Nobel Prizes 2009

The Nobel Prize is an international award administered by the Nobel Foundation in Stockholm, Sweden. 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.

Physiology or Medicine

Awarded jointly to Elizabeth H. Blackburn, Carol W. Greider and Jack W. Szostak "for the discovery of how chromosomes are protected by telomeres and the enzyme telomerase".

Physics

One half awarded to Charles Kuen Kao "for groundbreaking achievements concerning the transmission of light in fibers for optical communication", the other half jointly to Willard S. Boyle and George E. Smith "for the invention of an imaging semiconductor circuit – the CCD sensor".

Chemistry

Awarded jointly to Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, Thomas A. Steitz and Ada E. Yonath "for studies of the structure and function of the ribosome".

Literature

Herta Müller "who, with the concentration of poetry and the frankness of prose, depicts the landscape of the dispossessed". Search for her works on the library catalogue.

Peace

U.S. President Barak Obama "for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples".

Economic Sciences

Elinor Ostrom "for her analysis of economic governance, especially the commons" and Oliver E. Williamson "for his analysis of economic governance, especially the boundaries of the firm".

More information on the prize and prize winners can be found on the Nobel Prize website and on the libraries Nobel Prize webpage.