Maria Skladowska Curie

Marie Sklodowska Curie was born in Poland to a very poor family. She was the youngest of five children. Her parents were teachers, so her thirst for learning came from them. She received a general education in local schools and some scientific training from her father. Because she was a girl, she was not allowed admission into any university in Poland. Marie was forced to find a job.

In 1891, with help of her sister, Marie went to Paris. There she continued her education at the Sorbonne. She became the first woman to teach. At the Sorbonne she obtained Licentiateships in Physic and the Mathematical Sciences.

At the same University, Marie meet her future husband, another instructor, Pierre Curie. Together they had done a lot of researches. Most of them were done in difficult conditions, they also studied radioactive materials. After several years of hard work, they found two new chemicals: polonium and radium.

In 1903 she, her husband and Henri Becquerel, received the Nobel Prize in Physics. This was very big success for her, as she was the first woman to be awarded this Prize. Another big success came in 1911. Marie received another Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Now she became the first person to win two Nobel Prizes.

Marie Sklodowska Curie died in 1934 from leukemia, what is now known as massive exposure to radiation. Her entire life was filled with many accomplishments. "She received many honorary science, medicine and law degrees and honorary memberships of learned societies throughout the world."

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