Alishia-What events early in your life might indicate why you have become so interested in science?

Marie-Both of my parents were school teachers and they had very high expectations for the 5 of me and my siblings. Me and my sister and brothers graduated with the highest grades in our class. My whole family was very learned and cultured. I was always around science. (http://www.hypatiamaze.org/marie/curie_bio.html)

Alishia-What role did mentors play in developing you talents/interests?

Marie-I was encouraged to study physical science by my cousin Josef Boguski. He was the director of Warsaw Museum of Industry. He allowed me to do experiments in physics and chemistry on the weekends at the museum. (http://www.hypatiamaze.org/marie/curie_bio.html)

Alishia-What was the state of knowledge that existed in the areas of study when you entered the field.

Marie-When i entered the field the structure of the atom and the forces which hold it together were still unknown when i enrolled as a student at the Sorbonne.(http://www.hypatiamaze.org/marie/curie_bio.html)

Alishia- What were your major accomplishments, the methodologies used and the principals of science that were upheld?

Marie-Some of my major accomplishments were in 1891. I began studying math, physics and chemistry at the University of Paris in France. I obtained a degree in physics in 1893, a degree in mathematics in 1894. In 1896 I witnessed the discovery of radioactivity by Henri Becquerel and I choose the uranium rays as my field of research. I discovered that uranium rays give conductivity to the air surrounding them, also that the activity of uranium compounds depends on the quantity of uranium present in them, and finally that thorium was a radioactive element. I announced the discovery of an element that i called Polonium. I received a Doctor of Science degree from the University of Paris. Later that year I was awarded the noble prize in physics along with my husband.(http://www.buzzle.com/artists/accomplishments-of-marie-curie.html)

Alishia-What were the prevalent philosophical and/or religious beliefs at the time?

Maire- Most people were catholic during that time as was my family.(http://www.hypatiamaze.org/marie/curie_bio.html)

Alishia-How did you fit in or differ from the beliefs said before?

Marie-I was raised catholic but before ago of 20 I stopped going to church and I married Pierre Curie who belonged to no religion and I did not practice any.(http://www.adherents.com/people/pc/marie)curie.html)

Alishia- What major cultural, economic, and political situations were taking places at the time of your work?

Marie- Well in 1867 congress passed the third Reconstruction Act passed over a presidential veto. Also in 1869 Ulyses S. Grant become president. In 1896 the first use of x-rays to treat breast cancer were used. (http://www.timelineindex.com/content/search.php?s=+1967)

Alishia-Do you know of any other artists, musicians, and writers were working at the same time as you and in the same country?

Marie-Some other artists, musicians, and writers that were working during my time were Nadia Boulanger a french conductor/educator, Anouk Aimee a French actress, Josephine Baker a French dancer, singer, and entertainer, Colette a French author, and finally Rosa Luxemburg a polish German socialist/writer.(http://www.creativequotations.com/women-az.html)

Alishia-What were the basic demographics of the country during the time you were working?

Marie- Polands population was 38482919,0-14 years =15% 15-64 years=71.6% and finally 65-and over =16.4%.(http://www.indexmundi.com/poland/demographics_profile.html)


Alishia-How were gender and class roles defined during this time frame?

Marie-Well 9 women including me have won the Noble Prize and have changed history all together. During my time it was unusually for women to not have an education. (http://www.hypatiamaze.org/marie/curie_bio.html)