Madam Curie

Madame Curie, as the scientist is venerably called, was a true pioneer of her time. Growing up amidst political turmoil and sexual discrimination she was able to persevere with austere determination to make breakthrough scientific findings, while also fighting for humanitarian betterment. In a long list of renowned female scientists Madam Curie stands at the top of the list not only for her findings, but also for her efforts to aid those with the worst afflictions; she is long remembered as a pioneer, a leader, a truly gifted scientist, and a humanitarian who died while helping others to live.

Madam Curie was born Maria Sklodowska on November 7, 1867 in Warsaw, the city that had once been the capital Poland, but that was at the time of her birth under control of the Russian Czar. Maria was born to educated parents, both of whom were teachers and who were targeted by the Czar for attempting to preserve their Polish culture. In a time of great strife Maria's parents instilled a sense of pride and determination in their children to hold true to their culture and beliefs, and continued to hope that one day Poland would again be free. Due to their resistance to the Czar, Maria's parents were continually demoted from their prestigious teaching affiliations, leaving her family in dire economic straights. Despite the sexual discrimination that kept women out of the University of Warsaw, Maria was determined to get a proper education, knowing that that was the only way out of her family's economic burdens. Unfortunately the only universities that could provide such an education were in Western Europe, and relatively expensive for the time. To overcome this obstacle Maria and her sister Bronya made a pact with each other. Maria w...

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...wo Nobel Prize distinctions.

As a testament to her revolutionary research, the Impact of Madame Curie's discovery continues to be used to the present day. The work she did continues to impact the medical field which uses her discovery to treat afflicted cancer patients, a practice she pioneered as well. Madame Curie's discovery also effected such areas as military research and weapons development, as radioactivity was later used in the development of the atomic and nuclear bombs. If nuclear energy, in the future, is a possibility for the replacement of oil fuel, scientists will undoubtedly return the life-changing discoveries of the truly venerable Madame Curie of France, by way of Poland. As a testament to the appreciation of Madame Curie's work, her remains were transferred to the majestic Pantheon in Paris in 1995, which houses the country's greatest citizens.