By Aapria’ Akers
Born November 7 th 1878 3 of 8 children From Vienna Austria A famous physician First women in Germany to be called a professor Born a Jew Was a Protestant though (converted in 1908 ) Known for discovering Nuclear Fusion
Second women to get doctoral degree in physics in university of Vienna in 1905 Worked in Austrian Army as X- ray technician ( ) Wrote scientific articles to earn a income. Signed with name L Meitner because they wouldn’t publish women’s work
Studied in Berlin with Chemist Otto Hahn In 1918 they discovered protactinium Worked with him for 30 years Discriminated on a bit because of her being a women Worked at Kaiser- Wilhelm institute Became joint director of institute & was appointed head of physics department in 1917
◦ Had to leave work because Hitler was going after Germany ◦ Even though was protestant she couldn’t work at the institution any longer, because she was born a Jew ◦ Nazis refused to let her leave ◦ July 1938 someone came and illegally took her out of Germany ◦ Escaped to Sweden ◦ Started working for “ Nobel Institute of Physics in Stockholm” ◦ Where she discovered with nuclear fusion ◦ 30 years later she was asked to help with the “Manhattan project” but refused
Was awarded the Leibniz Medal by Berlin academy of sciences for discovery of Protactinium 1922 Discovered Auger effect Nazis erased all research she had done She got no recognition at all for the discovery of Nuclear fusion Otto took all of the credit
Women of the year by women’s National press club Won the “Enrico Fermi Award” Elected to go in to Swedish Academy of science Third women in history to get the honor Offered movie deal with MGM Helped Sweden invent its first nuclear reactor 109 th element was named in honor of her (“ meitnerium”)
Became Swedish citizen in 1949 Moved to UK In older years suffered from heart attacks, strokes and broken hip Was moved to a nursing home Died at age 90 in 1968 Three months after Otto
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