The Nobel Prizes are prestigious international awards given annually in several categories by Swedish and Norwegian institutions. Established by the will of Alfred Nobel, a Swedish chemist, engineer, and inventor, they have been awarded since 1901 to individuals and organizations for significant contributions to humanity.
Origins
- Alfred Nobel (1833–1896), the inventor of dynamite, left the bulk of his fortune to establish the Nobel Prizes. His will stipulated awards for achievements in:
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Physiology or Medicine
- Literature
- Peace
- The first prizes were awarded in 1901.
Categories and Institutions
- Physics: Awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
- Chemistry: Awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
- Physiology or Medicine: Awarded by the Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute.
- Literature: Awarded by the Swedish Academy.
- Peace: Awarded by the Norwegian Nobel Committee.
- Economic Sciences (added in 1968): Officially called the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, funded by Sweden's central bank and awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
Notable Facts
- The Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo, Norway, while the others are presented in Stockholm, Sweden.
- Nobel specified that the prizes should go to those who conferred the "greatest benefit to humankind."
- Notable recipients include Albert Einstein (1921, Physics), Marie Curie (1903, Physics; 1911, Chemistry), Martin Luther King Jr. (1964, Peace), and Malala Yousafzai (2014, Peace).
Ceremony and Medals
- The awards are presented annually on December 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel's death.
- Winners receive a medal, a diploma, and a monetary award.
If you'd like information about a specific Nobel Prize year or laureate, let me know!
