This Place in the Heart of Europe: How a Woman from Poland Changed the World of Science
In the heart of Europe, on Polish soil, a woman was born who, with her achievements, transcended the limits of possibility and became a symbol of equality and progress in science. Marie Skłodowska-Curie, for it is she we speak of, was born on November 7, 1867, in Warsaw, into a family with deep educational traditions. Her father, Władysław Skłodowski, was a well-known teacher of physics and mathematics, and her mother, Bronisława, ran a school for girls. It was in the home’s sanctuary, filled with books and scientific discussions, that Marie’s passion for expanding knowledge was born.
Despite the early loss of her mother and the financial difficulties of her family, Maria did not give up on her goal, which was science. Faced with the limitations placed on women in education, Skłodowska-Curie was not discouraged, making use of the secret Flying University to gain knowledge that allowed her to begin studies at the Sorbonne in Paris. There, in a foreign land, far from home, Maria not only demonstrated exceptional talent in the exact sciences but also met her future husband, Pierre Curie.
