News Archive

David J. Allard, CHP

For all the radiation history buffs, I'd like to note that Madam Marie Curie and her two daughters came to the United States 100 years ago this month. And as you can image, it was a major news event. The story is fascinating given the women of America raised over $1 million (in today's dollars) to buy her a gram of radium. US President Warren Harding made a formal presentation of that gift at a White House event. Curie traveled to western Pennsylvania to tour the firm that extracted and produced the radium. She also had an extremely tiring trip to numerous other engagements, colleges, and universities. To recount and celebrate this anniversary, there are several online events I'd like to bring to your attention.

The first event is a 23 May (1:00–2:30 pm [EDT]) virtual workshop sponsored by the College of Physicians of Philadelphia. Curie was the honored guest there on 23 May 1921 and donated a piezo-electric device that evening. I'd mention, Curie coined the term "radio-activity," and she and her husband Pierre used the device to measure radioactivity from uranium, as well as polonium and radium—the elements they discovered. An agenda covering her visit to the States, Pennsylvania, and Washington, DC, and how radium was the starting point for most if not all our medical uses of radioactivity should be posted shortly. Registration is free and can be found online.

A second event is series of online reenactments of Curie telling her life story in her laboratory by the wonderful storyteller and performer Susan Marie Frontczak. I recently had the opportunity to view this performance and must say, it felt like you actually had an intimate conversation with this amazing pioneer woman of science. If you have (or know of) any young children interested in STEM, I'd highly recommend this event.

Digital theater performances of "Humanity Needs Dreamers: A Visit With Marie Curie" will feature four performances—20, 21, 22, and 23 May 2021 at 6:30–8:30 pm EDT. The evening will include an interactive Q & A with Marie Curie as portrayed by living history scholar Susan Marie Frontczak and features classical music, materials science, and a short digital story on the100th Anniversary of Marie Curie's visit to the United States in 1921. Recommended for adults, families, and students ages 9 and older. Performance is $19.21, which includes all fees and only one virtual ticket is needed per streaming location (Use code Curie2021 for 25% off).

More information on this event is available on the Stem on Stage website.