Monthly Women in STEM Spotlight

Marie-Sophie Germain (April 1776 – June 1831) was a renowned French mathematician, physicist, and philosopher. Despite facing initial resistance from her parents and societal challenges, she educated herself using books from her father's library, including works by Euler, and through correspondence with prominent mathematicians such as Lagrange, Legendre, and Gauss (under the pseudonym Monsieur LeBlanc). Germain pioneered elasticity theory, earning the grand prize from the Paris Academy of Sciences for her essay on the topic. Her contributions to Fermat's Last Theorem laid a crucial foundation for future mathematicians.

Due to gender-based prejudice, she couldn't pursue a professional career in mathematics, but she continued her work independently. Although Gauss recommended her for an honorary degree before her death, she never received it. Germain passed away from breast cancer on 27 June 1831. In her honor, a street and a girls' school were named after her on the centenary of her life, and the Academy of Sciences established the Sophie Germain Prize.