Mileva Marić: Albert Eisetein's Collaborator

How many Einsteins have spent their lives washing dishes? How many Mozarts bent over stoves instead of pianos because they had the misfortune of being born a woman?

Mileva Marić

Mileva Marić was a trailblazing physicist and mathematician whose life and work have often been overshadowed by her famous husband, Albert Einstein. However, Marić's story is one of remarkable intellectual ability, perseverance, and resilience in the face of societal barriers.

In 1896, Marić made history when she became one of the few women accepted into Zurich Polytechnic (ETH Zurich) to study mathematics and physics. At a time when women were rarely seen in higher education, particularly in the sciences, this was a monumental achievement. Marić stood out as the only woman in her class, excelling in theoretical physics and mathematics, where she mastered complex concepts like electrodynamics and mechanics. Her professors recognized her brilliance, placing her on equal footing with her male peers, including Albert Einstein.

Marić's collaboration with Einstein remains a subject of historical debate, yet many letters between them suggest that she was deeply involved in their intellectual discussions. In one letter from 1901, Einstein wrote,

"How happy and proud I will be when the two of us together will have brought our work on relative motion to a victorious conclusion!"

This and other communications point to the possibility that Marić contributed to the groundbreaking Special Theory of Relativity in 1905, perhaps offering crucial mathematical insight.

Marić's Collaboration with Einstein

Beyond her possible contributions to Einstein's work, Marić pursued research independently. She explored areas like heat conduction in solids—an important topic during a period when scientists were probing the atomic structure of matter—and was likely involved in discussions around Brownian motion, which later provided evidence for the existence of atoms. Although much of her work may not have been published or credited, her involvement in these scientific endeavors speaks to her intellectual depth.

Marić's achievements are even more remarkable when viewed through the lens of her personal sacrifices. After marrying Einstein, she stepped away from formal academia to raise their children, including their son Eduard, who suffered from schizophrenia. Despite the emotional toll of these challenges, she never lost her passion for science. Many believe she continued to support Einstein's work behind the scenes, although her contributions went unrecognized.

Einstein Family Correspondence, including Albert Einstein-Mileva Marie love letters, surround a portrait of the couple, before going under the hammer at Christie's in New York on November 25, 1996. David Cheskin—PA Images/Getty Images

Writer's Note:

Mileva Marić’s legacy is a reminder of the countless women whose contributions to science have been overlooked or forgotten. She was a woman ahead of her time, navigating a male-dominated world with brilliance and grace. Her presence at Zurich Polytechnic, her collaboration with one of the greatest minds in history, and her resilience in the face of societal pressures are all testaments to her pioneering spirit. Today, as more people learn about Marić’s life, she stands not just as a footnote to Einstein’s story, but as a remarkable figure in her own right—a woman who helped pave the way for future generations of women in science.