Sameera Moussa: “My wish is that nuclear cancer treatment is as affordable and cheap as aspirin”
Sameera Moussa was born in March 3, 1917, in A el-Gharbiya (Egypt) and last until August 5, 1952, in California (United States).
Her father was a well-known political activist, and when her mother passed away from cancer, they relocated to Cairo where she used her inheritance to purchase a small hotel. At her father’s urging, Moussa attended the Kaser Lo-Shok Primary School and later enrolled in the Banat El-Ashraf school, which was founded by the renowned politician and activist Nabawya Moussa.
Sameera Moussa was a trailblazing physicist who graduated with honors in radiology from Cairo University in 1939. She conducted research on the effects of X-rays on different materials and became the first woman to be hired as a professor at the university. She also earned a doctorate in atomic radiation.
German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen discovered X-rays, but their development was hindered by World War I. After the war, Sameera Moussa recognized the potential of nuclear energy and conducted extensive research to make it more accessible for medical use. She developed a cost-effective way to break atoms, making nuclear treatment for cancer affordable for all. Her goal was to make it as affordable as aspirin.
Sameera Moussa played a significant role in organizing the Atomic Energy for Peace Conference in London. She also advocated for an international conference titled “Atoms for Peace,” which was held in the US with President Dwight Eisenhower leading it. Many famous scientists were invited. Sameera worked in hospitals to help treat cancer patients and promote the benefits of nuclear science.
Sameera Moussa was awarded a scholarship by the Fulbright Atomic Program to learn about research equipment at the University of California in the US. She was also allowed to visit the country’s secret nuclear facilities due to her pioneering work in nuclear research. This caused a stir in academic and scientific circles since Moussa was the first foreign person to visit such a facility.
Despite receiving several offers to live in the United States, including American citizenship, Sameera Moussa declined them all, stating her commitment to her beloved homeland of Egypt.
Tragically, during a subsequent trip to the United States, Moussa died in a car accident when the vehicle she was traveling in fell from a height of about 12 meters. She was only 35 years old.
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