Hello friends. Today I’m taking you to Poland to tell you the extraordinary story of Maria Skłodowska-Curie, whose genius shone through the scientific world and left a luminous mark on history.
Born in 1867 in Warsaw, Maria grew up in a Poland under Russian rule, where women’s education was severely restricted. Despite this, she showed an insatiable thirst for knowledge from an early age. Barred from Polish universities, she enrolled in the Flying University, a clandestine institution.
Dreaming of studying physics and mathematics, she saved for years to join her sister in Paris. Finally, she enrolled at the Sorbonne, where she became one of the few women to pursue scientific studies. Despite difficult conditions, she worked tirelessly and graduated with distinction.
A few years later, she married Pierre Curie, a scientist equally passionate about her. Together, they began studying radioactive materials. After years of experimentation, Maria and Pierre discovered two new elements: polonium (named in honor of Poland) and radium.
In 1903, initially dismissed, she finally became the first woman to receive a Nobel Prize. After Pierre Curie’s death, she continued to fight, pursued her research, and became a professor at the Sorbonne. She received a second Nobel Prize, a unique feat.
Her work on radioactivity revolutionized medicine, particularly in the treatment of cancer. Refusing to patent her discoveries, she put them to the service of all. Exposed to radiation, she died in 1934, but her legacy remains immense: not only did she pave the way for women in science, but her discoveries continue to save lives today.
So, the next time you face challenges, just like Maria, who had to face numerous difficulties throughout her life, remember that, whatever your background, only your perseverance and passion can help you overcome obstacles, including those imposed by society.
I’ll see you soon for new inspiring stories from around the world.
March 2025 podcast produced by Francaisdanslemonde.fr: Radios and podcasts for French speakers preparing for or experiencing international mobility. Free mobile app available for Android and Apple, search for “FRENCH IN THE WORLD.”
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