IYC 2011 : Marie Skłodowska–Curie

The ultimate goal of science is to understand the natural phenomenons and use them for mankind. There is no need to elaborate importance of chemical sciences in society. IYC 2011 gives an opportunity to remember contributions which ultimately changed the world. "Chemistry is often central, with principles and discoveries that enable work in other subjects,"

Marie Skłodowska–Curie

Both women and men have made significant contributions to chemistry. Marie Curie is probably the best-known woman in science. She was the first woman to be awarded a Nobel Prize, first person to win Nobel Prizes in two different scientific disciplines (Nobel Laureate: 1903 in Physics and 1911  in Chemistry). And also, first famous woman scientist in the modern world.  "Mother of Modern Physics" -- pioneer in research about . She coined the word "radioactivity" . She was first woman awarded a Ph.D. in research science in Europe, first woman professor at the Sorbonne. She discovered and isolated polonium and radium, and established the nature of radiation and beta rays. Element 96 Curium (Cm) was named in her and Pierre's honour.

Notes, References and sources: 

1. People who have won a Nobel Prize twice include:
   
   • Maria Sklodowska-Curie (1903 and 1911, for discovery of radioactivity (physics) and later for isolating pure radium (chemistry))
   • John Bardeen (1956 and 1972, for invention of the transistor (physics) and for coming up with the theory of superconductivity(physics))
   • Linus Pauling (1954 and 1962, for research into the chemical bond in terms of complex substances (chemistry) and for anti-nuclear activism (peace))
   • Frederick Sanger (1958 and 1980, for discovering the structure of the insulin molecule (chemistry) and inventing a method to determine base sequences in DNA (chemistry))
2. http://www.mlahanas.de/Physics/Bios/MarieCurie.html 
3. Nobel Prize | Marie Curie | Alfred Nobel | Abel Prize | Fields Medal |The Prize’s Right | Gold Medal 
4. Madame Curie: A Biography, by Eve Curie, ISBN 0306810387
5. Marie Curie: A Life, by Susan Quinn, ISBN 0201887940
6. Obsessive Genius: The Inner World of Marie Curie, by Barbara Goldsmith, ISBN 0393051374

Related articles

• Alfred Nobel Was Also Known as "The Merchant of Death" (todayifoundout.com)
• Chemistry: the unsung hero of science (guardian.co.uk)
• Sharing a chemical moment (openparachute.wordpress.com)
• Celebrating Chemistry in the Year of the Rabbit (cenblog.org)
• Chemistry steps out of the shadows (cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com)
• A Day Without Chemistry (neatorama.com)
• Recommended: Radioactive: Marie & Pierre Curie, a Tale of Love and Fallout (scientificamerican.com)
• First Nobel Prizes awarded: This Day in History - 12/10/1901 (jeffpruett.wordpress.com)

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