Women's History Activator: Marie Curie

Marie Curie, a pioneering scientist, visited the US in 1921, receiving radium from President Harding. Born in Poland, she excelled in science from a young age, later moving to Paris for further studies. She married Pierre Curie, and together they discovered polonium and radium, earning a Nobel Prize. After Pierre's death, Marie continued their work, becoming the first female professor at the Sorbonne. She made significant contributions to radioactivity research, won another Nobel Prize, and aided in developing X-rays during WWI. Despite the dangers of radiation, her legacy as a trailblazing female scientist endures.

What significant gift did Marie Curie receive during her visit to the United States in 1921?

• A laboratory in Paris

• A Nobel Prize

• A gram of radium

• A professorship at the Sorbonne

What was a major reason Marie Curie decided to stay in Paris instead of returning to Poland?

• She disliked the weather in Poland

• She was rejected from teaching in Poland due to her gender

• She was offered a teaching position in Poland

• She wanted to learn French

Which two elements did Marie and Pierre Curie discover together?

• Uranium and Thorium

• Polonium and Radium

• Hydrogen and Helium

• Carbon and Oxygen

What was one of Marie Curie's significant contributions during World War I?

• Inventing the telephone

• Developing the atomic bomb

• Creating the first computer

• Helping to develop X-ray technology

What was a major health risk associated with Marie Curie's work that was unknown at the time?

• Exposure to X-rays

• Exposure to radium

• Exposure to mercury

• Exposure to lead