Marie Curie

By Porpaavai Sampath Kumar

 

 

Pays/Ville

Paris, France

 

Date de Naissance:

November 7, 1867

 

Date de Mort:

July 4, 1934

 

Sexe:

Female 

Details Personnels:

I, Marie Sklodowska- Curie was born in Warsaw, Poland, on November 7th 1867. Her father, Vladislav, was a teacher, while her mother, Bronislawa was a musician. I have three sisters and one brother. I received a general education from local schools and basic scientific knowledge from my father. While I was in school, I became involved in a student organization called the Floating University. Since Poland was under the Russian rule then, education in Polish was forbidden. The students of the Floating University, studied Polish in secret and changed their location every time, therefore ensuring they cannot be found. After I graduated, I became a governess, to help pay of for Bronya's, one of my sister, education in Paris, France. After Bronya graduated and married a French man, she called me to France to get a proper education in Paris. After being a governess for 5 years, I finally enrolled in Sorbonne in 1891.

 

I was, naturally, behind others in the level of my education. So, I studied day and night in a cold one roomed house, sometimes even forgetting to eat and sleep. And finally, I earned my degree in Physics in 1893,and also was the first women in Sorbonne to receive a degree in Physics. I worked for another year and also received my degree in Math. 

 

Situation de Famille:

I married Pierre Curie. I met him at a friend's house and was married married on July 26th 1895. He was also a research scientist, and some of our favorite past times include debating the different points of Science. 

 

Enfants:

Our first child, Irene, was born in 1897, and our second child, Eve, was born in 1904.

 

Découverte des éléments

Before Irene was born, Pierre and I stated working on my Ph.D paper. We were looking for a topic to write about, and  we heard about the radiation given of by Uranium. This catched my interest greatly. We started research with basic pitchblende and in a shed of a school. For months and years we worked finally acheiving the results we desired. In the end, we discovered two different elements: Radium and Polonium. The radium was widely welcomed by everyone. The Radium had the ability to burn of cancer cells, and also has many other uses. Pierre and I were rapidly becoming popular worldwide, but our wealth wasn't increasing. We gave out samples to everyone for free, and soon our most unbelievable dream came true. 

 

Gain du prix Nobel

In 1903, the two best things of my life happened. I received my Ph.D in Physics on June 25. This was one of the best moments of my life. Then Pierre and I received the Nobel Prize. We were honored and we used the money to conduct more research. We got a new and better lab in Sorbonne and we used the rest of the money for more pitchblende. This time we got enough radium to do experiments with. I worked with Radium and devoloped methods for seperation of Radium from Pitchblende. I also did careul stuy of it's properties and theraputic properties.

 

Un Accident Tragique

After Eve was born in 1904, Pierre's father helped out in taking care of the children. Then the fateful day came. It was 1906, one paricularly busy morning, everyone were rushing. Pierre was almost late for his work. He was rushing out, and after I came back from the lab, they told me Pierre died in an street accident. It was the worst thing that I have heard so far in my life.

 

Un Oppurtunity Inattendu

After Pierre's death I was in a state of emotional shock. My sister and Pierre's brother convinced the unniversity officials to allow me to tae Pierre's place in teaching at Sorbonne. I became the first women to teach at the respectable institute. After taking over the teaching job, my place of peace, and soon Irene was old enough to join me.  I trained some Americans

 

Le deuxième prix Nobel

For my works in Chemistry I was awarded a second nobel prize, earning the title of the first person ever to receive two nobel prizes in their lifetime.

 

Aide avec la Guerre

I helped a lot with World War I. I set up mobile X-ray machines and helped out in the hospitals. I worked until I could return to my lab again. My health was constantly getting worse. The radiation from the years of working with Radium affected her health seriously. After the war, I went to the United States, were I was a celebrity. The President of United States awarded me with a ounce of Radium. 

 

Derniers jours.

I worked most of the time, but my daughter and my first son-in-law, put me to bed rest. After a few months, my health was getting worse, and the doctors said I was suffering from leukemia. And on July 11th, 1934 I took the last breath I could remember.

 

 

 

 

 

Resources: 

"Marie Curie". Nobel Prize. 06.09.2009 http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1903/marie-curie-bio.html.

 

Poynter, Margaret. Marie Curie: Discoverer of Radium. Berkely Heights: Enslow Publishers, 1994.