Marija Šimanska facts for kids

Marija Šimanska (Polish: Maria Szymańska; 1922–1995) was a brilliant chemist from Latvia. She was of Polish heritage. Marija was one of the most productive scientists in Latvia during her time. She received many medals and awards for her important work.

A Life of Discovery: Marija Šimanska

Marija Šimanska was born on April 23, 1922, in Daugavpils, Latvia. Her parents were Polish. She finished high school in 1940 at the Daugavpils Gymnasium. After that, she started studying at the University of Latvia.

She studied pharmacy for one semester. Then, she returned to Daugavpils. During World War II, she faced difficulties. After the war ended in 1945, she bravely returned to her studies. She completed her chemistry degree in 1948.

After graduating, Marija began working at the Forestry Problems Institute. At the same time, she studied for her PhD. In 1952, she earned her doctorate. This made her one of the first three women in the Soviet Union to get a PhD in chemistry.

Important Research and Inventions

From 1957 to 1975, Marija Šimanska was the deputy director of the Institute of Organic Synthesis. There, she started a special lab for catalytic synthesis. In this lab, she studied heterocyclic compounds and how they change using catalysts.

She created many new catalysts. She also developed new analytical reagents and medical processes. Marija was known as one of Latvia's most productive scientists. She published over 450 research papers. She also created 56 inventions!

Marija also helped share scientific knowledge. She was an editor for Latvijas Ķīmijas Žurnāls (Latvian Chemical Journal). This journal was from the Latvian Academy of Sciences. She also edited Latvijas Farmaceitu Žurnāls (Latvian Pharmaceutical journal). From 1978 to 1994, she was the president of the Latvian Pharmacists' Scientific Society.

Awards and Recognition

Marija Šimanska received many honors for her work. In 1965, she won the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic State Laureate Prize. She also received the David Hieronymus Grindel Medal. Other awards included the Solomons Hillers [lv] Medal and the Arvīds Kalniņš [lv] Medal.

In 1992, she became the President of the Latvian Union of Poles. That same year, she was made an honorary member of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. After she passed away, she was given the Gustavs Vanags Laureate Prize. This was for her research on "Non-traditional methods of catalytic chemistry of heterocyclic compounds."

Marija Šimanska passed away on July 10, 1995, in Riga. She was buried in the Daugavpils Catholic cemetery.