Unveiling the hidden legacy of Lise Meitner and why she never won the Nobel Prize
atomic bomb, the pivotal moment of discovering nuclear fission is often portrayed with key figures like Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassmann. However, as we delve deeper into this piece of history, a significant omission comes to light – the remarkable role of physicist Lise Meitner.
Meitner, a contemporary of renowned scientists such as Albert Einstein and Niels Bohr, worked closely with Otto Hahn and played a critical role in the theory of nuclear fission. Yet, the pages of history have not given her the recognition she deserves.
The oversight was not merely due to her gender; it was also influenced by her Jewish heritage.
The annual Nobel Week provides an opportunity to celebrate scientific achievements but also to examine historical injustices and omissions. Lise Meitner's story is just one of many where women in science failed to receive the credit due for their groundbreaking work.
Born in Vienna in 1878, Meitner began her journey in physics at a time when Austrian women were not permitted to attend college. Despite these barriers, she persevered and eventually earned a doctorate in physics in 1906.
Meitner worked among luminaries like Max Planck, even though women were not generally allowed to attend his lectures. In Berlin, she collaborated with Otto Hahn, a more progressive-minded scientist. However, due to her gender, Meitner had to work without pay in the basement of Hahn's lab.
Their collaboration yielded significant discoveries, including the identification of a new element named protactinium.
