Radiance

Marie Curie

Marie Curie’s curiosity led her to two masters degrees in Physics and Math, a PhD in Physics, and two Nobel Prizes.  The first (with her husband Pierre Curie) was in Physics, for the discoveries of Polonium and Marie Curie (1867 – 1934) is certainly not the last woman to be asked how she managed her career and her family. It seems we, as women, will have to answer this question forever. And the answer is as unique women are – every single woman figures out how to balance a career and a family in the way that works for her.

For Marie, the solution was to marry a scientist, Pierre Curie, who shared in her work. Marie’s daughter Irene was also a scientist, and followed her mother’s path by also marrying a scientist. Marie’s family holds more Nobel prizes than any other family in history. In 1903, Marie and her husband Pierre were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics. In 1911 Marie won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry – still the only woman to win two Nobels. Frédéric and Irene Joliot-Curie won the 1935 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

Éve, Pierre and Marie’s second daughter, stepped off the scientist path to marry Henry Labouisse. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1965 for his work as the director of UNICEF..