Name of the first 10 Women Nobel
laureates
Here are the names of the first 10
women Nobel laureates:
1. Marie Curie: Physics,
1903; Chemistry, 1911
2. Bertha von Suttner:
Peace, 1905
3. Gerty Cori:
Physiology or Medicine, 1947
4. Irène Joliot-Curie:
Chemistry, 1935
5. Dorothy Crowfoot
Hodgkin: Chemistry, 1964
6. Maria Goeppert-Mayer:
Physics, 1963
7. Rosalyn Yalow:
Physiology or Medicine, 1977
8. Barbara McClintock:
Physiology or Medicine, 1983
9. Rita Levi-Montalcini:
Physiology or Medicine, 1986
10. Gertrude B. Elion:
Physiology or Medicine, 1988
These women have made significant
contributions to their respective fields and have inspired generations of
scientists around the world.
Marie Curie: Physics, 1903; Chemistry,
1911
Marie Curie was a brilliant scientist
who made significant contributions to the fields of physics and chemistry. In
1903, she became the first woman to receive the Nobel Prize in Physics for her
work on radioactivity, which she conducted alongside her husband Pierre Curie.
Marie Curie's discovery of two new elements, polonium and radium,
revolutionized our understanding of atomic structure and led to the development
of new medical treatments.
In 1911, Marie Curie went on to win her
second Nobel Prize, this time in Chemistry, for her isolation and study of
radium and other radioactive elements. This research allowed for the
development of new treatments for cancer, and her work continues to inspire
scientists around the world to this day.
Marie Curie was not only a pioneering
scientist but also a trailblazer for women in science. Her achievements opened
doors for women in academia and research, and her legacy continues to inspire
future generations of female scientists.
Bertha von Suttner: Peace, 1905
Bertha von Suttner war eine
österreichische Friedensaktivistin und Schriftstellerin, die 1905 als erste
Frau den Friedensnobelpreis gewann. Sie war eine der wichtigsten Vordenkerinnen
der Friedensbewegung und setzte sich für eine weltweite Abrüstung und die
Schaffung von internationalen Schiedsgerichten ein.
Bertha von Suttner wurde 1843 in Prag
geboren und wuchs in einer aristokratischen Familie auf. Im Jahr 1876 lernte
sie den schwedischen Wissenschaftler und Erfinder Alfred Nobel kennen und wurde
zu einer seiner engsten Vertrauten. In dieser Zeit begann sie sich intensiv mit
dem Thema Frieden auseinanderzusetzen und veröffentlichte 1889 ihren berühmten
Roman "Die Waffen nieder!", der zu einem Bestseller wurde und in
zahlreiche Sprachen übersetzt wurde.
In den folgenden Jahren setzte sich
Bertha von Suttner unermüdlich für den Frieden ein und trat bei zahlreichen
Kongressen und Veranstaltungen auf. Sie starb im Jahr 1914, kurz vor Ausbruch
des Ersten Weltkriegs, der ihre Vision einer friedlichen Welt für immer
zunichte machte. Trotzdem bleibt sie bis heute eine wichtige Persönlichkeit der
Friedensbewegung und ihr Einsatz für eine bessere Welt ohne Krieg wird nicht
vergessen werden.
Gerty Cori: Physiology or Medicine,
1947
Gerty Cori was a pioneering biochemist
who received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1947. She was the
first woman to be awarded this prestigious prize, which recognized her
groundbreaking work on carbohydrate metabolism.
Cori and her husband Carl conducted
experiments in the 1920s and 1930s that laid the foundation for our
understanding of how the body breaks down and stores glucose, the primary
source of energy for the body's cells. They discovered a series of enzymes that
allowed glucose to be converted into glycogen, a form of glucose that can be
stored in the liver and muscles.
Cori's research provided key insights
into how the body regulates blood sugar levels, which is crucial for
maintaining overall health. Her work also paved the way for the development of
treatments for diseases like diabetes, which result from abnormalities in
glucose metabolism.
In addition to her scientific
achievements, Cori was a trailblazer for women in science. She faced numerous
obstacles throughout her career, including discrimination and a lack of
opportunities for women in academia. Despite these challenges, she persevered
and made significant contributions to her field, inspiring generations of women
to pursue careers in science.
Irène Joliot-Curie: Chemistry, 1935
Irène Joliot-Curie est une scientifique
française qui a été récompensée par le prix Nobel de Chimie en 1935. Elle était
la fille de Pierre et Marie Curie, célèbres scientifiques qui ont découvert le
radium et la radioactivité.
Irène Joliot-Curie a poursuivi les
travaux de ses parents en se concentrant sur la radioactivité artificielle.
Avec son mari, Frédéric Joliot, elle a découvert que des éléments non
radioactifs pouvaient être transformés en éléments radioactifs lorsqu'ils
étaient bombardés par des particules alpha. Cette découverte a été cruciale
pour la compréhension de la structure de l'atome et a ouvert la voie à de
nombreuses applications pratiques de la radioactivité.
En plus de son travail scientifique
remarquable, Irène Joliot-Curie a également été une militante politique et sociale.
Elle a été membre active du Parti Communiste français et a lutté pour les
droits des femmes et des travailleurs. Sa vie et son travail ont été une source
d'inspiration pour de nombreuses personnes dans le monde entier.
Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin: Chemistry,
1964
Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin was a British
chemist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1964. Her
groundbreaking work in the field of X-ray crystallography helped revolutionize
the study of molecular structure.
Hodgkin's research focused on the use
of X-ray crystallography to determine the three-dimensional structures of
important biomolecules such as proteins and nucleic acids. Her most famous
achievement was the determination of the structure of insulin, a hormone
critical for regulating blood sugar levels in the body. This work took over 30
years to complete and involved the collaboration of many scientists from around
the world.
Hodgkin's contributions to the field of
chemistry were significant and far-reaching. Her work not only advanced our
understanding of the structure and function of important biomolecules, but also
paved the way for the development of new drugs and treatments for a wide range
of diseases.
Maria Goeppert-Mayer: Physics, 1963
Maria Goeppert-Mayer was a renowned
physicist who made groundbreaking contributions to the field of nuclear
physics. She was born in Germany in 1906 and eventually moved to the United
States where she earned a PhD in physics from Johns Hopkins University. Her
most notable achievement was the creation of the nuclear shell model, which
explained the behavior of protons and neutrons in the atomic nucleus. This
model was instrumental in the development of nuclear physics and led to
Goeppert-Mayer being awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1963, becoming only
the second woman to receive the honor.
Goeppert-Mayer was also a trailblazer
for women in science, as she faced many challenges and obstacles throughout her
career due to her gender. Despite this, she persisted and made significant
contributions to the field of physics. Her legacy continues to inspire and
encourage women in science to pursue their passions and make their own
contributions to the field.
Rosalyn Yalow: Physiology or Medicine,
1977
Rosalyn Yalow was an American medical
physicist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1977.
She was recognized for her development of the radioimmunoassay (RIA) technique,
which allowed for the measurement of minute amounts of biological substances in
the body. This technology revolutionized the field of endocrinology by enabling
scientists to identify and quantify hormones, enzymes, and other substances in
the blood.
Yalow's work had a profound impact on
medical research, as it allowed scientists to better understand the
physiological processes that underlie various diseases. Her RIA technique has
been used to diagnose and monitor conditions such as diabetes, thyroid disease,
and cancer. Yalow's pioneering work paved the way for future developments in
medical imaging and diagnostic testing, and she remains an inspiration to
scientists and researchers around the world.
Barbara McClintock: Physiology or
Medicine, 1983
Barbara McClintock was a pioneering
American scientist who won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1983.
She was a geneticist who studied the genetics of maize, or corn, and discovered
the phenomenon of transposition. This is the process by which genetic elements
move between different locations in the genome, and it was a groundbreaking discovery
that challenged the dogma that genes were fixed in place.
McClintock's work was not immediately
accepted by the scientific community, and she faced considerable resistance and
skepticism from her peers. However, her persistence and dedication ultimately
led to her being recognized as one of the most important scientists of the 20th
century. Her work has had a profound impact on our understanding of genetics,
and continues to inspire and influence researchers to this day.
Barbara McClintock was not just a
brilliant scientist, but also a trailblazer for women in science. She faced
discrimination and prejudice throughout her career, but she never let that
deter her from pursuing her passion for research. Her legacy serves as a
reminder of the importance of diversity and inclusivity in science, and the
need to support and encourage all those who wish to pursue a career in this
field.
Rita Levi-Montalcini: Physiology or
Medicine, 1986
Rita Levi-Montalcini was an Italian
neurologist who won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1986, along
with American biochemist Stanley Cohen. They were awarded for their discovery
of nerve growth factor (NGF), a protein that plays a key role in the growth and
maintenance of nerve cells.
Levi-Montalcini’s research into NGF
began in the 1940s, when she was working in a makeshift laboratory in her
bedroom during World War II. She and Cohen were able to isolate and purify NGF,
which allowed them to study its effects on cells in the nervous system. Their
work led to a greater understanding of how nerve cells grow and develop, and
has had important implications for the treatment of conditions such as
Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
In addition to her scientific
achievements, Levi-Montalcini was a trailblazer for women in science. She faced
discrimination and obstacles throughout her career, but persevered and became a
respected leader in her field. She continued to work and conduct research well
into her 90s, and was an inspiration to many.
Gertrude B. Elion: Physiology or
Medicine, 1988
Gertrude B. Elion was an American
biochemist and pharmacologist who, along with George H. Hitchings and Sir James
Black, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1988. Her
groundbreaking contributions to the field of medicine revolutionized the
development of new drugs and treatments for a wide range of illnesses,
including leukemia, malaria, gout, and herpes.
Elion was born in 1918 in New York City
and grew up during the Great Depression. Despite financial hardships, she was
determined to pursue her education and attended Hunter College, where she
earned a degree in chemistry. She went on to earn a master's degree in
chemistry from New York University and began working at a pharmaceutical
company.
Throughout her career, Elion's research
focused on understanding the biochemical basis of disease and developing drugs
that could target specific pathways in the body to treat those diseases. This
approach, known as rational drug design, was a significant departure from the
traditional trial-and-error method of drug development.
Elion's work led to the development of
several life-saving drugs, including azathioprine, which is used to prevent
organ rejection in transplant patients, and acyclovir, which is used to treat
herpes infections. Her innovative contributions to the field of medicine have
had a lasting impact on countless lives around the world, and she remains an
inspiration to aspiring scientists and researchers everywhere.