Marie started working with physics teacher, Pierre


Curie. They fell in love and married in 1895. They had
two children together. She wanted to return to
“Be less curious about people Poland but she wasn’t allowed to work there because
and more curious about ideas.” she was a woman.

Personality & Characteristics

Marie Curie was known for being honest and living a simple life. She and her
husband often refused to accept awards and medals. She also donated a lot of the
money from her Nobel Prize to friends, family and
students.

Life Story

Marie and Pierre worked on scientific research


together. They continued the research of a French
physicist called Henri Becquerel. They discovered
radioactivity and two new chemical elements: radium
and polonium.
Marie and Pierre Curie

Marie, Pierre and Becquerel won the 1903 Nobel Prize in Physics for their work on
radioactivity. This made Marie the first female winner. They didn’t go to the award
ceremony because they were busy with their research. The University of Paris made

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Pierre a professor and the head of the
physics department.

In 1906, Pierre died in a traffic accident.


Marie was devastated. She took over
her husband’s job at the University of
Paris and became their first female
professor. In 1909, she was put in
charge of the Radium Institute. This was
a lab focused on radioactivity.
“I was taught that the way of progress
was neither swift nor easy.” In 1910, Marie managed to isolate
radium. This means that she managed to
get rid of anything it was mixed with to get pure radium. A year later, she won the
Nobel Prize in Chemistry for her discovery of radium and polonium, and her radium
isolation. This made her the first person to win a Nobel Prize twice and the only
person to win a Nobel Prize in two different sciences.

Later Life

After the First World War, Curie traveled in different countries


giving lectures. She stayed in charge of the Radium Institute, which
produced four more Nobel Prize winners, including her daughter
and son-in-law.

On July 4, 1934, at the age of 66, Marie Curie died. Many people
think her death was caused by her exposure to radiation in her life.
Marie Curie in
the 1920s
Legacy
Marie Curie is a very important figure in physics and chemistry. Her discovery helped
with breakthroughs in medicine. She is also a role model for female scientists
because of her dedication and determination. The ‘curie’ is now a unit of
radioactivity, like an ounce is a unit of weight.

Marie’s papers and items from the 1890s are now kept in boxes lined with lead. This
is because all the exposure they had to radiation makes them dangerous to hold.

-2- © Clark Creative Education


Reflection Questions
Answer the following questions in complete sentences.

1. Marie Curie was a very determined person. Give an example of when she
showed determination.

2. What do you think was Marie Curie’s greatest contribution? Explain why you
think this.

3. Marie Curie is one of the most well known female scientists in history. Describe
what you think makes her a good role model to other female scientists.

4. If you had an opportunity to meet Marie Curie, what would you say to her?
What would you ask?

-3- © Clark Creative Education


Marie Curie
- Life Story -

Marie Curie was born in 1867 in Poland.


She was always top of her class.
However, she couldn’t study in university
in Poland because she was a woman.

She went to university in Paris and


married her Physics teacher, Pierre Curie.
They had two children together.

Marie and Pierre researched together.


“Be less curious about
They made new discoveries, including
people and more radioactivity.
curious about ideas.”
They won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1903. She was the first
woman to ever win a Nobel Prize. She won another Nobel Prize
for Chemistry in 1910.

She continued working on


radioactivity all her life. She
died in 1934.

She is remembered for her


important work in physics and
chemistry. Her discoveries
have helped with how we now
treat cancer. She is a role “I was taught that the way of progress
was neither swift nor easy.”
model for women scientists.
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Reflection Questions
Answer the questions in sentences.

1. Describe why Marie Curie is so important.

2. Why do you think Marie Curie is a role model to female


scientists?

3. Imagine you could meet Marie Curie. What would you ask
her?

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