International Year of Chemistry: 100th anniversary of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry awarded to Marie Curie

1/28/2011
News brief

The opening ceremony to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry awarded to Marie Curie will be held at the Sorbonne on January 29, 2011.

AREVA is a sponsor of the event. The day-long event is organized jointly by France and Poland, Marie Sklodowska-Curie’s country of origin.

The morning will be devoted to an official ceremony in the Grand Salon of the Sorbonne and will be attended by key figures from the political, academic and scientific spheres of both countries. A French and a Polish academician will speak on the repercussions of Marie Curie’s research, followed by speeches by the Mayor of Paris and the Presidents of the French Republic and of the Republic of Poland, or their representatives.

The afternoon session will be open to the public. Some 600 to 800 people are expected at the Sorbonne’s Grand Amphithéâtre for events and round table discussions by several important personalities on the three key themes characterizing the life and work of Marie Curie:
  • "Marie Sklodowska-Curie, a woman of science",
  • "Marie Sklodowska-Curie, an exceptional woman",
  • "Marie Sklodowska-Curie, mother of modern science".

Anne Lauvergeon will participate in the second and third round-table discussions.

If you would like to attend the afternoon session, sign up at this website (in French): http://msc100.eu/

Two other major events will mark the International Year of Chemistry in France.

  • In the spring, a symposium is organized on April 5 and 6 by the Pôle Chimie Balard Languedoc-Rousillon, the CEA Marcoule and AREVA. This symposium of two days will bring together top-level speakers to present and discuss on the challenges facing chemistry for the future of nuclear energy. 
    A program of presentations by engineers and technicians to discuss the importance of chemistry with school students is also scheduled.
  • In the fall, the École supérieure de physique et de chimie industrielles de la ville de Paris (The City of Paris Industrial Physics and Chemistry Higher Educational Institution, better known as ESPCI Paris Tech) will put on a “Village Curie” exhibition.
2011, International Year of Chemistry
2011, International Year of Chemistry

The global inauguration of the International Year of Chemistry will take place at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. At the United Nations’ initiative, the year will be part of the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD 2005-2014).

UNESCO and the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) will organize the global event, designed to show the pre-eminent role of chemistry in human activities.

The goals of the International Year of Chemistry are to:

  • increase the public appreciation of chemistry in meeting world needs, and foster greater understanding of chemistry in light of the challenges of sustainable development,
  • increase interest of young people in chemistry,
  • generate enthusiasm for the creative future of chemistry,
  • celebrate the contribution of women to science on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Nobel Prize awarded to Marie Sklodowska-Curie.
Find out more
Find out more