Marie Curie is acknowledged as a pioneer in the fields of physics and chemistry. She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize (shared with husband Pierre Curie), the first person to win a Nobel Prize twice, and the only person to win a Nobel Prize in two scientific fields. She coined the term "radioactivity," discovered two elements, and became the first female professor at the University of Paris.
She was born
Maria Salomea Skłodowska in Warsaw but made her name, quite literally, in the French capital. Now, as the European Central Bank is in the process of designing a new €20 banknote that could feature the famous scientist, a Franco-Polish dispute over Marie Curie's surname and how it should be presented in the design has reignited debate about the famous scientist's legacy. So how has her name become embroiled in such a contentious issue?
Click through the gallery to find out.