Manya - Chapter 1
The book I reach for when I need scientific inspiration is "Madame Curie," a biography of Marie Curie written by her daughter, Ève Curie. The book was first published in 1937 and provides a detailed account of Marie Curie's life and accomplishments, including her pioneering work in the field of radioactivity, which led to her winning two Nobel Prizes - one in Physics (1903) and another in Chemistry (1911).
Ève Curie's biography delves into her mother's personal life, her relationships, and her perseverance in the face of numerous challenges, both as a scientist and as a woman in a male-dominated field. The book has been widely praised for its comprehensive portrayal of Marie Curie's life and remains an important source of information about this remarkable scientist.
This blog will summarize the highlights of each chapter focusing on the influences that shaped the life and career of the most famous woman scientist to help positively influence future generations of scientists
Chapter 1 - Manya
Chapter 1 introduces us to Manya, the affectionate nickname for Marya Sklodovski, the young girl who would eventually become the renowned scientist Marie Curie. From birth, she was literally surrounded by education. The family which consisted of her older brother and three older sisters lived in the corners of the local boys gymnasium, or high school, in Warsaw Poland. Manya’s father was a professor and high ranking official within the school. Manya's mother received a top private education, eventually becoming a professor and headmistress of a woman’s school a significant feat considering the social atmosphere of the 1850s. Not long after Manya’s birth, her mother had to give up her position with the school to help support her husband’s position and raise the children. Regrettably, it was at this same time she contracted tuberculosis. To protect her young daughter from the disease, she never hugged or kissed Manya.
Manya's father, Vladislav, taught science lessons at the gymnasium, but recent crackdowns by the Russian Government limited the amount of science taught to children. The array of delicate laboratory instruments, scales, mineral specimens, and the delicate gold leaf electroscope were locked behind glass, rarely brought out to use. This intricate and fragile tool piqued young Manya's curiosity.
Living in Warsaw, Poland, under the oppressive Russian rule, Manya's thirst for knowledge remained unquenchable. Demonstrating her intelligence from a young age, she learned to read by the tender age of four, an accomplishment that initially made her worry about potential consequences for her precociousness. Fortunately, this did not deter her from relentlessly pursuing knowledge for the rest of her life.
Strengths:
Curiosity
Family environment that supports and promotes education
Extraordinary memory
