Bust of Alfred Nobel Nad Nobel LaureatesNobel Medal and Diploma

Nobelprize.org – All about the Nobel Prize Awarded Achievements

Wislawa Szymborska
1923–2012


"I prefer movies.
I prefer cats.
I prefer the oaks along the Warta.
I prefer Dickens to Dostoyevsky.
I prefer myself liking people
to myself loving mankind."

Read more about Wislawa Szymborska

Watch the 2011 Nobel Laureates in Discussion

Watch "Nobel Minds", a round table discussion program where the 2011 Laureates talk about issues of global concern, their own research, and their early influences.

Collage: Saul Perlmutter, Adam G. Riess and Brian P. Schmidt. Photo: Frida Westholm

2011 Nobel Prize in Physics

The 2011 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded "for the discovery of the accelerating expansion of the Universe through observations of distant supernovae" with one half to Saul Perlmutter and the other half jointly to Brian P. Schmidt and Adam G. Riess.

More about the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physics

Dan Shechtman. Photo: Lina Göransson

2011 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

The 2011 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Dan Shechtman "for the discovery of quasicrystals".

More about the 2011 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

Collage: Jules A. Hoffman and Bruce A. Beutler. Photo: Frida Westholm

2011 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

The 2011 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was divided, one half jointly to Bruce A. Beutler and Jules A. Hoffmann "for their discoveries concerning the activation of innate immunity" and the other half to Ralph M. Steinman "for his discovery of the dendritic cell and its role in adaptive immunity".

More about the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
Tomas Tranströmer. Photo: Helena Paulin-Strömberg

2011 Nobel Prize in Literature

The 2011 Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded to Tomas Tranströmer "because, through his condensed, translucent images, he gives us fresh access to reality".

More about Tomas Tranströmer

Collage:Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Leymah Gbowee and Tawakkol Karma. Photo: Scanpix

2011 Nobel Peace Prize

The 2011 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded jointly to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Leymah Gbowee and Tawakkol Karman "for their non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights to full participation in peace-building work".

More about the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize

Collage: Thomas J. Sargent and Christopher A. Sims. Photo: Frida Westholm

2011 Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel

The 2011 Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel was awarded jointly to Thomas J. Sargent and Christopher A. Sims "for their empirical research on cause and effect in the macroeconomy"

