The Prize Winners 2005
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).
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
External links
The
Nobel Prize
The
Nobel Foundation