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Women and Science Challenges and Difficulties.
A personal point of view.
Chrystalla Papademetri
8 March 2008
(Woman’s Day)
Science Camp for Girls
Learning in Science Group
University of Cyprus
Marie Curie (1867-1934)
Marie Curie’s ‘firsts’:
she was the first to use the term
‘radioactivity’;
she was the first European woman to
receive a PhD in science,
she was the first woman awarded a Noble
Prize (Noble Prize in Science, 1903),
she was the first female professor at
Paris University
she was the first (and only person) to win
two Nobel Prizes in different science fields
(Nobel Prize in Chemistry, 1911).
Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova (1937)
First woman to fly in
space, aboard Vostok 6
on 16 June 1963.
Elizabeth Blackwell (1821-1910)
First woman to graduate from
medical school (M.D.) and a
pioneer in educating women in
medicine.
Maria Montessori (1870-1952)
Montessori, founder of
the Montessori method of
education was the first
woman to graduate from
the University of Rome
La Sapienza Medical
School.
KHERTEK ANCHIMAA-TOKA
The first woman president in the world was
of the Republic of Tuva was elected as
Chairman of the Presidium from 1940 to
11.10.1944.
Graduation Ceremony
Institute of Education
University of London
4 March 2008
PhD Graduates
I owe the ‘luxury’ I had to pursue my dreams to
those women that did not accept the reality of their
era but decided to create their own reality.
Because she was female, Marie Curie was denied admission to a regular university
in her homeland Poland. This did not prevent her from pursuing her dreams.
What is essential for progress?
 The ability to solve problems
 Critical thinking
 Creative thinking (creative stance towards
life)
The creative mind ….
is curious
seeks for problems
enjoys challenges
is optimistic
is open to criticism
is imaginative
faces problems as a big opportunity to learn
isn’t afraid to take risks
isn’t afraid of failure
believes that all problems have solutions
The creative mind ….
 believes that there is possibly a better solution to a
problem
 sees something good even in bad situations
 is flexible
 accepts mistakes as an important part of learning
 isn’t afraid to break the rules
 never says ‘I can’t’
 doesn’t always try to solve problems with logic
 is persistence, doesn’t give up easily, works hard
According to Thomas Edison (inventor of the incandescent
light globe) ‘genius is 99% persistence and 1% inspiration.
Edison tried more than 2380 possibilities for a coating for the
cotton filament, before he found one that would both illuminate
yet not burn out quickly.