Lise Meitner

  • Birth

    Birth
    Lise Meitner born on November 7th, 1878. She became the third of eight children.
  • Accepted into University of Vienna

    Accepted into University of Vienna
    She was accepted into the University of Vienna.
  • Graduated from University of Vienna

    Graduated from University of Vienna
    By passing her oral exam she became the second woman to ever get a physics doctorate from the University of Vienna.
  • Moved to Berlin, Germany

    Moved to Berlin, Germany
    Lise Meitner moved to Berlin Germany seeking a better position, but was denied due to extreme gender discrimination.
  • Began Partnership with Otto Hahn

    Began Partnership with Otto Hahn
    She began a partnership with Otto Hahn. Emil Fischer, the University of Berlin's institute's director, permitted the two to use a workshop in the Universities basement. Yet, Meitner was denied public rights, such as bathroom use due to gender discrimination.
  • Gender Discrimination Lessened

    Gender Discrimination Lessened
    Gender discrimination lessend and Meitner was allowed to utilize the upper floors of the University. Also, a female's bathroom was installed.
  • Became Hahn's Unpaid Assistant

    Became Hahn's Unpaid Assistant
    Otto Hahn joined the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Chemistry and Meitner became his assistant, as well Max Planck's.
  • Became a Scientific Associate at KWI

    Became a Scientific Associate at KWI
    Fischer appointed her a scientific associate at Kaiser Wilhelm Institute of Chemistry along with Hahn, to jointly head the radioactivity section.
  • Worked as X-ray nurse during World War 1

    Worked as X-ray nurse during World War 1
    Lise Meitner worked as an x-ray nurse and treated wounded soldiers with the Aurstrain army during World War 1 from 1915 to 1917.
  • Became Head of Own Radiophysics Department at KWI

    Became Head of Own Radiophysics Department at KWI
    She was put in charge of her own Radophysics department at KWI.
  • Published "The Mother Substance of Actinium, a New Radioactive Element of a Long Half-Life"

    Published "The Mother Substance of Actinium, a New Radioactive Element of a Long Half-Life"
    Meitner and Hahn published the dicovery of new element atomic number 91, proactinium. Meitner gave Hahn all the credit, by listing him as head author on the article, though she did most of the work.
  • She became the First Woman to Lecture at University of Berlin

    She became the First Woman to Lecture at University of Berlin
    Meitner becamse the first woman ever allowed to lecture at the University of Berlin. One of her lectures, "The Significance of Radioactivity in Cosmic Processes", attracted the attention of many reporters.
  • Meitner was Awarded the Silver Leibniz Prize Medal

    Meitner was Awarded the Silver Leibniz Prize Medal
    Meitner was awarded the Silver Leibniz Prize Medal, by the Berlin Academy of Sciences.
  • Awarded the Ignaz Lieben Prize

    Awarded the Ignaz Lieben Prize
    Vienna Academy of Sciences awarded the Ignaz Lieben Prize to Meitner in 1925.
  • Forced out of a Position at University of Berlin when Hitler came to Power

    Forced out of a Position at University of Berlin when Hitler came to Power
    Meitner was appointed as a professor at the University of Berlin in 1926, but was forced out of her job when Hitler came to power.
  • Meitner was Forced to Flee the Country when Austria was Annexed

    Meitner was Forced to Flee the Country when Austria was Annexed
    When Hitler annexed Austria and it became a province of Germany, Meitner was forced to flee the country.
  • Meitner Illegally crossed the border of Holland to become Free

    Meitner Illegally crossed the border of Holland to become Free
    In 1938, Meitner illegally crossed the border to Holland and became free. From there she to stay with Niels Bohr, whom her nephew worked for.
  • Given Position at Nobel Institute for Experimental Physics

    Given Position at Nobel Institute for Experimental Physics
    In late 1938, Meitner was given a position at the Nobel Institure for Experimental Physics, in Stockholm Sweden. There she worked with Nobel Prize winning physicist Karl Manne Georg Siegbahn.
  • Meitner and Fisch Published "Disintegration of Uranium by Neutrons: A New Type of Nuclear Reaction"

    Meitner and Fisch Published "Disintegration of Uranium by Neutrons: A New Type of Nuclear Reaction"
    In late 1938, Meitner and Fisch published the article "Disintegration of Uranium by Neutrons: A New Type of Nuclear Reaction" in British scientific journal 'Nature'. This explained the term nuclear fission. The information they gathered was assisted by the work of Hahn and Strassman.
  • Otto Hahn was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on Nuclear Fission

    Otto Hahn was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on Nuclear Fission
    When Otto Hahn was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on nuclear fission in 1944, he denied Meitner's contribution. He did this to protect himself during the time Meitner was under much suspicion.
  • The Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

    The Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
    On August 6th, 1945 the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki occurred. This was made possible by her work, devastating Meitner. It also created suspicion that Meitner may have been involved in the attacks.
  • Invited as a Visiting Professor at the Catholic University in Washington, D.C.

    Invited as a Visiting Professor at the Catholic University in Washington, D.C.
    In 1946, Meitner was invited as a visiting professor at the Catholic University in Washington, D.C.
  • Survived a Heart Attack

    Survived a Heart Attack
    Meitner was victim of a heart attack in 1960, but survived.
  • Awarded the Enrico Fermi Medal along with Hahn and Strassman

    Awarded the Enrico Fermi Medal along with Hahn and Strassman
    In 1966 the U.S. Atomic Energy Commision gave Meitner, Hahn, and Strassman the Enrico Fermi Medal. Meitner was the first non-american or female to be given the award.
  • A Series of Small Strokes left her Speech Slurred

    A Series of Small Strokes left her Speech Slurred
    In 1967, Meitner expirienced a series of small strokes leaving her speech slurred.
  • Passed Away

    Passed Away
    On October 27, 1968, Lise Meitner died peacefully in her sleep, just shy of her 90th birthday.