Nobel Prizes

2008

The Nobel Prizes are announced over a number of days the week beginning Monday 6th October 2008 at the Nobel Forum, Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm. Every year since 1901 the Nobel Prize has been awarded for achievements in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and for peace. The Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel was added in 1968.

The prizes awarded this year

Physiology or Medicine, 6th October

1/2 to Harald zur Hausen for his "discovery of human papilloma viruses causing cervical cancer" and 1/4 to Françoise Barré-Sinoussi & 1/4 to Luc Montagnier "for their discovery of human immunodeficiency virus".

Physics, 7th October

1/2 to Yoichiro Nambu "for the discovery of the mechanism of spontaneous broken symmetry in subatomic physics", and "for the discovery of the origin of the broken symmetry which predicts the existence of at least three families of quarks in nature" 1/4 to Makoto Kobayashi and 1/4 to Toshihide Maskawa

Chemistry, 8th October

"for the discovery and development of the green fluorescent protein, GFP" 1/3 each to Osamu Shimomura, Martin Chalfie & Roger Y. Tsien.

Literature, 9th October

"author of new departures, poetic adventure and sensual ecstasy, explorer of a humanity beyond and below the reigning civilization" - Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clézio

Peace, 10th October

"for his important efforts, on several continents and over more than three decades, to resolve international conflicts" to Martti Ahtisaari

Economic Sciences, 13th October

to Paul Krugman "for his analysis of trade patterns and location of economic activity".

More information can be found on the Nobel Prize website where the announcements will be Webcast.

History of the Nobel Prize

Nobel Prize.org

Official website of the Nobel Prize. Includes information about all Nobel Prize laureates and educational and historical material. Webcasts of latest awards (made in October each year).

Alfred Nobel

Information about Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, who founded the Nobel Prizes. From the Nobel Prize website.

Nobel Prize

Information about the Nobel Prize. From Wikipedia.

New Zealand Winners

New Zealand claims three Nobel Prize winners:

Ernest Rutherford- 1908 Nobel Prize for Chemistry

Awarded for his work on the transmutation of elements and the chemistry of radioactive substances.

Ernest Rutherford Biography

Biography from the Nobel Prize website.

1908 Nobel Prize for Chemistry

Official information about the award, including Rutherford’s Nobel lecture.

Fact Sheet About Ernest Rutherford

Information about Rutherford’s life and work. From Christchurch City Libraries.

Rutherford.org.nz

Comprehensive website about Rutherford’s life and work, maintained by his biographer, Dr. John Campbell, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Canterbury.

Rutherford’s Den

Rutherford’s Den at the Arts Centre, Christchurch. Tours show where Lord Rutherford was educated and carried out his earliest scientific research. Information about Rutherford's life, information for teachers.

Maurice Wilkins - 1962 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine

Awarded for his contribution to the discovery of the structure of DNA

Maurice Wilkins Biography

Biography from the Nobel Prize website.

1962 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

Official information about the award, including Wilkins’ Nobel lecture.

Maurice Wilkins DNA enabler

Information about his life and work from the NZedgewebsite.

Alan MacDiarmid - 2000 Nobel Prize for Chemistry

Awarded for his contribution to the discovery and development of electronically conductive polymers.

Alan MacDiarmid Autobiography

Autobiography from the Nobel Prize website.

2000 Nobel Prize for Chemistry

Official information about the award, autobiographical information about Alan MacDiarmid and his fellow laureates, educational material about their discoveries. From the Nobel Prize website.