The Nobel Prize 2006
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry |
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Roger D. Kornberg (USA) |
The Nobel Peace Prize |
Muhammad Yunus (Bangladesh) Grameen Bank (Bangladesh) |
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The Nobel Prize in Literature |
Orhan Pamuk (Turkey) | |
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine |
Andrew Z. Fire (USA) Craig C. Mello (USA) |
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The Nobel Prize in Physics |
John C. Mather (USA) George F. Smoot (USA) |
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The Bank of Sweden Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel |
Edmund S. Phelps (USA) |
The Nobel Prize 2005
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry |
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Yves Chauvin (France) Robert H. Grubbs (USA) Richard R. Schrock (USA) |
The Nobel Peace Prize |
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Mohamed ElBaradei International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) |
The Nobel Prize in Literature |
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Harold Pinter (United Kingdom) |
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine |
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Barry J. Marshall (Australia) J. Robin Warren (Australia) |
The Nobel Prize in Physics |
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Roy J. Glauber (USA) John L. Hall (USA) Theodor W. Hänsch (Germany) |
The Bank of Sweden Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel |
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Robert J. Aumann (Israel/USA) Thomas C. Schelling (USA) |
Alfred Nobel and the Nobel Prize
The
Nobel Prize (pronounced no-BELL) is awarded annually to people
who have done outstanding research, invented groundbreaking techniques or
equipment, or made outstanding contributions to society. It is generally regarded
as the supreme commendation in the world today. The prizes were instituted
by the final will of Alfred Nobel, a Swedish industrialist, and the inventor
of dynamite. He signed his will at the Swedish-Norwegian Club in Paris on
November 27, 1895. He was shocked to see how his invention was used for destructive
purposes and wanted the prizes to be awarded to those who served mankind well.
The first ceremony to award the Nobel Prizes in literature, physics, chemistry, and medicine was held at the Old Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm in 1901; since 1902, the prizes have been formally awarded by the King of Sweden. King Oscar II did not initially approve of awarding grand national prizes to foreigners, but is said to have changed his mind after realizing the publicity value of the prizes for the country.
The Prizes are awarded at a formal ceremony held annually on December 10, the date that Alfred Nobel passed away. However, the names of the laureates are typically announced in October by the different committees and institutions that serve as selection boards for the prizes.
A large monetary award is included with the Nobel Prizes, currently about 10 million Swedish Kronor (slightly more than one million Euros or US dollars). This was originally intended to allow laureates to continue working or researching without the pressures of raising money. (In actual fact, many prize winners have retired before winning, and many Literature winners have been silenced by it, even if younger.)
The Will of Alfred Nobel
"The whole of my remaining realizable estate shall be dealt with in the following way: the capital, invested in safe securities by my executors, shall constitute a fund, the interest on which shall be annually distributed in the form of prizes to those who, during the preceding year, shall have conferred the greatest benefit on mankind. The said interest shall be divided into five equal parts, which shall be apportioned as follows: one part to the person who shall have made the most important discovery or invention within the field of physics; one part to the person who shall have made the most important chemical discovery or improvement; one part to the person who shall have made the most important discovery within the domain of physiology or medicine; one part to the person who shall have produced in the field of literature the most outstanding work in an ideal direction; and one part to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses. The prizes for physics and chemistry shall be awarded by the Swedish Academy of Sciences; that for physiology or medical works by the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm; that for literature by the Academy in Stockholm, and that for champions of peace by a committee of five persons to be elected by the Norwegian Storting. It is my express wish that in awarding the prizes no consideration be given to the nationality of the candidates, but that the most worthy shall receive the prize, whether he be Scandinavian or not."
Paris, 27 November, 1895
Alfred Bernhard Nobel
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