Historical stories of scientists provide an excellent opportunity to help students see that science is indeed a human endeavor and demonstrate the interrelationships among science, technology, and society. A number of engaging historical accounts illustrate characteristics of the nature of science. The story of Lise Meitner leads students through the processes of how one of the most important scientific breakthroughs of this century occurred. Her role in nuclear research and her proposal of the nuclear-fission theory can be used to illustrate many of the characteristics of the nature of science.