Mileva Maric Einstein was one of the first women to enroll at the prestigious Polytechnic Institute in Zurich, where she studied physics and mathematics in the late 19th century – at a time when women had almost no access to higher education. She was born in Tittel in 1875 and from an early age showed an exceptional gift for the natural sciences. Her teachers and family recognized her talent early on, and her father strongly supported her in continuing her education, which was very rare for girls at the time.
While studying in Zurich, she met the young Albert Einstein, with whom she developed a close emotional and intellectual bond. Their love later blossomed into marriage, and they had three children together. Although there is no definitive evidence of the extent of her involvement in Einstein's early work, many historians of science still debate whether and to what extent she contributed to his key theories, including the theory of relativity.
Mileva's life was marked by personal and professional challenges. She abandoned her scientific career after marriage, faced with the social expectations of the time. Her marriage to Einstein fell apart, and she later lived a secluded life in Zurich, caring for her sons, one of whom suffered from a severe mental illness.
Today, Mileva Maric is increasingly recognized as a pioneer in the world of science and a symbol of women's struggle for equality in education and scientific work. Her story serves as a reminder of the many women whose contributions to science have long remained in the shadow of their more famous male colleagues.
