The First Lady of Physics: Chien-Shiung Wu
- guidetopw
- Aug 2, 2020
- 3 min read
Imagine being a female in physics in the 20th century. Less than 5% of women were physicists in the 1900’s, so how was it possible for woman to make an impact in physics? Well one woman that was not only able to gain recognition for herself, but advance society for women to be able to participate in the remarkable feats of physics is the first lady of physics, Chien-Shiung Wu.
Wu’s Early Life
Her Research and Findings
Achievements as a Physicists
The Woman Who made a Difference
Her Standing Influence
Her Early Life
Wu was born in 1912 on May 29th in China. All throughout her childhood, Wu was educated, so she was constantly surrounded by books, magazines, and newspapers. China was in the process of developing during her lifetime, so there were often many requirements she had to complete to achieve what she wanted, and those requirements were challenges she had to conquer in order to see her goals succeed. For example, in order to gain acceptance into the school she wanted to study at, she had to have teaching experience.
Wu is known as an American Chinese physicist because she came to America and contributed to Radiology in the US. She believed that in order to continue her studies in physics at a higher level and achieve something, China was not advanced enough, so she completed her higher studies in the US. In 1936, Wu graduated from the National Central University in China and further pursued a degree in physics at UC Berkeley so she traveled to the US and studied under Lawrence.
Her Research and Career
In 1940, she received a PhD and started her career as a teacher at Smith College and Princeton University. Even though she was a teacher and a career woman, her work-life did not stop her from engagement in more research activity under prominent historical figures. For example, in 1944, she worked on radiation detection at Columbia University which not only let her to make life changing historical findings that are still used today, but also landed her a staff position at Columbia University and becoming Dupin professor of physics in 1957.
Coincidentally, around the same time as her position as a professor of physics, Wu was also working on other essential projects, establishing proposals, and concluding results on important studies. Some of her works include observing beta particles, and finding the direction of emission and weak interaction. Her dedication to work led her to success and brought her worldwide recognition.
Recognition
Wu gained worldwide recognition along with her fellow co-workers by gaining the most prestigious award, the Nobel Prize for physics in 1957, in which she gained the power to even confirm theories of other recognized and published scientists by testing the nuclear beta decay. Wu also went further to receive the national medal of Science in 1975 which gained her an offer for the prestigious position to serve as president of the American physical society.
A Career Woman
Although Wu was very interested and dedicated to her work as a physicist, she did have a wonderful family life in which led her son growing up to be a physicist and follow in her footsteps. Wu was the first of many women to become very prominent in physics and what she researched and created will always be remembered. While she was at Princeton University, she became the first female instructor in the physics department and even if she was a man in her era, that kind of position was such a remarkable achievement, and she was able to gain that as a woman in physics which was almost unheard of before her.
Impact on the Future
Although Wu retired from Colombia in 1981, her work throughout her lifetime is still used worldwide to advance the scientific society even more. Her contributions to radioactivity and creating the Wu experiment gave her the recognition that she deserved, as proved by the many awards she had gained which also earned her many honorable names such as the First Lady of Physics, the Chinese Madame Curie, and the queen of nuclear research.
Although she died in 1997, she never stopped contributing to physics because even at the time of her death, she was a professor in physics at Columbia. Her research and findings are used by researchers and scientists all over the world today and thanks to her intelligence and dedication to science, women are able to make an impact in the field of physics, even with its male dominance. She will always be remembered as one of the most important contributors to physics and one of the first women to make such a remarkable impact in the field of physics.
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