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Women throughout history
Women throughout history
An essay on radioactivity
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Marie Curie has been quoted as saying “I am one of those who think, like Nobel, that humanity will draw more good than evil from new discoveries” (Marie Curie - The Great Woman Scientist). Marie Curie’s enthusiasm for science, thirst for knowledge, and intense curiosity allowed her to become a pioneer in both the research areas of chemistry and physics. She came from humble beginnings, but instead of letting obstacles slow her down, her resolve to advance scientific knowledge only grew stronger. Marie Curie was not only recognized with a Nobel Prize in both chemistry and physics, but she also left an imprint on this world and we have been forever changed by her discoveries.
Marie Curie was born on November 7, 1967 in Warsaw, Poland. Born
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Although she was no longer actively contributing to the advancement of radioactivity, her work continued to impact society all over the world. Her daughter, Irene Joliot-Curie, even carried on her legacy and won a Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1935 for the discovery of artificial radioactivity. Marie continues to be held in very high esteem by the scientific community and Albert Einstein was once quoted as saying “Not only did she do outstanding work in her lifetime, and not only did she help humanity greatly by her work, but she invested all her work with the highest moral quality. She accomplished all of this with great strength, objectivity, and judgment. It is very rare to find all of these qualities in one individual” (Marie Curie).
Marie Curie’s impact is felt far beyond the improved understanding of radioactivity and the advancement of the research area of chemistry. Her work and efforts also have made a difference to society in general. She is widely regarded as a role model for female scientists, having been the first women to ever win a Nobel Prize and the only person to ever receive Nobel Prizes in two sciences, which was not easy considering the favoritism towards men in the field during her lifetime. She was also known to be an outstanding person in general, have such high standards and very honest and
Roscher, Nina M., and Cavanaugh, Margaret A. (1987) The 'Standard' of the 'Standard'. " Academic Women Chemists in the 20th Century: Past, Present, Projections." Journal of Chemical Education 64:823-827.
People discussed in the book includes those such as scientist Marie Curie whose discovery of Radium,almost ruined her career, and the writer Mark Twain, whose short story Sold to Satan featured a devil who was made of radium and wore a suit made of . Also discussed is Maria Goeppert-Mayer, a German-born American who earned a Nobel Prize in Physics for her groundbreaking work, yet continually faced opposition due to her gender.
Rosalyn Sussman Yalow graduated Hunter College as the first women to graduate in physics (Bauman et. al. 2011). She also led a way for acceptance and understanding of women’s role in science in America (Bauman et. al. 2011). She even inspired Mildred Dresselhous, who was a professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and president and officer of many Associations including American Association for the Advancement of Science, to pursue the career she wanted (Bauman et. al. 2011). Rosalyn born to Clara and Simon Sussman in New York City, on July 19, 1921 (Brody 1996). She married Aaron Yalow on June 6, 1943 and had two children named Elanna and Benjamin (Brody 1996). In 1977, Dr. Yalow won the Nobel Prize in medicine and was the second women to ever accept such an award (Brody 1996). She also taught physics in New York until 1950 when the Veterans Administration (during World War II) was interested in exploring and researching radioactivity (Brody 1996). As her life progressed, Dr. Rosalyn Sussman Yalow became an inspiration for young women who want to be recognized and achieve something in their life (Brody 1996). From when she was a child she was fascinated with science and decided to achieve something no women really does. Rosalyn Yalow went to school and started working in the science field, she managed to help the world of radioactivity and radioimmunoassay, how Mrs. Rosalyn impacted the world of science, how Dr. Yalow impacted the lives of other women, and how she never lost her passion for science even in her last years.
Mary Maynard Daly was born on April 16, 1921 in Corona, Queens and was the daughter of the well-educated Ivan C. Daly and Helen Daly. The Daly’s were well cultured and educated but could not wholly peruse their dreams because of financial complications so Mary Daily took her parents endeavor and turned it into her personal incentive. In addition, Daly’s grandparents contributed a vast role in her road to triumph, by laying down the groundwork of chemistry when she was younger. When Daly visited her grandparents who lived in Washington D.C she was able to read bout scientist and their accomplishments in her grandfather’s diverse and informative library. During her readings at her grandparents’ house, Daly found her science muse, a chemist named Paul De Kruif who made her decision to pursue chemistry as a career assured. Later on Daly married Vincent Clark, in 1961 and decided to move to Florida and unfortunately Daly died in 2003 and the cause of her death was unknown.
“Love for a Woman v. Love of Science” Portrayed in The Birth-Mark The Birth-Mark, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne in 1843, is a story about a scientist and his wife, whose relationship is greatly impacted by science. The scientist’s wife, Georgiana, has a crimson birth-mark on her left cheek that is shaped like a hand. The scientist, Aylmer, loathes the birth-mark on Georgiana’s face, and he desperately desires to conduct a scientific experiment to remove the unique mark. In Hawthorne’s, The Birth-Mark, the theme, “love for a woman v. love of science”, is portrayed in the passion that Aylmer has for science, the love that he shows his wife, and the conflict that he has balancing both passions in his life.
