After inventing dynamite, Swedish-born Alfred Nobel became a very rich man. However, he foresaw its universally destructive powers too late. Nobel preferred not to be remembered as the inventor of dynamite, so in 1895, just two weeks before his death, he created a fund to be used for awarding prizes to people who had made worldwide contributions to mankind. Originally there were five awards: Literature, Physics, Chemistry, Medicine and Peace. Economics was added in 1968, just sixty-seven years after the first awarded ceremony.
Nobel’s original legacy of nine million dollars was invested, and the interest on this sum is used for the awards which vary from 30.000 dollars to 125.000 dollars.
Every year on December 10, the anniversary of Nobel’s death, the awards (gold medals, illuminated diploma and money) are present to the winners. Sometimes politics plays an important roles in the judges’ decision. Americans have won numerous Science awards, but relatively few Literature prizes.
No prize was awarded in any category from 1940 to 1942 because Germany occupied Norway.
1. Why was the Nobel prize established?
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2. When did the first award ceremony take place?
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3. In what fields are the prizes given?
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4. In which field have American received the most awards?
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5. Why was no prize awarded from 1940 to 1942?
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