On December 10th, 2023, one of the most awaited and lauded ceremonies took place: the awarding of the Nobel Prize, a medal given to those lucky researchers, scientists, and peace promoters who are considered to have excelled in their chosen areas of study, having either enhanced the existing knowledge around a subject or made a new discovery. This year, more than 10 laureates have received the Prize with their accomplishments recognized in the annual celebratory ceremony and banquet.
The Nobel Prize has been awarded every December 10th since 1901 to pioneers in the areas of medicine, physics, chemistry, literature, peace, and economics. The specific date marks the death anniversary of Alfred Nobel, the Swedish scientist who facilitated the creation of the Prize. Today, the tradition remains as the award ceremony continues to take place in the Stockholm Concert Hall in Sweden year after year in a tribute to the birthplace of its founder.Each winner of the prize receives a green gold medal, a diploma from King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, and 11 million Swedish Krona (around 974,628 euros). The event is followed by a banquet attended by around 1,300 visitors and the Swedish Royal Family, rewarding the winners of the six Nobel Prizes with an “academic celebration,” as has been explained by an official source. The celebration concludes the commemoration of accomplishments related to the award.
In 2023, 11 laureates were presented with the Nobel Prize, ranging from one to three people per category. While the chemistry award was given out to three individuals for the discovery and synthesis of quantum dots, only one person received the peace prize for her opposition to and fight against the discrimination of women in Iran. No more than three laureates may receive or split the Nobel Prize for a certain field due to a rule imposed by the creator of the award. Nevertheless, some of the winners worked together to achieve their accomplishments and thus shared the reward. The Nobel Prize in physics was awarded to three scientists who further expanded the knowledge of electron dynamics in matter, while the Nobel Prize in medicine was given to two doctors who enabled the development of mRNA vaccines against COVID-19. Some categories, however, typically only present one laureate with a medal at a time. This year, Norwegian writer Jon Fosse received the literature award for “his innovative plays and prose which give voice to the unsayable,” and economist Claudia Goldin obtained the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel for her exploration of women’s labor market results.
Over the years, individuals from around the world have been presented with one of the most significant awards of the last few centuries: the Nobel Prize. This year was no exception, with accomplished researchers and scientists receiving the Prize due to the effort they had put into their work and the results they obtained. The next award ceremony will be held on December 10th, 2024; in the meantime, scientists and advocates for peace continue their significant work as they make new discoveries about the world we live in.
Bibliography:
“All Nobel Prizes 2023.” NobelPrize.org, www.nobelprize.org/all-nobel-prizes-2023/.
“Nobel Prize Award Ceremonies.” NobelPrize.org, www.nobelprize.org/nobel-prize-award-ceremonies/.
Royen, Ulrika. “FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions.” NobelPrize.org, 6 July 2018, www.nobelprize.org/frequently-asked-questions/#:~:text=Nobel%20Prize%20facts-. Accessed 11 Dec. 2023.
“The Nobel Prize Award Ceremonies and Banquets.” NobelPrize.org, www.nobelprize.org/ceremonies/the-nobel-prize-award-ceremonies-and-banquets/.