Rosalind Franklin: Seeing a woman as a scientist during this time is somewhat rare, so the fact that she has taken up this profession show that she is persistent, dedicated, and smart. The only problem is that she is undervalued because of her gender. She is also very quiet and reserved because she’s in a different country.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, women that practiced scientific studies were judged and looked upon in different ways, sometimes treated with respect and other times with disgust. Women actively participated in scientific research in chemistry, astronomy, biology, botany, physics, and medicine. Most European universities and academies of science excluded women entirely, some did indeed allow women to hold professorships in science and math, but it was a very slim number compared to how many women were neglected and not given these opportunities. Women during this time translated scientific works on physics, astronomy, anatomy, etc.; they also held scientific discussions in salons. There are two main viewpoints pertaining women’s participation
Many women scientist upheld and defended their positions as learned, scientific individuals. Marie Meurdrac, a French scientist, in a foreword to a publication stated clearly that women’s and men’s minds, if thought in the same manner would hold no difference.(Doc 2) Similarly, Dorothea Erxleben understood and explained why men and women alike look down on her for studying science because they feel that it is an insult.(Doc 9) Her experiences as a female scientist led her to truly grasp why her persecutors acted as they did towards her although this document shows no signs that she thinks the same. Maria Sibylla Merian, a German entomologist, discussed some of her scientific practices that encompass her dedication and fascination with science.(Doc 5) Another example of this whole-hearted dedication comes from Marquis...
Female scientists such as Maria Merian and Marquise Emilie du Chatelet had an impact on western science, demonstrating how women were capable of contributing to the sciences despite society’s opinions. Merian published her book Wonderful Metamorphoses and Special Nourishment of Caterpillars during a time when women were criticized for publishing books and demonstrates how society was not able to completely repress women in science (Doc 5). Marquise Emmilie du Chatelet’s letter to the Marquis Jean Francois de Saint-Lambert also demonstrates how women refused to be repressed by society. She refuted his reproach of her translating Newton’s Principia, a translation so thorough it is still used today (Doc 11). Some men in the sciences also gained a respect for women and their contributions. Not all men at the time believed women were incapable of learning at a university level like Junker did. Gottfried Leibniz, a German mathematician, even went as far as to state “women of elevated mind advanced knowledge more properly than do men.” As a philosopher Leibniz likely thought beyond society’s opinions, which is why he did not conform (Doc 7). Johannes Hevelius and Gottfried Krich disregarded the notion that collaborating with women was seen as embarrassing, and both collaborated with their wives (Doc 4 and Doc
One of the strongest women scientist/astronomer was born in 1818 as Maria Mitchell whom led an unbelievable life and had an incredible discovery. Maria Mitchell was born when women were not given the opportunity to vote nor did women have the same equal rights as men did, but given her circumstances of her father being a principal, founding his own school and being a distant family member of Benjamin Franklin she was given the same rights as the men did. Given a few obstacles she led an extraordinary life and became the first woman in America to work as an astronomer professionally, which she than later received an award personally from King Frederick VII, for her work and discovery.
For a long time, women’s potential in Science was little to none. However, over the years, it has now changed because of the outstanding breakthroughs and encouraging accomplishments women have done through the years. It is because of them, women’s potential in Science and other realms of studies has now evolved with more understandings and discoveries. It is for the reason of Maria Mitchell, one of the first female astronomers to be recognized in Science, that women’s potential were essentially respected. Her discoveries during her time as a student, a teacher, and an astronomer paved the way for many others, not just in Science, but also for woman’s rights and potential to be seen.
When most people think of the Scientific Revolution, they think of scientists such as Galileo, Newton, Brahe, and Boyle. However, many people do not even know about the many women who played a vital role in the scientific advancements of this period. Even when these women were alive, most of society either ignored them or publicly disapproved their unladylike behavior. Because of this, these women were often forgotten from history, and very little is known about the majority of them. Although their names rarely appear in history books, the female scientists of the Scientific Revolution still impacted the world of science in several ways. In fact, all of the scientists listed above had a woman playing an influential role assisting them in their research. However, assisting men in their studies was not the only role open to women; several women performed experimentation and research on their own, or advancing science in some other way, even though the society of the time looked down upon and even resisted their studies.
EARLY YEARS In the summer of 1960, a young English woman arrived on the shores of Lake Tanganyika in Tanzania, East Africa. Although it was unheard of for a woman to venture into the wilds of the African forest at that time, going to Africa had bee n Jane Goodall’s childhood dream. As she first surveyed the mountains and valley forests of the Gomb e Stream Chimpanzee Reserve, she had no idea her coming efforts would redefine the relations hip between humans and animals, or that the project would continue into the 21 st century. Encouraged by her mother, Jane Goodall began her life long fascination with animals at an early age.
Marie Curie was one of the shy girls, but yet one of the most famous scientists in the world. She could care less about the money, the fame, and the attention, science and research are the only things she thought about. She never did understand why people were so interested in her, her discoveries, why her?
That same year Marie met Pierre Curie, an aspiring French physicist. A year later Maria Sklodowska became Madame Curie. Marie and Pierre worked as a scientific team, in 1898 their achievements resulted in world importance, in particular the discovery of polonium (which Marie named in honor of Poland) and the discovery of Radium a few months later. The birth of her two daughters, Irene and Eve, in 1897 and 1904 did not interrupt Maria's work. In 1903, Curie became the first woman to win a Nobel Prize for Physics. The award jointly awarded to Curie, her husband Pierre, and Henri Becquerel, was for the discovery of radioactivity. In December 1904 she was appointed chief assistant in the laboratory directed by Pierre Curie.