The size of the Nobel Prize. Nobel Prize: History

The Nobel Prize is the most prestigious scientific award in the world. Her dream is to get scientists from different spheres. To know about the latest achievements of mankind, marked by this award, is worth every educated person. How did it come about and in what areas of science can it be obtained?

What it is?

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 the conduct. The history of the Nobel Prize begins in the twentieth century. Since 1901, the special commission has determined the winners in such categories as physics, medicine and physiology, chemistry, literature and the protection of the world. In 1969 a new science was added to the list. Since then, the commission has also noted the best specialist in the field of economics. Perhaps in the future there will be new categories, but at the moment there is no discussion of such an event.

How did the reward come about?

The history of the Nobel Prize is very interesting. It is connected with a very gloomy incident in the life of its 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 confused 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 humanity in such a quality. He began to think about what could be left behind, and composed a special will. With his help, he hoped to correct the situation with dynamite.

Testament of Alfred Nobel

A significant text was coined and signed in 1895 in Paris. According to the will, all property remaining after it must be exchanged for executives on the basis of which the fund will be created. Interest from the resulting capital will go to the awards for scientists who have brought maximum benefit to humanity. They need to be divided into five parts: one for someone who discovered or invented something new in the field of physics, another 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 build peace on the planet, fighting for the reduction of armies, the destruction of slavery and the friendship of peoples. According to the will, the Nobel Prize laureates in the first two categories are determined by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. In medicine, the choice is made by the Royal Carolina Institute, the Swedish Academy chooses the literary one, and the last one is a committee of five people. They are elected by the Norwegian Storting.

The size of the award

Since the premium is determined by the percentage of capital invested by Nobil, its size varies. Initially, it was provided in kroons, the first amount was 150 thousand. Now the size of the Nobel Prize has grown significantly and it is issued in US dollars. In recent years it is about one million. As soon as the money in the fund is over, the bonus will disappear. The Nobel amount initially amounted to almost 32 million Swedish kronor, therefore, taking into account successful investments, all these years it only increased. Nevertheless, recently, interest does not allow to achieve a positive budget - the cost of the prize, the ceremony and the content of the administration are too great. A few years ago, the size of the Nobel Prize was decided to be reduced to ensure the stability of the fund in the future. The administration is doing everything possible to support it as long as possible.

Family scandal

If history had gone differently, this prize might never have appeared. The Nobel amount was so great that the relatives could not accept her loss. After the death of the inventor, one of the other trials began , on 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. All of this property the heirs wanted to share with each other. However, the Storting decided to recognize the will. The solicitors of the deceased sold his property, the time and size of the Nobel Prize were approved. Relatives got the sum of two million.

Establishment of a fund

The Nobel Prize, whose history began with a scandal, was first awarded only in 1900. The Royal Council held a meeting on June 29, 1900, at which all details were considered and an official fund was approved. A part of the money was purchased for the building in which it is located. In December 1901 the first presentation ceremony was held. The size of the Nobel Prize at one hundred and fifty thousand was the first and the most modest. In 1968, the Swedish Bank offered to nominate and specialists in the field of economics. Nobel Prize winners in this field are selected by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. It was first presented in 1969.

The rules of the ceremony

The will indicated only the size of the Nobel Prize and science, for achievements in which scientists should be noted. The rules for the conduct and selection had to be drawn up by the foundation's administration. They were developed in the beginning of the twentieth century and have not been changed since that time. According to the rules, a prize can be awarded to several people, but there can not 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 apply for help to scientists from different scientific fields. The award in the field of literature is given by the best specialists in linguistics. The winner in the nomination of the world is chosen with consultations of scientists in the field of philosophy, jurisprudence, political science, history, invite public figures for discussion . Sometimes a specialist can personally offer an applicant. This right belongs to the laureates of previous years and a member of the Swedish Academy of Sciences. All nominations are approved before February 1 of the year, when the prize 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 approved candidates to the official institutions where the scientists of the Nobel Prize 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 members. There are fifty participants from the Karolinska Institute engaged in medicine. Literature - eighteen scientists from the Swedish Academy. The Norwegian Nobel Committee awards the prize of peace. In October, the last statement is adopted, which is announced at a press conference in Stockholm for the whole world, accompanied by comments on the reasons for each decision. By 10 December, laureates and members of their families are invited to a solemn ceremony.