Grit & Growth: Marie Curie, the Mother of Modern Physics
Grit: [noun] Passion and perseverance in working towards a goal you care deeply about
Growth Mindset: [noun] The belief that talent and skills can be developed through hard work
Our Grit and Growth series celebrates the accomplishments of amazing people, past and present, who can serve as role models for our students. Through their examples, we hope that our students gain the courage to pursue their passions with grit and explore their infinite potential with a growth mindset.
Last time, we talked about Edwin Binney, an innovative businessman and inventor who created the Crayola Crayons! Now let’s learn about Marie Curie, the Mother of Modern Physics who was the first person ever to be awarded the Nobel Prize twice (Physics in 1903; Chemistry in 1911).
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Who is Marie Curie?
Marie Curie is a researcher and scientist who discovered two new elements, radium and polonium, with her husband, Pierre Curie. These radioactive elements and their compounds became important for treating medical conditions, such as cancer.
How did she show grit?
Even though Marie Curie could not attend college as a woman, she attended informal classes in secret, studied when she wasn’t working to financially support her sister’s education, and then finally enrolled at the Sorbonne University in Paris while living off buttered bread and tea. She earned a Master’s degree in both Physics and Mathematics. Even after her big discoveries, she continued facing gender discrimination from male scientists, but rather than letting that faze her, she stayed focused on her accomplishments, which included two Nobel Prizes.
How did she exhibit the growth mindset?
Marie Curie was a highly inquisitive woman who knew that there was always more to learn about radium and polonium. Rather than growing complacent after her amazing discoveries and accolades, she continued researching and studying from a place of curiosity, exhibiting a tendency for lifelong learning. She used experiments to learn more about the elements and what they could be used for in the world.
How did she exhibit the growth mindset?
Marie Curie was a highly inquisitive woman who knew that there was always more to learn about radium and polonium. Rather than growing complacent after her amazing discoveries and accolades, she continued researching and studying from a place of curiosity, exhibiting a tendency for lifelong learning. She used experiments to learn more about the elements and what they could be used for in the world.
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Develop your child’s grit and the growth mindset with JEI! Our JEI Self-Learning MethodⓇ has been scientifically proven to enhance both in all of our students. Find a learning center near you today to get started.
