Women behind Physics

 

Suasy Chanielle Acevedo Muñiz

Physics is the scientific study of matter and energy and how they interact with each other.[1] The scientists who study physics are physicist. When we talk about physics we think in Albert Einstein, Newton, Kepler, Cristian Huygens, Copérnico, Coulomb, Planck,  Bohr,  or Galileo. But ...why we do not talk about women?

Many people think only man can be an extraordinary scientist. One example of this thinking is when Darwin said in his book: "man has ultimately become superior to woman". [2] But behind physics are countless women who have contributed greatly in this science so complicate.

 One of them is Marie Curie. In 1903 Marie received the Nobel Prize in Physics, shared with her husband.[3]  Curie was the first woman admitted as professor at the Sorbonne University. She retained her enthusiasm for science (physics and chemistry) throughout her life and did a lot of things to establish a radioactivity laboratory in her native city.

But she is not the only one. María Mitchell was America's first woman astronomer. Also Mitchell was the first woman to join the American Academy of Arts and Science. For her merits she had a tablet with her name in the New York University Hall of Fame. Also, her name was carved in a frieze at the Boston Public Library and she was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame.

Another example of extraordinary woman in physics is Emilie de Breteuil. She was a woman of high society and a great physicist. Emilie worked at investigation about fire. Emilie de Bruteuil argued that light and heat have the same cause or are the same type of movement. And then she found that rays of different colors do not release the same degree of heat.

In addition, we can talk about Laura Bassi. She was an Italian Newtonian physicist. Bassi was one of first scholars to teach Newtonian natural philosophy in Italy. She published 28 papers on physics and hydraulics. Laura carried out experiments in all aspects of physics.

Also, Lise Meitner is another example of woman behind physics . Lise collaborate with Otto Hahn in the studied of radioactivity. Like Marie Curie, she was the first woman admitted as professor in Germany.

Frank Wilczek said “ In physics, you don't have to go around making trouble for yourself - nature does it for you”. We know, physics is complicate and sometimes require effort, but Marie Curie, Emilie de Breteuil, Laura Bassi, Lise Meitner, María Mitchell and other extraordinary physicist are the example that physics are not impossible. If these women break barriers in society and prove is not impossible, why we cannot do it?  Many people can have a wrong think of that only men can be outstanding physicist but women like those mentioned in this article demonstrate physics is not only for men. They have inspired me to continue efforts to understand the physics and get a good grade in the course.

Never underestimate the power of a woman behind the science!

[1] http://physics.about.com/od/physics101thebasics/f/WhatisPhysics.htm
[2] Darwin, Descent of Man 2, pp.327-328
[3] http://www.aip.org/history/curie/