They have contributed to saving millions of lives, highlighted the pay gap between men and women and laid the foundation for a completely new field of research.
Now, according to tradition, this year’s Nobel laureates will receive awards for their respective deeds.
It’s been just over two months since they got that call.
Now this year’s prize winners in physics, chemistry, medicine, economics and literature are in place in Stockholm for a packed day, evening and maybe even night.
During the pandemic, the Nobel festivities were put on pause, as is well known, which meant that a record number of prize winners had to receive prizes last year. This year, the Nobel celebrations are back at a more “normal” level.
Royal handover
Accompanied by, among others, the royal family, the Nobel Foundation and over a thousand other guests, the ten prize winners will receive a medal and diploma from the king in the Concert Hall.
Just the guest list was earlier this year the big talking point on the topic of Nobel. The Sweden Democrats’ Jimmie Åkesson received an invitation to the Nobel party for the first time. However, he was quick to announce that he was not going to come.
However, what attracted more attention, both in Sweden and abroad, was the Nobel Foundation’s decision to invite the ambassadors of Russia, Iran and Belarus to this year’s award ceremony.
Forced to back off
The decision was immediately met with strong criticism and several party leaders announced that they intended to cancel the celebration. Even from the royal side, there seemed to be some hesitation to participate. So what happened? The Nobel Foundation had to poodle and back down from the decision.
In Oslo, however, all ambassadors are invited. There, the ceremony for the eleventh laureate takes place, Narges Mohammadi.
Mohammadi himself, who received the Nobel Peace Prize for his long struggle against the oppression of women in Iran, is in one of the country’s most notorious prisons. Her family is in Norway to accept the award on her behalf.
The award ceremony in Stockholm, which begins at 4 p.m., is followed as usual by the banquet in City Hall.
Facts: This year’s award winner
The Nobel Prize in Physics: Anne L’Huillier, Pierre Agostini and Ferenc Krausz
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry: Aleksej Jekimov, Louis Brus and Moungi Bawendi
The Nobel Prize in Medicine: Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman
Nobel Prize in Literature: Jon Fosse
The Riksbank’s economics prize in memory of Alfred Nobel: Claudia Goldin
Nobel Peace Prize: Narges Mohammadi