Stefanie Horovitz
Polish chemist (1877–1942)
Stefanie Horovitz was a Polish-Jewish chemist born in 1887, whose work significantly contributed to the field of chemistry. Her research focused on experimental methods, and she is notable for her efforts in proving the existence of isotopes. During her career, Horovitz collaborated with prominent scientists, including Otto Hönigschmid, with whom she worked at the Radium Institute of Vienna.
Horovitz's time at the Radium Institute, which spanned from approximately 1914 to 1918, was marked by significant discoveries. She employed analytical methods to demonstrate the existence of isotopes in lead and thorium, providing crucial evidence for the first and second credible cases of isotopes. Beyond her scientific pursuits, Horovitz was also dedicated to social causes, co-founding a home for children and young adults in need of psychological therapy. Tragically, her life was cut short in 1942, when she was killed by the Nazis at the Treblinka extermination camp.