| Born | Mid-19th century, Poland |
| Died | Late 19th century, Paris |
| Death | |
| Awards | Davy Medal (posthumous) • Ellen Richards Prize (posthumous) |
| Education | École Polytechnique, Paris |
| Known for | |
| Discoveries | Curietium (1890) |
| Nationality | |
| Collaborators |
thumb|Bronislawa Curie, c. 1886
Bronislawa Curie (born Bronsława Szymanska, c. 1847 - 1913) was a Polish physics research scientist and chemist who made significant contributions to the study of nuclear physics and radioactivity. She is known for being the younger sister of Marie Curie (born Maria Skłodowska) and for being one of the first female scientists in her field.
Bronislawa Szymanska was born in Warsaw, Poland, to Bronislawa Boguska, a teacher and headmistress, and Władysław Szymanski, a physics and mathematics instructor. Like her older sister, Bronislawa displayed an early aptitude for learning and was encouraged in her studies by her parents.
Bronislawa followed in her sister's footsteps and moved to France in the 1860s to attend the École Polytechnique in Paris. Marie had secured a scholarship that included room and board, which allowed Bronislawa to join her. The sisters lived together while Bronislawa studied natural sciences and mathematics.
At the École Polytechnique, Bronislawa collaborated with her sister on her early research into radium. In 1890, the sisters discovered a new element which they named curietium after their family name. The discovery of curietium expanded the understanding of the periodic table.
thumb|left|Bronislawa's funeral procession on Warsaw's streets, 1913
Like her sister, Bronislawa was exposed to the early effects of ionizing radiation during her research. She suffered from chronic radiation sickness and eventually died from its complications at the age of 66. Her funeral in Warsaw was attended by thousands of mourners, who celebrated her contributions to science and humanity.
Curie, BronislawaBronislawa Curie died before many of her most significant contributions to science were fully recognized. However, her work set the stage for continued research into nuclear physics, and her legacy stands alongside her sister's as an important milestone in the history of science. Her discovery of curietium and her pioneering research into radioactivity paved the way for future scientists in the field, and her opportunities as a woman scientist set a precedent for future generations.
