The Nobel Prize is the most prestigious scientific award in the world. It is dreamed of by scientists from various fields. Knowing about the latest achievements of mankind, marked by this award, is worth every educated person. How did it appear and in what areas of science can it be obtained?
What is this?
The annual award is named after the Swedish engineer, industrialist and inventor. Alfred Bernhard Nobel was its founder. In addition, he owns a fund from which money is allocated for holding. The history of the Nobel Prize begins in the twentieth century. Since 1901, a special commission determines the winners in such categories as physics, medicine and physiology, chemistry, literature and peace protection. In 1969, a new science was added to the list. Since then, the commission also recognizes the best specialist in the field of economics. Perhaps in the future there will be more categories, but at the moment there is no discussion of such an event.
How did the award come about?
The history of the Nobel Prize is very interesting. She is connected with a very dark incident in her life.founder. As you know, Alfred Nobel was the inventor of dynamite. When his brother Ludwig died in 1889, a journalist from one of the newspapers mixed up and indicated in the obituary of Alfred. The text called him a merchant of death. Alfred Nobel was horrified at the prospect of remaining in the memory of mankind in such a capacity. He began to think about what he could leave behind, and composed a special will. With his help, he hoped to fix the dynamite situation.
Alfred Nobel's Testament
The landmark text was coined and signed in 1895 in Paris. According to the will, the executors must exchange all the property remaining after him for securities, on the basis of which the fund will be created. Interest from the resulting capital will go to awards for scientists who have brought the maximum benefit to mankind. They must be divided into five parts: one for the one who discovered or invented something new in the field of physics, the other for the most talented chemist, the third is for the best doctor, the fourth for the creator of the main literary work of the year dedicated to human ideals, and the fifth - for someone who can help bring peace to the planet, fighting for the reduction of armies, the destruction of slavery and the friendship of peoples. According to the will, Nobel Prize winners in the first two categories are determined by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. In medicine, the choice is made by the Royal Karolinska Institute, the literary one is chosen by the Swedish Academy, and the last one is chosen by a committee of five people. They are elected by the Norwegian Storting.
Award size
Since the premium is determined by the percentage of the capital invested by Nobile, its size changes. Initially, it was provided in crowns, the first amount was 150 thousand. Now the size of the Nobel Prize has grown significantly and is issued in US dollars. In recent years, it has been about a million. As soon as the money in the fund runs out, the bonus will also disappear. The Nobel prize was originally almost 32 million Swedish kronor, so, taking into account successful investments, it has only increased over the years. However, in recent years, interest has prevented a positive budget - the cost of the prize, the ceremony and the maintenance of the administration are too high. A few years ago, it was decided to reduce the size of the Nobel Prize in order to ensure the stability of the fund in the long term. The administration is doing everything possible to keep it as long as possible.
Family scandal
If history had gone differently, this award might never have been born. The Nobel sum turned out to be so large that the relatives could not come to terms with its loss. After the death of the inventor, one of the others began litigation, in which attempts were made to challenge the will. Nobel owned a mansion in Nice and a house in Paris, laboratories in Russia, Finland, Italy, Germany and England, many workshops and factories. The heirs wanted to divide all this property among themselves. However, the Storting decided to recognize the will. Solicitors of the deceased sold his property, time and sizeNobel Prizes have been approved. Relatives received an amount of two million.
Establishment of a fund
The Nobel Prize, whose history began with a scandal, was first awarded only in 1900. The King's Council held a meeting on June 29, 1900, at which all the details were considered and the official fund was approved. Part of the money was used to purchase the building in which it is located. In December 1901, the first presentation event was held. The size of the Nobel Prize of one hundred and fifty thousand was the first and most modest. In 1968, the Swedish Bank offered to nominate specialists in the field of economics. The Nobel Prize winners for this field are selected by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. It was first awarded in 1969.
Ceremony Rules
The testament indicated only the size of the Nobel Prize and science, for achievements in which scientists should be noted. The rules for conducting and choosing had to be drawn up by the administration of the fund. They were developed at the beginning of the twentieth century and have remained virtually unchanged since then. According to the rules, the award can be awarded to several people, but there cannot be more than three. If the applicant died at the time of the December ceremony, but was alive at the announcement of the nominations in October, he will receive the amount posthumously. The Nobel Foundation does not award prizes, entrusting it to special committees for each direction. Their members can seek help from scientists from different scientificareas. The award in the field of literature is given by the best specialists in linguistics. The laureate in the nomination of peace is chosen with the advice of scientists in the field of philosophy, jurisprudence, political sciences, history, public figures are invited to discuss. Sometimes a specialist can personally propose a candidate. This right belongs to the laureates of previous years and a member of the Swedish Academies of Sciences. All nominations are approved by February 1 of the year in which the award will be held. Until September, each proposal is evaluated and discussed. Thousands of specialists can participate in the process. When the preparation is over, the committees send the approved nominations to the official bodies where the Nobel Prize scientists work, who will make the final decision. In the field of physics, chemistry and economic sciences, the main groups are representatives of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, each of which has twenty-five people. Fifty participants from the Karolinska Institute practice medicine. Literature - eighteen scientists from the Swedish Academy. The Peace Prize is awarded by the Norwegian Nobel Committee. In October, the final statement is adopted and announced at a press conference in Stockholm to the whole world, accompanied by comments on the reasons for each decision. By December 10, laureates and their families are invited to the solemn ceremony.
