An Exhibition on the Joliot-Curies?

Marie Curie, now an iconic figure of science, is part of Sceaux’s history, and her memory is often honored in the town. Frédéric Joliot and Irène, the daughter of Marie and Pierre Curie, were remarkable scientists and leading figures in physics during the 1930s. In 1935, they received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their work on artificial radioactivity—discoveries whose impact still resonates today. Both were also deeply engaged citizens, actively involved in the major social and political struggles of their time.

Irène died in 1956 and Frédéric in 1958; both received national funerals and were buried in the cemetery of Sceaux, the town where they had lived. Yet today, their memory seems to have faded somewhat in the collective consciousness of Sceaux.

It was to address this sense of unjust neglect that we—along with Hélène Langevin Joliot—envisioned an exhibition retracing their youth, family life, scientific contributions, and social and political commitments. This project was made possible thanks to Renaud Huynh, Director of the Musée Curie, historian Nathalie Pigeard, and the financial support of the Curie Joliot-Curie Association. The City of Sceaux strongly supported the initiative by hosting the exhibition for a month and promoting it widely.