The 2011 Nobel Prize winners are being announced. From Oct. 3 to Oct. 10, six Nobel Prizes will be announced in different categories. The first one announced was in Physiology or Medicine. The winners in that category split the Nobel Prize three ways among Bruce A. Beutler, Jules A. Hoffman and Ralph M. Steinman. In a Nobel first, Steinman passed away three days before the official announcement unbeknown to those on the committee awarding the prize.
The Nobel Prize has a long history of rewarding work of the foremost thinkers and scientists every year. Here’s a look at the Nobel Prize, by the numbers.
543: Nobel Prizes awarded since the inception in 1901. Because some awards are shared among multiple people or organizations, the number of Nobel Laureates exceed the actual amount of prizes given out.
840: Nobel Laureates that have accumulated over the years. Just 41 women have won the Nobel Prize in 111 years.
6: Nobel Prizes awarded every year. The categories are Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, Peace and the Economic Sciences. The first five categories were awarded starting in 1901. The Economic Sciences award began in 1968.
50: Years that nominees for Nobel Prizes are kept secret. The nominating process is different for each award, but in general Nobel Laureates and well-established organizations are allowed to nominate candidates for Nobel Prizes.
5: People on the selection committee for the Nobel Peace Prize. The committee is chosen by the Storting (Norway’s parliament). The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo, as opposed to the other five awards. The rest of the Nobel Prizes are given away in Stockholm.
10 million: Swedish kronor winners will be given this year in prize money. Converted to U.S. dollars the prize money is around $1.5 million. The money was originally formed by Alfred Nobel’s estate and has been kept up over the years via the Nobel Foundation.
150,000: Approximate value of the first Nobel Prizes awarded in 1901, in Swedish kronor. Translated into today’s value, the original prize money is about 8 million kronor today. The 10 million kronor prize has been steady since 2001. If the prize money isn’t awarded in a particular year the money is held over until the next time a particular category is awarded.
12/10/1896: The day Nobel died. Dec. 10 also serves as the date each year the prizes are awarded in formal ceremonies. Except for the time during World War I and World War II, Nobel Prizes have been awarded continuously.
William Browning is a research librarian.