Lise Meitner was a prominent physicist who made significant contributions to the field of nuclear physics, especially her discovery of nuclear fission.
Her achievements reflect extraordinary efforts as Meitner faced gender and racial discrimination throughout her life and career.
Lise Meitner is recognized as one of the greatest female scientists of all time.
"Germany's Marie Curie"
Scientist Albert Einstein once affectionately called Meitner "our Marie Curie," according to The Washington Post.
Lise Meitner was born in Vienna, Austria, in 1878. Her father was a lawyer and her mother came from a prominent Jewish intellectual family. Meitner was the third of eight children. From an early age, she showed an aptitude for mathematics and science, and was always encouraged by her parents.
Meitner began her formal education at a girls' school in Vienna. Despite her exceptional talent and undying passion for mathematics and science, she was denied entry to the University of Vienna because women were not allowed to study at the time. However, with the help of her family and the support of a number of influential figures, Meitner eventually achieved her dream of attending university, majoring in physics and mathematics.
She received her PhD in physics in 1905, becoming the second woman to achieve such a feat at the university.
She then worked as an assistant to physicist Max Planck - the founder of quantum mechanics and one of the most prominent physicists of the 20th century. Here, Meitner began to establish herself as a respected researcher in the field of physics.
49 times nominated for Nobel Prize all failed
Meitner faced severe gender discrimination throughout her career. Despite her achievements and talent, she was often paid less than her male colleagues and faced barriers to career advancement.
When Meitner applied for a full professorship in 1917, she was rejected because university officials believed physics was not a suitable subject for women.
However, Meitner was not discouraged by these injustices. She continued to work hard and pursue her passion for physics, eventually becoming a professor of physics at the University of Berlin in 1926.
She also established a close working relationship with Otto Hahn, a chemist who later became her partner in the discovery of nuclear fission.
She and her colleague Hahn discovered nuclear fission, but only Hahn received the Nobel Prize.
Meitner and Hahn's work in discovering nuclear fission was groundbreaking, but she faced significant challenges in gaining recognition for her work.
In 1938, Meitner was forced to flee Nazi Germany due to her Jewish heritage. Hahn later received the 1944 Nobel Prize in Physics for the discovery of nuclear fission, while Meitner was not mentioned at all.
Meitner's exclusion from the Nobel Prize was attributed to her gender and Jewish heritage. At the time, women and Jews were often excluded from scientific recognition, and Meitner's exclusion from the prize was a reflection of the discrimination and prejudice she faced throughout her career.
According to statistics from the American Nuclear Society (ANS), Meitner was nominated for the Nobel Prize 49 times in 43 years (1924-1967), including 30 times for Physics and 19 times for Chemistry. The 10 countries that nominated her included Denmark, France, Germany, India, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States. However, Meitner never received a Nobel Prize for her work.
Despite these obstacles, Meitner continued to work and make significant contributions to the field of physics. After leaving Germany, she settled in Sweden and continued her research in nuclear physics. She also became a mentor to many young physicists, including future Nobel laureate Hans Bethe.
Meitner missed out on 49 Nobel nominations despite her enormous contributions to science.
Meitner's work on nuclear fission was of great significance to both science and society. The discovery of nuclear fission paved the way for the development of nuclear power and atomic weapons, which had a profound impact on global politics and society.
Meitner was acutely aware of the potential dangers of nuclear weapons and was a strong advocate for nuclear disarmament. Meitner's legacy continues to be honored today. In 1997, element 109 on the periodic table was named Meitnerium in her honor.
Lise Meitner's perseverance and dedication to her work was a great inspiration and her legacy helped pave the way for generations of women to pursue careers in science.
(Source: Vietnamnet/The Washington Post)
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