Introduction

The history of women at universities is 200 years old. When they appeared at universities in the 19th century, they caused sensation. These female pioneers, who paved the way for others, had to show great character. Despite the extremely difficult start, they often achieved spectacular success. Think about Maria Skłodowska-Curie, who is the only Polish scientist who has ever won two Noble Prizes. Her name is known worldwide.

But why do we know so little about her female colleagues, peers and the women who followed in her footsteps? The women who achieved success in science and paved the way? It is thanks to them, after all, that today going to a university and pursuing an academic career is one of the possible development pathways available for both men and women.

This exhibition’s protagonists are one of the first women who went to university and received degrees. They were all connected to the University of Poznań (today’s Adam Mickiewicz University) at different stages of their professional careers.

They were working in different fields. Their careers were also different. What they have in common is the fact that they were pioneers and paved the way for opportunities which previously had been unavailable for women. As the first women in Poland they received formal education and built professional careers as academic researchers.

They were revolutionaries (although we are not sure if they considered themselves as such). They had to be exceptionally brave in order to break out of the stereotypical role ascribed to women and face the challenges which this presented.

Today it is hard to imagine the number of obstacles they had to overcome. In a way, they had two jobs: to pursue their academic careers and to change the way people looked at the women of science.