Marie Curie, a scientist with two Nobel Prizes
Discover the story of this scientific genius with Marc Ammerich, former nuclear inspector at the Atomic Energy and Alternative Energies Commission
Marie Curie, la scientifique aux deux prix Nobel
I am delighted to be back with you today for a very first audio documentary on the exciting and inclusive world of Marie Curie as well as the fascinating story of the birth of radioactivity. This phenomenon, omnipresent in our daily lives, often remains unknown despite its significant impact. Throughout this episode, we will take a leap into the past, exploring the work of Marie Curie and the scientific legacy she left behind.
Marie Curie, born Maria Skłodowska on 7 November 1867 in Warsaw, was a Polish-born physicist and chemist, naturalized French. She is famous for her revolutionary discoveries in the field of radioactivity, a term she herself invented.
In 1903, she shared the Nobel Prize in Physics with her husband Pierre Curie and Henri Becquerel for their research on radiation. Later, in 1911, she received a second Nobel Prize, this time in chemistry, for her discoveries of polonium and radium, making her the first person to receive two Nobel Prizes in different scientific disciplines.
Marie Curie not only made history with her discoveries, but also with her unwavering dedication to science, despite the many challenges she had to overcome as a female scientist of her time. Her work not only paved the way for new avenues of research, but also laid the foundation for much-needed medical advances, particularly in the treatment of cancer.
Marc Ammerich tells us the story of Marie Curie and the birth of radioactivity
To tell you this captivating story, I handed my microphone to Marc Ammerich, former nuclear inspector at the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission. With over thirty years of expertise in the field of radiation protection, Marc was an integral part of the team of engineers responsible for assessing, analyzing and controlling no fewer than 3,000 radioactive objects from Marie Curie's laboratory. This laboratory, now the Curie Museum in Paris, represents a valuable testimony to the history of scientific discovery.
Marc Ammerich will share with us his unique experience, discussing his contribution to the preservation and analysis of these radioactive artifacts, thus offering a privileged look at this crucial period in scientific history.
- Website co-created by Marc Ammerich on radioactivity and radiation protection: Radioprotection Cirkus
- Linkedin profile
Check out the bonus episode that accompanies the audio documentary
The Radium Girls: The Forgotten Story of American Workers
The Radium Girls case was a major turning point in American labor history, marking one of the first times that an employer was held responsible for the health of its employees. This landmark case led to important rulings in favor of workers and, as a result, the creation of the Federal Worker Protection Agency. Before the emergence of this agency, the world of work was taking a heavy toll, with as many as 14,000 deaths annually.
Today, our society has made significant progress, reducing the number of workplace deaths to just under 4,500 per year. However, to understand the magnitude of this transformation, I believe it is necessary to revisit the story of the Radium Girls, those often forgotten women who were confronted with the harsh reality of the lies orchestrated by powerful commercial groups regarding the harmfulness of radium, a substance discovered by Marie Curie.
Through their courage and resilience, and in the face of deliberate deception about the dangers of radium, they fought for their rights, setting in motion a chain of events that reshaped the landscape of workers’ rights in America. So, in this short episode, I invite you to discover how their fight contributed to a heightened awareness of workplace safety and laid the foundation for crucial reforms to protect workers.
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