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Birth
She was born Maria Sklodowska on November 7, 1867, in Warsaw, Poland. -
Tragedy
When she was only 10, Curie lost her mother, Bronislawa, to tuberculosis. -
Secondary school
Maria graduated with honors from highschool at 16. -
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Floating University
Despite being a top student in her secondary school, Curie could not attend the men's-only University of Warsaw. She instead continued her education in Warsaw's "floating university," a set of underground, informal classes held in secret.
Meanwhile she worked as a tutor and governess to save money and leave Poland -
Paris
Curie finally made her way to Paris and enrolled at the Sorbonne with a scholarship. -
Degree
Curie completed her master's degree in physics in 1893 and earned another degree in mathematics the following year. -
Pierre Curie
She met Pierre Curie, Professor in the School of Physics in 1894 -
Marriage
Marie eventually married Pierre Curie -
Discovery of Radium and Polonium
Marie's discoveries after months of research were published for the first time in the "Comptes Rendus de l’Académie des Sciences" on the 12 April 1898 -
Nobel Prize
In 1903, Curie was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics, along with her husband and Henri Becquerel, for their work on radioactivity. -
Professor at the Sorbone
Following the tragic death of Pierre Curie in 1906, she took his place as Professor of General Physics in the Faculty of Sciences, the first time a woman had held this position. -
Nobel Prize
Curie was awarded her second Nobel Prize, this time in Chemistry, for her discovery of radium and polonium. -
Death
Marie Curie died on July 4, 1934, of aplastic anemia, believed to be caused by prolonged exposure to radiation.
