Alfred Nobel: Life, Inventions, and Nobel Prizes

• Alfred Nobel was a Swedish chemist, engineer, inventor, businessman, and philanthropist.
• He was born in Stockholm, Sweden, on October 21, 1833, and died in Sanremo, Italy, on December 10, 1896.

Key Inventions and Contributions

• Nobel invented dynamite in 1867.
• He held 355 different patents.
• Other inventions include blasting gelatin and ballistite.
• His inventions were largely related to explosives.

Nobel's Will and the Establishment of the Prizes

• Nobel bequeathed the majority of his fortune to establish the Nobel Prizes.
• His will was signed on November 27, 1895, in Paris.
• The Nobel Prizes were to be awarded annually.
• The prizes recognize those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind.

Prize Categories

• Physics
• Chemistry
• Physiology or Medicine
• Literature
• Peace

Selection Process

• Each prize is awarded by a separate Nobel Committee.
• The Nobel Committees consist of members from the awarding institutions.
• Nominations are solicited from qualified individuals and institutions worldwide.
• The committees evaluate nominations.
• They select the laureates for each prize.
• The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awards the Nobel Prizes in Physics and Chemistry.
• The Karolinska Institute awards the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
• The Swedish Academy awards the Nobel Prize in Literature.
• The Norwegian Nobel Committee awards the Nobel Peace Prize.

Ceremony

• The Nobel Prize Award Ceremony takes place annually on December 10, the anniversary of Nobel's death.
• The ceremony is held in Stockholm, Sweden (except for the Peace Prize).
• The Peace Prize ceremony is held in Oslo, Norway.
• Laureates receive a Nobel diploma, a medal, and a document confirming the prize amount.

Economic Sciences Prize

• The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel (often referred to as the Nobel Prize in Economics) was not part of Nobel's original will.
• It was established in 1968 by the Swedish central bank, Sveriges Riksbank.
• It is awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
• The first prize in economics was awarded in 1969.

Notable Facts

• Nobel was a pacifist, despite his involvement in the explosives industry.
• He was concerned about the destructive potential of his inventions.
• The creation of the Nobel Prizes aimed to recognize achievements that benefit humanity.
• The Nobel Foundation was founded in 1900 to manage Nobel's fortune and administer the prizes.
• The prize money comes from the interest earned on Nobel's fortune.
• The amount of the prize money varies each year.
• Nobel's motivation included remorse and a desire to be remembered for positive contributions.
• The statutes of the Nobel Foundation outline the rules and guidelines for the prize selection and administration.
• The prizes have become highly prestigious international awards.
• Posthumous awards are generally not permitted.
• If a laureate rejects the prize, it is usually not awarded to anyone else that year.
• Multiple individuals can share a Nobel Prize.
• Organizations, as well as individuals, can be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
• The Nobel Foundation actively promotes the legacy of Alfred Nobel.
• They also disseminate information about the Nobel Prizes and their laureates.