Nobel Prize

         On 27 November 1895, Alfred Nobel signed his last will and testament, giving the largest share of his fortune to a series of prizes in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature and Peace - the Nobel Prizes. In 1968, Sveriges Riksbank (Sweden's central bank) established The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel. Since 1901, the Nobel Prize has been awarded to men and women from all corners of the globe for outstanding achievements in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature, and for work in peace. In 1968, economic sciences added to the the list of fields. Between 1901 and 2011, the Nobel Prizes and the Prize in Economic Sciences were awarded 549 times. Of these 549 times it has only been awarded to a women 40 times. Since 1901, 50 Nobel Prize were not awarded, particularly during World War I and II. These are the years and awards not given out.

Nobel Prize         Year
Physics                      1916, 1931, 1934, 1940, 1941, 1942
Chemistry                  1916, 1917, 1919, 1924, 1933, 1940, 1941, 1942
Medicine                    1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1921, 1925, 1940, 1941, 1942
Literature                   1914, 1918, 1935, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943
Peace                         1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1923, 1924, 1928, 1932, 1939, 1940, 1941,
                                   1942, 1943,1948, 1955, 1956, 1966, 1967, 1972
Economic Sciences   (Started in 1968)

In the month of September each year the respective Nobel Committees send individual invitations to thousands of members of academies, university professors, scientists from numerous countries, previous Nobel Laureates, members of parliamentary assemblies and others, asking them to submit candidates for the Nobel Prizes for the coming year. These nominators are chosen in such a way that as many countries and universities as possible are represented over time. Around 200-300 names are submitted since the same candidate can be nominated by several persons. The names of the nominees cannot be revealed until 50 years later. The prize amounts vary each year but in 2010 it was 10,000,000 Swedish kornor (SEK) or just under 1.5 million U.S. dollars.