Curium

What does it mean to be a woman in science? If we're talking the periodic table, it's a rough life, seeing as only two women have elements named after them and they had to work with men in order to be published and gain recognition.

Recently I've spent some time thinking about this idea. Most women tend to go into biological sciences, which leads people to act strangely when they hear about a woman in chemistry or physics (though chemistry has become more welcoming). When people asked me about my major in college, they immediately assumed that I was going to medical school, because of the assumption that it would be unlikely for me to pursue an advanced degree in chemistry.

Now, when I tell people that I am in a teacher education program, they smile and nod, as if that was the expected answer. It is no surprise that people are not surprised, as teachers are primarily women with men concentrated mostly in secondary math and science. Women have a long history of being teachers, as it was one of the few occupations available to them for quite some time. But is there a point where you fight history and the self fulfilling prophecy to become a teacher?

If you asked Marie Curie, she might say yes. But Marie herself even started off teaching at a night school for women in her native Poland, before taking a risk and moving on to break barriers in the science community. She did groundbreaking research in a storage shed, reread: STORAGE SHED, and rarely gets recognition without the mention of her husband Pierre. Furthermore, ask people to name a woman scientist and they will say Marie Curie (though most call her Madame), but do they know about her accomplishments or that she was Polish, not French? Doubtful.

I like to think about Marie Curie and her background as a teacher when my lessons blow up in my face or when behavior management issues impede the amazing demonstrations I couldn't wait to do as a teacher. I think about how I might be selling myself short by not pursuing an advanced science degree, but I am reminded that even Marie Curie complied with societal norms for a time before taking risks.


About its Namesake: Curium is named for Marie and Pierre Curie (mainly Marie) who discovered polonium and radium. Marie Curie discovered radioactivity by concentrating radioactive elements found in uranium-bearing rocks. Because her work was done on a larger scale than today's work with radioactive elements, her whole lab was contaminated to the point where her lab notebooks had to be stored in lead-lined boxes.

Fun Fact: Curium is used in radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs), which convert the heat from radioactive decay to usable energy. RTGs power space probes, as these instruments are operated for long periods of time away from people and other power sources.