A view of Alfred Nobel’s bust outside the Norwegian Nobel Institute, where Nobel Peace Prize winners are announced, in Oslo, Norway. Image file | Photo credit: Reuters
Early October means Nobel Prize season. This is when the Nobel committee gathers in Stockholm and Oslo to announce the winners of the annual award. Six days, six prizes, new faces from around the world added to the list of the world’s most elite scientists, writers, economists and human rights leaders.
The 2024 Nobel Prize announcement will take place from October 7-14. All announcements will be broadcast live on nobelprize.org and the Nobel Prize YouTube channel.
Also read: Things to know about the Nobel Prize
Gift list
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Physiology or Medicine – Monday (7 October 2024) 11:30 CEST (15:00 IST)
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Physics – Tuesday (8 October 2024) 11:45 CEST (15:15 IST)
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Chemistry – Wednesday (9 October 2024) 11:45 CEST (15:15 IST)
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Literature – Thursday (10 October 2024) 13:00 CEST (16:30 IST)
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Peace – Friday (11 October 2024) 11:00 CEST (2:30 PM IST)
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Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel – Monday (14 October 2024) 11:45 CEST (15:15 IST).
History of the Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prize is named after Alfred Nobel, a Swedish inventor, engineer, scientist, and philanthropist.
In his will, written in 1895, Nobel bequeathed his fortune to establish the prize. He determined that his house should fund an award for an individual or organization that has done the greatest benefit to humanity in the fields of Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, and Peace.
The first prize was awarded in 1901, five years after Nobel’s death.
The Nobel Prize in Economics began in 1968 when the Swedish central bank, Sveriges Riksbank, established the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel.
How are the winners chosen?
The list of nominees for the year is presented by the Norwegian Nobel Committee at the first meeting after the nomination deadline. On such occasion, the Committee may add other names to the list. After that, the nomination procedure is completed and specific candidates are discussed.
The permanent advisors of the Nobel Committee then evaluate the selected candidates. The advisory body tends to include several professors from Norwegian universities with extensive knowledge in fields that have an impact on the Peace Prize, in addition to Institute directors and research directors.
Counselors usually have several months to prepare their reports. Other Norwegian and international specialists are also asked to report periodically.
After the presentation of the advisor’s report, the Nobel Committee begins a full discussion of the most likely applicants.
Normally, the Committee makes its decision during the last meeting before announcing the Prize in early October.
The committee aims to unanimously select the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. In rare cases when this is not feasible, a simple majority vote is used to vote.
How did you get nominated for the Nobel Prize?
To become a Nobel Prize winner, one must be nominated for the prize by an eligible nominator. Self nomination is not allowed. Except for the Nobel Peace Prize, nominations are by invitation only and nominators must meet criteria set by the awarding agency. The list of nominees is announced after 50 years after the nomination was made.
Who is the 2023 Nobel Prize winner?
The Physiology or Medicine Prize 2023 was awarded to Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman for their discovery of nucleoside base modification that allowed the development of an effective mRNA vaccine against COVID-19.
The 2023 Physics Prize is shared between three scientists – Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz, and Anne L’Huillier – to develop new tools and explore the world of electrons.
The 2023 Chemistry Prize was awarded to Moungi G. Bawendi, Louis E. Brus and Alexei I. Ekimov for the discovery and synthesis of quantum dots.
The 2023 Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded to Norwegian writer Jon Fosse for his innovative plays and prose that give voice to the invisible.
The 2023 Nobel Peace Prize goes to Narges Mohammadi for his struggle against the oppression of women in Iran and his struggle to promote human rights and freedom for all.
The 2023 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences has been awarded to Harvard University professor Claudia Goldin for research that improves understanding of the gender gap in the labor market.
Published – 05 October 2024 12:00 IST