PHOTOGRAPHY

MARIA KOVALEVSKAYA

Maria Kovalévskaya (1850-1891) was a Russian mathematician and writer, recognized as the first woman to earn a doctorate in mathematics in Europe. Born in St. Petersburg to a noble family, Maria showed an early talent for mathematics, but her path to academic recognition was fraught with obstacles due to the gender restrictions of her time.

From a young age, Kovalévskaya was attracted to the exact sciences, but access to formal education for women was very limited in Russia. Motivated by her desire to study, she decided to take a risky decision: she married Vladimir Kovalévsky, a family friend, in 1868. This marriage was largely an arrangement of convenience. The union allowed Maria to move to Germany, where she could access a more favorable academic environment for her development in mathematics.

Once in Germany, Kovalévskaya enrolled at the University of Göttingen, one of the most prestigious institutions of the time, although she faced resistance from an educational system that did not accept women in its classrooms. Despite the challenges, Maria managed to submit her doctoral thesis in 1874, becoming the first woman to receive a doctoral degree in mathematics in Europe. Her work focused on function theory and mechanics, and she made important contributions to the study of the rotation of solid bodies, an area that would later become fundamental in physics.

Throughout her career, Kovalévskaya had to deal with skepticism and discrimination in a male-dominated field. However, her talent and dedication led her to be recognized by her colleagues, and in 1889, she became a professor of mathematics at Stockholm University. This achievement established her as a key figure in mathematics education, where she continued to research and publish her findings.

Despite her professional success, Kovalévskaya’s personal life was complicated. Her marriage, although it allowed her to study, was not without its tensions. Her husband, Vladimir, was a doctor with health problems, and the couple often faced financial difficulties. Maria also struggled with health problems that affected her career. 

In addition to her mathematical contributions, Kovalévskaya was a prolific writer. Her works, including novels and essays, reflect her experiences and struggles as a woman in a hostile academic world.