News from Nobelprize.org
May 29, 2009
Here at Nobelprize.org, not a week goes by without people requesting information about the process of awarding the Nobel Prize: Where did the Nobel Prizes come from? How are the Nobel Laureates chosen? Who chooses them? Can I recommend someone to become a Nobel Laureate? Can I recommend myself?
This month’s newsletter should act as the definitive guide to answering such questions. Browsing the links below should bring you up to speed on Alfred Nobel, his all-important will, and what led him to write it in the first place. It should help explain what the Nobel Prizes are supposed to be for, who gets to make the decisions, and how they go about doing so. The materials below also highlight the day-to-day challenges faced by the Prize Awarders in interpreting Alfred Nobel’s wishes, and some of the fascinating questions that these challenges raise.
And if you still have questions yourself, don’t hesitate to let us know.
Adam Smith
Editor-in-Chief |
|
 |
THE WILL
The foundation of it all, Alfred Nobel’s will, signed on 27 November 1895, describes in considerable detail which Prizes should be awarded, and for what. Read the whole will, or just the excerpt that specifically refers to the Nobel Prizes.
Read the excerpt » |
|
 |
THE WILL – SHOW AND TELL
If the excerpt above leaves you with a taste for more, enjoy a slide show telling the story of the will’s creation, based on the book by Ragnar Sohlman, one of Alfred Nobel’s executors.
View the show » |
|
 |
THE MAN HIMSELF
And for the truly curious, Nobelprize.org has a great range of articles, aimed at readers of all ages, describing the life and work of Alfred Nobel.
Browse the list » |
|
 |
WHO DECIDES?
The actual decision about who should receive each Nobel Prize falls to the bodies specifically selected by Alfred Nobel for the task. Follow the link below to find out more.
Discover the decision-makers » |
|
 |
NOMINATION FAQS
Everyone who is awarded a Nobel Prize has to be nominated. We have tried to answer the most common questions about how this critical nomination process works with the FAQs below.
Your questions answered » |
|
 |
THE INSIDER'S VIEW
Every year, we give visitors the chance to quiz a Nobel Prize-Awarding Committee member on that year’s choice of Nobel Laureates. The answers can offer further insight into how the Prize-awarding process really works, as illustrated in this example from a 2008 Q&A with Hans Jörnvall of the Nobel Committee for Physiology or Medicine.
View the Q&A » |
|
 |
HISTORY OF THE FOUNDATION
Finally, this article covering the history of the Nobel Foundation, from its establishment in 1900 to its centenary in 2000, offers yet more facts about the Nobel Prize, its origins, and its idiosyncrasies. For instance, do you know why there can only be a maximum of three Nobel Laureates awarded each Nobel Prize?
Read the article » |
|
|
