Polish Science Day – 19 February

And in it – they: Frederic and Irene Joliot-Curie, daughter of the Polish Nobel Prize winner Maria Skłodowska-Curie.

This extraordinary photograph was taken in 1935 by the famous photographer Henri Manuel, just after the couple became heroes of the scientific world – winners of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, for their discovery of artificial radioactivity.

In 1950, Maria Curie University (UMCS) and in 1951, the Jagiellonian University awarded Irene and her husband honorary doctorates. In 1954, she became a foreign member of the Polish Academy of Sciences.

This is a beautiful testament to their scientific heritage, but also to the family mission that Irene carried throughout her life. In 1951, she donated to Poland the manuscripts, photographs, and personal items of her mother, Maria Skłodowska-Curie.

On Polish Science Day, February 19th, the anniversary of the birth of Nicolaus Copernicus, the eminent Polish astronomer, the Doctoral School wishes scientists and PhD Students that science may guide your lives and achievements.

We wish you successes comparable to those of Frederick, Irene, Maria, and Nicolaus!