More about the 2011 Prize in Economic Sciences


Photos from the 2011 Nobel Week

  • Eleven of the thirteen 2011 Nobel Laureates assembled for a group photo.
    Eleven of the thirteen 2011 Nobel Laureates assembled for a group photo.
  • The table of honor at the Nobel Banquet.
    The table of honor at the Nobel Banquet.
  • From left: Physics Laureate Adam G. Riess, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, Physics Laureate Brian P. Schmidt and Laura Nelson, wife of Physics Laureate Saul Perlmutter, at the Nobel Banquet.
    From left: Physics Laureate Adam G. Riess, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, Physics Laureate Brian P. Schmidt and Laura Nelson, wife of Physics Laureate Saul Perlmutter, at the Nobel Banquet.
  • Thomas J. Sargent delivering his banquet speech.
    Thomas J. Sargent delivering his banquet speech.
  • Chemistry Laureate Dan Shechtman is addressed at the Nobel Prize Award Ceremony.
    Chemistry Laureate Dan Shechtman is addressed at the Nobel Prize Award Ceremony.
  • Adam G. Riess after receiving his Nobel Prize at the Stockholm Concert Hall.
    Adam G. Riess after receiving his Nobel Prize at the Stockholm Concert Hall.
  • Mrs Claudia Steinman after receiving the Nobel Prize Diploma and Medal on behalf of the late Professor Ralph M. Steinman.
    Mrs Claudia Steinman after receiving the Nobel Prize Diploma and Medal on behalf of the late Professor Ralph M. Steinman.
  • Tomas Tranströmer receiving his Nobel Medal and Diploma from His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden.
  • Tomas Tranströmer after receiving the Nobel Prize Diploma and Medal.
  • Saul Perlmutter with his wife Laura Nelson and daughter Noa after the Nobel Prize Award Ceremony.
    Saul Perlmutter with his wife Laura Nelson and daughter Noa after the Nobel Prize Award Ceremony.
  • Dan Shechtman with family and friends after the Nobel Prize Award Ceremony.
    Dan Shechtman with family and friends after the Nobel Prize Award Ceremony.
  • Thomas J. Sargent showing his Medal after the Prize Award Ceremony.
    Thomas J. Sargent showing his Medal after the Prize Award Ceremony.
  • Tenor Joseph Calleja, featured soloist at the 2011 Nobel Prize Concert in the Stockholm Concert Hall.
    Tenor Joseph Calleja, featured soloist at the 2011 Nobel Prize Concert in the Stockholm Concert Hall.
  • Eight of the 2011 Nobel Laureates took part in Nobel Media's recording of the TV-program 'Nobel Minds', hosted by Zeinab Badawi, BBC World News.
    Eight of the 2011 Nobel Laureates took part in Nobel Media's recording of the TV-program 'Nobel Minds', hosted by Zeinab Badawi, BBC World News.
  • Recording of Nobel Media's TV-program 'Nobel Minds' in the Bernadotte Library at the Royal Palace.
    Recording of Nobel Media's TV-program 'Nobel Minds' in the Bernadotte Library at the Royal Palace.
  • Dan Shechtman delivering his Nobel Lecture at Aula Magna, Stockholm University.
    Dan Shechtman delivering his Nobel Lecture at Aula Magna, Stockholm University.
  • Jules A. Hoffmann delivering his Nobel Lecture in the Jacob Berzelius Lecture Hall at Karolinska Institutet.
    Jules A. Hoffmann delivering his Nobel Lecture in the Jacob Berzelius Lecture Hall at Karolinska Institutet.
  • Tomas Tranströmer receives applause after the program at the Swedish Academy.
  • Uppsala Chamber Soloists playing during the program for Nobel Laureate Tomas Tranströmer at the Swedish Academy.
  • Medicine Laureates Jules A. Hoffmann (left) and Bruce A. Beutler (right) during their interview with Nobelprize.org.
    Medicine Laureates Jules A. Hoffmann (left) and Bruce A. Beutler (right) during their interview with Nobelprize.org.
  • Physics Laureates Saul Perlmutter (left) and Brian P. Schmidt (right) during their interview with Nobelprize.org.
    Physics Laureates Saul Perlmutter (left) and Brian P. Schmidt (right) during their interview with Nobelprize.org.
  • Adam G. Riess together with his wife Nancy Joy Riess and their two children Noah and Gabrielle at the Nobel Museum in Stockholm.
    Adam G. Riess together with his wife Nancy Joy Riess and their two children Noah and Gabrielle at the Nobel Museum in Stockholm.
  • Like many Laureates before him, Christopher A. Sims autographs a chair at Bistro Nobel at the Nobel Museum.
    Like many Laureates before him, Christopher A. Sims autographs a chair at Bistro Nobel at the Nobel Museum.
  • Thomas J. Sargent takes a photo of his autographed chair at Bistro Nobel at the Nobel Museum.
    Thomas J. Sargent takes a photo of his autographed chair at Bistro Nobel at the Nobel Museum.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 16 January 2012

Martin Luther King, Jr.
Read about Martin Luther King, Jr. at Nobelprize.org:
Presentation of the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize
Acceptance Speech
Nobel Lecture
Biography
Visitors' Frequently Asked Questions
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Tawakkol Karman

2011 Peace Prize Laureates Tell their Stories

Watch a documentary introducing the "Women of Peace"
Calendar
NOMINATIONS

2012 Nobel Laureates

The process of selecting Nobel Laureates continues all year round. This month's work in the committees:
Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, Economic Sciences: Nomination proposals are received. Deadline for nominations is 31 January.
Peace: Nomination proposals are received. Deadline for nominations is 1 February.

Learn more about the selection of Nobel Laureates

Alfred Nobel

"If I Have 300 Ideas in a Year and Just One Turns Out to Work I Am Satisfied"

Alfred Bernhard Nobel, born in 1833, is the man behind the Nobel Prize.

Languages: Spoke 5 languages fluently at the age of 17.
Professions: Swedish chemist, inventor of dynamite, engineer, armaments manufacturer, business man.
Fortune: In his will he left 31 million SEK (today about 265 million dollar) to fund the prizes.

Alfred Nobel - His Life and Work

SHORTCUTS