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 President Warren G. Harding present to Marie Curie during her visit to the White House?

• A Nobel Prize

• One gram of radium

• A gold medal

• A scientific book

Describe the circumstances that led Marie Curie to remain in Paris instead of returning to Poland.

• She was offered a job in Paris

• She married Pierre Curie

• She was rejected for a teaching position

• She wanted to study under famous physicists

What were the names of the two elements discovered by Marie Curie and her husband Pierre?

• Hydrogen and Oxygen

• Polonium and Radium

• Carbon and Nitrogen

• Uranium and Thorium

What was Marie Curie's contribution to medicine during World War I?

• Developing vaccines

• Installing radiological units at field hospitals

• Conducting surgeries

• Training nurses

How did Marie Curie's work ultimately affect her health?

• She became a public figure

• She suffered from long-term exposure to radium

• She was awarded multiple prizes

• She lived a long and healthy life