WOMEN IN SCIENCE#1.- SOPHIE GERMAIN

Remember that before the nineteenth century, many women did not have the opportunity to study, much less study at a university. However, despite many obstacles they managed to overcome them, they are a source of inspiration for the current generation of women: That these women be our banner to achieve our goals and continue to conquer worthy spaces in the area of science and in the area that we long for develop and contribute to our society that needs it so much.

Germain was born in France into a distinguished family of the bourgeoisie, daughter of Ambroise-François Germain, master goldsmith.

She began studying mathematics at the age of thirteen, interested in works on the subject of her home library. His interest in mathematics came after reading the History of Mathematics by Jean-Baptiste Montucla. He continued with the treatise on arithmetic by Étienne Bezout and the differential calculus of A.J. Cousin, to continue, after learning Latin without any help, with the works of Isaac Newton and Leonhard Euler. He was self-taught, disguising himself as a man to be able to study in mathematical institutions (where only males could enter). He autographed his research and studies as "Mr. Leblanc" to hide his identity. His interest in mathematics was so much that he did everything he could to prove it to others. In order to attend the school in Paris, Sophie had to steal the identity of the M. Leblanc student and dress like a man, and only in this way was able to increase her knowledge and expose and present new ideas for some years.

Acknowledgments Received

In 1830 Gauss proposed her for the Honoris Causa Doctorate from the University of Göttingen, of which he was a professor and in which he had great influence. Although at that time his proposal was rejected, however, a few months after the death of Sophie, he received this title of doctor honoris causa by the University of Göttingen.


At present, the Institute of France, at the proposal of the Academy of Sciences, awards annually "Le prix Sophie Germain" to the researcher who has done the most important work in Mathematics. Likewise, a street in Paris and a Lyceum bear her name, and a plaque, in the house where she died (number 13 on Rue de Savoie), remembers her as a mathematician and philosopher.

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