In October, they received the news that is many researchers' and authors' great dream. After an intense week for the year's laureates, it was finally time for the big day. The Nobel Week's climax began at 4 pm on Tuesday when the prize ceremony at the Concert Hall in central Stockholm started.
To the tones of, among others, Mozart and Wagner, the eleven laureates received their medals and diplomas from the King.
The entire prize ceremony, with entertainment by, among others, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and soprano Ingela Brimberg, took just over an hour. First out were the physics laureates John J Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton. This was followed by chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature, and economics.
Light Pink and Green
Present at the Concert Hall, decorated for the day with flower arrangements in light pink and green, were the royal family, government members, the Nobel Foundation, and around 1,300 guests.
The dress code was the same as for the Nobel Banquet – for men, it was a tailcoat, while women were required to wear an evening gown or a ball gown that had to reach the floor.
Ellen Mattsson, author and member of the Swedish Academy, held her speech to literature laureate Han Kang in Swedish. This led to eager page-turning in the programs among the guests, who probably wanted to read the English translation. Mattson highlighted the two colors white and red, which are prominent in South Korean Han Kang's literature.
-White recurs in the many snowfalls that appear in her books; the color also stands for sorrow. Red stands for life but also for pain, blood, the deep wounds from a knife, she said.
Existential Dimension
The Nobel Peace Prize, which honors the struggle for a nuclear-free world, was awarded earlier in the day, traditionally, in Oslo, but was clearly present at the Concert Hall.
Today, when the nuclear threat is once again heard in connection with wars and conflicts involving nuclear powers, the Nobel Peace Prize takes on an existential dimension, said Astrid Söderberg in her introductory speech.
Shortly after 5 pm, the guests left the Concert Hall, many heading for the chartered buses that would take them the approximately 1.5 kilometers to the City Hall, where they would enjoy champagne, this year's Nobel menu, more entertainment, and dancing.
This year's Nobel laureates have made revolutionary discoveries regarding protein mapping, increased understanding of gene regulation, and developed AI technology, investigated why some countries are rich and others poor, and depicted South Korea's historical traumas.
The Nobel Prize in Physics: John J Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry: David Baker, Demis Hassabis, and John Jumper
The Nobel Prize in Medicine: Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun
The Nobel Prize in Literature: Han Kang
The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel: Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson, and James A Robinson
The Nobel Peace Prize: Nihon Hidankyo
Alfred Nobel (born 1833 in Stockholm, died 1896 in San Remo, Italy) is Sweden's most famous inventor and industrial leader. His most important invention was dynamite, which he patented in 1867.
Alfred Nobel left behind a large fortune, and in his will, he stated that the majority of the fortune should form a fund, where the returns would go to prizes for those "who during the preceding year have conferred the greatest benefit to mankind".
Nobel wanted the prizes to be awarded in five categories: physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature, and peace.
The first prize ceremony took place in 1901.
Much later, the economics prize, or "prize in economic science in memory of Alfred Nobel", was established. The prize was established by the Sveriges Riksbank and was first awarded in 1969.
No more than three people can share each prize.
The prize ceremony takes place on Alfred Nobel's death day, December 10. The Nobel Prize is awarded in Stockholm and Oslo (the peace prize).
Sources: NE and nobelprize.org
