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Laboratory Leaders

We stand on the shoulders of giants. Most of us take for granted earlier discoveries that are the foundation of our work today. In our Q3
2018 edition, we introduced an exploration of teamwork in the laboratory. The focus of our Laboratory Leaders feature starting in our
Q4 2018 edition and continuing in the next several issues is Power Teams in the Laboratory. We’re examining major discoveries made by
scientists who collaborated with others and were supported by teams as they conducted their work. For these “power couples,” teamwork
really did make the dream work, and it continues to pave the way for others.

Power Teams in the Laboratory

Part 2b: Pierre and Marie Skłodowska Curie | an extraordinary partnership

In Part 2a of this series (SCC Quarterly | Q1 2019), we introduced you to Pierre Curie and Marya Skłodowska.
Their dramatic story continues here in Part 2b ...

When we left off in Part 2a, it was the spring of 1894. Pierre Curie was Laboratory Chief in charge of all practical work
at The City of Paris Industrial Physics and Chemistry Higher Education Institution (ESPCI). Marya Skłodowska
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was a graduate student searching for lab space to do a study for which she was retained by the Society for the
Encouragement of National Industry relating the magnetic properties of various steels to their chemical
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composition. She had secured space for her work in the laboratory of Gabriel Lippmann ; however, his lab
was crowded making her work difficult.

Marie (by now, Marya was going by the French version of her name) mentioned her need for a lab to an acquaintance,
Józef Wierusz-Kowalski, a Polish physicist and professor—and a great admirer of Pierre, who at age 35 had already
made groundbreaking scientific discoveries related to magnetism and crystals. Unaware of how inadequate Pierre’s
own lab facilities were, it occurred to the professor that his friend and colleague might be able to assist the brilliant
foreign student. Although Pierre had an impressive title, his lab facilities were poor. Not knowing this, the professor
suggested that perhaps Pierre could find room there for Marie to work. Józef was honeymooning in Paris, so he
invited Pierre and Marie to have tea with him and his wife. Despite an eight-year age difference, the two scientists hit
it off immediately. This initial meeting would change not only their lives, but also the course of science.

An extraordinary partnership begins

Pierre welcomed Marie to join him in his laboratory as his student. She ultimately became his research partner, and they
divided their work—Pierre focusing primarily on physics and Marie on chemistry. She worked on the properties of steel
while he continued his studies on crystals. His respect for her grew when he realized that she, too, was a dedicated
scientist who wouldn’t inhibit his research, and he began to regard her as his muse. Their mutual passion for science
brought them increasingly closer. As Pierre’s feelings deepened, he pursued her romantically; however, she rebuffed him
at first because she was still committed to returning to her beloved Poland.

Having been raised by parents whose spirit of patriotism was stoked by living under Tsarist oppression for many years,
Marie dreamed of a day when Poland would be an independent sovereign nation. She was driven to succeed as a
woman in the sciences, not only because of her innate curiosity and passion for science and discovery, but also because
she wanted to contribute her efforts toward preserving their national spirit. She never intended to live as an expatriate
in France.

In the summer of 1894, after completing her mathematics exam and being awarded her second master of science degree,
Marie returned to Poland to visit her family during the school break, uncertain that she would return to France. Despite
everything she experienced growing up in a country under Tsarist rule, she still believed that she would be able to work in
her chosen field in Poland. Her hopes were dashed when she was denied a place at Kraków University because she was a
woman. Pierre’s heartfelt letters—and his offer to move to Poland himself—helped convince her that she should pursue
science and her doctorate in Paris, and not return to Poland.

SCC Quarterly | Volume 5 • Issue 2 | Laboratory Leaders