SUMMARY

Polish-French scientist Maria Skłodowska-Curie is a towering figure in both physics and chemistry, best known for her pioneering research in radioactivity (a term she coined) and her discovery of two elements, polonium and radium. In 1903, she became the first woman ever to win a Nobel Prize, and she remains the only person ever to win the coveted honor in two different fields.

A naturalized French citizen, Marie faced discrimination based on her gender and identity as an immigrant. Born Maria, she moved to France to study and adopted the culture and a new name to pursue her research. Marie barely made a living for herself, but she fought for a place at the academic table, becoming the first woman to be employed as a professor at the University of Paris. Today she is remembered for her contributions to cancer treatment and her tenacity to be seen as the equal of her colleagues.Alongside Josephine Baker, Marie Curie is buried in the Panthéon in Paris.