Lise Meitner Biography

Lise Meitner is a renowned scientist from Austria who was a part of the team led by Otto Hahn that discovered nuclear fission in uranium. Her discovery of the phenomenon where the heavier uranium nucleus disintegrates to form lighter nucleus, heralded a new era in the world of nuclear physics. But sadly enough the Nobel committee ignored her contribution in the discovery and the deserving scientist was prevented from receiving the honour. Meitner always believed in herself and was fiercely independent and never would be seen adhering to the stereotypes. At a time when only a handful of women used to pursue higher education, she earned her PhD from the ‘University of Vienna’, thus becoming the second women to achieve the honour. Her parents supported the education of females and urged her to pursue her dreams. Though it was Meitner’s findings that started the quest for development of nuclear weapons, she declined the offer extended by the Manhattan Project committee to create an atom bomb instead she chose a career in the academics. The eminent scientist’s contribution was recognised by the scientific community and she was honoured with several awards and Albert Einstein heralded her as the “German Marie Curie”. Read on to know more about her life and works