Branca Edmée Marques

Branca Edmée Marques de Sousa Torres (14 April 1899 - 19 July 1986) was a leading Portuguese specialist in the peaceful applications of nuclear technology. She earned a doctorate in Paris under the guidance of Marie Curie. Returning to Lisbon she founded the Radiochemistry Laboratory, where she continued her research for three decades. In 1966, she became the first woman to hold a chair in chemistry at a Portuguese university.

Early life and education

Branca Edmée Marques was born in Lisbon on 14 April 1899 to Berta Rosa Marques and Alexandre Théodor Roux. Her father died when she was just eight years old. Her mother ensured that she received a good education. After high school she attended the University of Lisbon. From there she graduated in Physics and Chemistry from the Faculty of Sciences. She married António Silva Sousa Torres (1876-1958), professor at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon, but only on condition that she could go to Paris to study for a Doctorate.

Wishing to specialize in radioactivity, she applied for and received a grant from the National Education Board to study in 1931–32 at the Radium Institute in Paris (now the Curie Institute) on radioactivity topics. At her husband's request she was accompanied by her mother. Impressed by Marques’ work, Curie wrote favorable reviews at the request of the Portuguese government in 1932, and at frequent intervals after that, so that Marques' requests for renewals of her funding would be granted. Later, the Institute also found a way to allow her to continue with her research, which was later turned into work on a doctoral thesis. and published six articles in the Comptes rendus de l'Académie des Sciences of Paris.

Despite being invited to continue her research career in Paris, Marques chose to return to Lisbon and resumed her activity at the Faculty of Sciences, where she developed research in the field of radioactivity. In 1936, she created the Radiochemistry Laboratory, which led, in 1953, to the formation of the Centre for Radiochemistry Studies of the Nuclear Energy Studies Commission. She continued to be the director of the centre until well after her formal retirement from the university.

Branca Edmée Marques died in Lisbon on 19 July 1986 at the age of 87.

Commemoration In September 2009, Lisbon City Council approved the name Branca Edmée Marques for a street in the university area as a way to honour her achievements.