Marie Curie and Lise Meitner
November 7th marked the shared birthday of Marie Curie and Lise Meitner, pioneers whose discoveries transformed our understanding of the atom. These two are the only women with elements of the periodic table named after them: Curium and Meitnerium. They also shared both the brilliance and tenacity to succeed when science was even more hostile to women.
Marie Curie:
Marie Curie, a trailblazing physicist and chemist, redefined our understanding of radioactivity and became the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, and the only individual to win in two different scientific fields. Born in Warsaw, Poland, in 1867, Curie overcame societal barriers from an early age. Women could not attend all the lectures at the Sorbonne, so she had to study in the evenings and on weekends. The rationale was that the university did not consider women intellectually capable of handling rigorous coursework. Despite these challenges and blatant sexism, Curie graduated from the Sorbonne at the top of her class in 1893. Even so, the Sorbonne also denied her tenure as a full professor, even though she was more qualified than many of her male colleagues.
Her marriage to Pierre Curie in 1895 marked the beginning of a significant collaborative research journey. Together, they discovered polonium and radium, groundbreaking work that led to the 1903 Nobel Prize in Physics, shared with Henri Becquerel. Tragically, Pierre’s death in 1906 left Curie to continue their work alone. Her hard work and determination led to a second Nobel Prize in 1911, this time in Chemistry, for her discoveries and research into the properties of polonium and radium.
Curie’s contributions had far-reaching effects, laying foundations for advancements in medical treatments, such as X-ray and radiation therapy, and nuclear energy. All her life, her male colleagues often dismissed her work on radioactivity. The science establishment did not give her credit for her work on the discovery of radium and polonium until after her husband’s death. Ignoring her stellar qualifications, the French Academy of Sciences denied her membership.
Despite these obstacles, Curie’s resilience and dedication established her as a respected figure in the scientific community and a beacon of inspiration for women and girls in STEM. Marie Curie’s legacy transcends her scientific achievements. It is a testament to perseverance and courage in the face of societal challenges. Her life and work continue to inspire, embodying her belief in understanding over fear, encouraging future generations to pursue knowledge and equality with unwavering determination. Her words seem apt today: “Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.”
Lise Meitner
Lise Meitner, an Austrian-Swedish physicist born in 1878, stands as a towering figure in radioactivity and nuclear physics, despite the significant barriers she faced as a woman in science. As one of the first female physics professors, systemic gender biases and discrimination marked Meitner’s journey. Restricted in her academic pursuits, she too could not attend all lectures. She had to work in a makeshift laboratory with castoff equipment, separate from her male counterparts at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Chemistry.
Meitner graduating with a doctorate in physics from the University of Vienna in 1906. She moved to Berlin in 1907, collaborating for over 30 years with Otto Hahn. Together, they made significant discoveries, including identifying the element protactinium. However, her male colleagues frequently undermined her contributions. They also claimed to doubt a woman’s capability to handle complex scientific research. The German physical society denied her full membership, in another display of closed minds and hardened attitudes.
The annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany in 1938 forced Meitner, whose parents were Jewish, to flee to Sweden. It was here that she and her nephew, also a physicist, first theorized the process of nuclear fission, a foundational concept for the development of atomic energy. Unfortunately, Otto Hahn purposely hid her vital role in this discovery and he omitted her contributions from his published work. The sexism of the era provided a convenient cover for his own ambitions and craving for fame.
Meitner’s legacy is not just in her innovative work in nuclear physics but also in her unwavering commitment to science in the face of gender and racial discrimination. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences never award her a Nobel Prize, one of the significant omissions in Nobel history. Her contributions to the understanding of nuclear fission, however, are indisputable.
Curie and Meitner’s stories link with shared threads of struggle and resilience. They faced daunting sexism and outright hostility from male colleagues all their lives. Both women navigated these challenges with dignity, pushing the boundaries of science while subtly challenging the status quo of their respective eras. Their parallel journeys remind us that the road to scientific knowledge often bristles with obstacles, especially for women and people of color. With sheer determination and grit, as well as immense talent, they pushed forward.
Reflecting on the lives of Marie Curie and Lise Meitner, we remember that the progress towards a more inclusive and equitable scientific community is far from over. Their tenacity in the face of adversity paved the way for today’s women in science and continues to inspire a future where such pioneering spirits—regardless of gender—can thrive. On this shared birthday, we celebrate not just their monumental achievements but the paths they blazed for the many brilliant minds that follow in their footsteps. They inspire those who want to forge ahead past what is now possible.
Here are a few biographies for those wanting to learn more about the remarkable lives of Curie and Meitner:
- Obsessive Genius: The Inner World of Marie Curie by Barbara Goldsmith is a more recent biography that explores Curie’s inner life and her motivations for pursuing science. It is a well-written and engaging biography that provides a deeper understanding of Curie as a person.
- Marie Curie and the Science of Radioactivity by Susan Bertsch McGrayne is a more technical biography that focuses on Curie’s scientific work. It provides a detailed account of Curie’s discoveries and their impact on the field of radioactivity.
- Lise Meitner: Pioneer of Nuclear Physics by Patricia Brennan is a concise and well-written biography of Meitner. It provides an excellent overview of Meitner’s life and work, and it is a good choice for readers who are new to Meitner’s story.
- Lise Meitner: The Woman Who Split the Atom by Marissa Moss is a well-written and engaging biography that introduces Meitner to a new generation of readers.
Who are the women in STEM who inspire you today? I want to help spotlight their accomplishments. Let me know.
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