2011—the year of Maria Skłodowska-Curie in the International Year of Chemistry

Maria Skłodowska-Curie (1867–1934) [1] Maria Skłodowska-Curie is the only scientist in history to receive the Nobel Prize twice, once in Physics (1903) for the discovery of radioactivity and once in Chemistry (1911) for the discovery of polonium and radium and studies concerning the nature of these elements. Scientific work, which she started together with her husband Pierre Curie and continued after his death, opened a new realm of Physics and Chemistry and led to the development of the first methods of studying the interior of the atom and the nature of matter. These studies have dominated contemporary science. Stating that radiation of radioactive substances induces chemical reactions, she became the founder of radiochemistry. She was able, in a very fast way, to introduce her scientific theories and check them out in practice. Her curriculum vitae, scientific career and social activities are so fascinating and full of secrets that they could be used as a topic of many studies, not only scientific. She was born on 7 November 1867 in Warsaw and her desire for liberation from the prevailing conditions at that time (the end of the nineteenth and the beginning of twentieth century) meant that she became a beacon for modern women—a scientist, wife, mother, and philanthropist. Her life’s work (education and knowledge) was performed outside of occupied Poland. As her second homeland, she chose France. How eloquently and simply she described the story of her life: “This is a small, simple story. I was born in Warsaw, in a family of professors. I married Pierre Curie. I had two children. The scientific work I have performed in France” [1]. Despite various misfortunes and adversities, she always paid attention to the education of her daughters. She showed devotion in her research and in the realization of the idea of creating Radium Institutes in Paris (1911) and Warsaw (1932) and constructing mobile X-ray laboratories—her lasting legacies. This activity, flexibility, versatility and sensitivity have met with varying degrees of perception and expressions Published in the special issue Radioanalytics —Dedicated to Marie Skłodowska-Curie with Guest Editors Bogusław Buszewski and Philippe Garrigues.