The 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to U.S. scientists Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for their groundbreaking discovery of microRNA and its crucial role in gene regulation. The Nobel Assembly of Sweden’s Karolinska Institute Medical University announced the recipients on Monday.
The prize includes a sum of 11 million Swedish crowns (approximately $1.1 million) and marks the beginning of the Nobel Prize announcements, with other categories set to be revealed in the coming days.
Since their inception in 1901, the prestigious awards have recognized a diverse range of laureates, from Mother Teresa to Martin Luther King Jr. Notably, both individuals and organizations can receive the awards, and in many cases, multiple parties share a prize.
How Nominations Work
To be considered for a Nobel Prize, individuals must first be nominated. This year, the Nobel Peace Prize, one of the most closely watched awards, received 286 nominations—197 individuals and 89 organizations. The nomination process begins when the committee responsible for each award sends out forms or invitations to “qualified nominators.”
The deadline for nominations for this year was January 31, a timeline that typically holds from year to year. Nominations submitted after this date are generally considered for the following year’s assessment, according to the Nobel Prize website.
Categories of Nobel Prizes
The Nobel Prizes are awarded for advancements in six key areas:
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Physiology or Medicine
- Literature
- Peace
- Economics (formally known as the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences, first awarded in 1969)
Who Can Nominate?
The Nobel Committee maintains a list of qualified nominators for each of the six prizes. Thousands of individuals meet the criteria to nominate candidates, but self-nominations are not permitted. Here’s a breakdown of who qualifies as a nominator for each prize:
For the Nobel Peace Prize:
- Members of national assemblies and governments of sovereign states, including current heads of state
- Members of the International Court of Justice and the Permanent Court of Arbitration
- Members of the Geneva-based Institut de Droit International
- Directors of peace research and foreign policy institutes
- Former Nobel Peace Prize winners
- Current and former members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee
- University faculty in relevant fields, such as history and social sciences
For the Nobels in Physics and Chemistry:
- Members of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
- Former Nobel laureates in these fields
- Tenured professors in physics and chemistry at universities and technology institutes in Nordic countries
- Other eminent scientists invited by the Academy
For the Nobel in Medicine:
- Members of the Nobel Committee for Physiology or Medicine
- Former Nobel winners in related fields
- Professors in medicine at universities in Sweden and similar institutions in Nordic countries
For the Nobel in Literature:
- Members of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and similar institutions
- Professors of literature and linguistics
- Previous Nobel laureates in literature
For the Nobel in Economics:
- Members of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
- Former Nobel laureates in economics
- Professors in relevant subjects at universities in Nordic countries and others
Controversial Nominations
The Nobel Peace Prize has seen some controversial nominations over the years. For instance, Adolf Hitler was nominated in 1939 as a satire by a Swedish lawmaker, and no prize was awarded that year. Joseph Stalin was nominated twice, while Benito Mussolini was also a nominee in 1935.
The Nobel committee keeps nominees’ names confidential for 50 years. Notably, former U.S. President Donald Trump claimed in 2019 that he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Japan’s then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a claim that was not confirmed.
As the 2024 Nobel Prize announcements approach, the anticipation builds around the laureates who will join the ranks of esteemed past winners.
