By Maria Bregman
Marie Curie is a legend of science. The Polish-born physicist and chemist, who became a naturalized French citizen, was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, the first person to win two Nobel Prizes, and the only person to win Nobel Prizes in two different sciences: physics and chemistry. She is widely regarded as the pioneer of radioactivity, a term she coined, and the discoverer of two elements: polonium and radium. She also developed the first mobile X-ray units to help wounded soldiers during World War I.
But her legacy is not only in her discoveries and achievements, but also in her laboratory, where she conducted most of her groundbreaking experiments. Located at 26 rue d’Ulm in Paris’s Latin Quarter, the laboratory consisted of three buildings: the Pavillon Curie, where she worked with her husband Pierre until his death in 1906; the Pavillon Pasteur, where she continued her research with her daughter Irène and her son-in-law Frédéric Joliot-Curie, who also won a Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1935; and the Pavillon des Sources, where she stored her radioactive materials and instruments.
The laboratory, which later became part of the Curie Institute, a leading cancer research center, was a place of scientific innovation and collaboration, where Curie mentored many young researchers and welcomed eminent visitors such as Albert Einstein, Niels Bohr, and Ernest Rutherford. It was also a place of personal significance and emotion, where Curie endured the loss of her husband, the illness caused by her exposure to radiation, and the scandal of her affair with Paul Langevin, a married physicist.
But this historic site, which bears witness to Curie’s life and work, was recently threatened by a demolition project that sparked a public outcry and a legal battle. The Curie Institute, which owns the property, announced in 2020 that it planned to replace the Pavillon des Sources, the oldest and most dilapidated of the three buildings, with a new research center and a memorial garden dedicated to Curie. The institute argued that the building, which was built in 1890 and used by Curie from 1911 to 1934, was in a state of decay and posed a health and safety risk due to its contamination by radioactivity. The institute also claimed that the building had no architectural or historical value, as it was not the original laboratory where Curie made her discoveries, but a former stable that was converted into a storage facility.
However, the project faced strong opposition from a coalition of scientists, historians, and activists, who launched a petition and appealed to the French president, Emmanuel Macron, and the culture minister, Rima Abdul Malak, to save the building from the wrecking ball. They argued that the building was a symbol of France’s scientific heritage and a tribute to Curie, who was not only a brilliant scientist, but also a trailblazer for women’s rights and a humanitarian. They also pointed out that the building was still a source of scientific information, as it contained traces of Curie’s experiments and materials, which could be studied and preserved. They suggested that the building could be restored and transformed into a museum, a research center, or a cultural space, where the public could learn about Curie’s legacy and the history of radioactivity.
The campaign gained momentum and media attention, and attracted the support of prominent figures such as Nobel laureate Elizabeth Blackburn, physicist Brian Greene, and actress Isabelle Huppert, who played Curie in a 2011 film. The campaign also received the backing of Curie’s descendants, who expressed their dismay at the institute’s decision and their hope that the building would be protected and valued.
The pressure paid off, as the culture ministry intervened at the last minute to suspend the demolition, which was scheduled to start on January 11, 2024. The ministry said it consulted with the Curie Institute and agreed to postpone the project to allow time to examine possible alternatives and to respect the wishes of Curie’s family. The ministry also said it would consider the possibility of listing the building as a historic monument, which would grant it legal protection and recognition.
The campaigners welcomed the news, but said they would not give up until the building was officially saved and listed. They said they hoped that the culture ministry would recognize the importance and uniqueness of the building, and that the Curie Institute would reconsider its plans and collaborate with them to find a solution that would honor Curie’s memory and legacy.
The fate of the Pavillon des Sources is not only a matter of bricks and mortar, but also of culture and identity. It is a testament to the achievements and challenges of one of the most influential and inspiring figures in history, who changed the world with her science and her courage. It is also a reminder of the dangers and responsibilities of scientific research, especially in the field of nuclear energy, which Curie helped to create and which has profound implications for humanity and the environment. It is, in short, a piece of heritage that deserves to be preserved and celebrated, not destroyed and forgotten.
