Nobel Prizes and Life Sciences

The Nobel Prizes in natural sciences have developed to become a unique measure of scientific excellence. Using archival documents, which have been released (50 years secrecy) for scholarly work, the author expertly traces the strengths and weaknesses of the Nobel system as exemplified by individual prizes. Surveys of the more than 100 years that the Prizes have been awarded are also presented.This book discusses the most important prize in the world of science and gives unique historical insights into how the laureate selection process has developed to secure optimal choice.No other book has been published which draws from previously classified archival materials to the extent that this book does. It indirectly deals with factors that foster scientific discoveries viz. the role of both individuals and institutions and thus provides invaluable insights for researchers, institutions and anyone interested in science.

Erling Norrby (www,norrby.kva.se) has an M.D. from the Karolinska Institute, the School of Medicine of Stockholm. He is a world authority on viruses and was professor and chairman at the Institute for 25 years. During this time he was President of the Division of Virology representing all the virologists of the world for three years. He has also served as the Dean of the Medical Faculty for six years and has been heavily involved in various ways for more than 20 years in the selection of the recipients of Nobel Prizes in Physiology or Medicine. He then left to become the Permanent Secretary of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences for six years. During this time he had overriding responsibility for the Nobel Prizes in Physics and in Chemistry and was a member of the Board of the Nobel Foundation. He has lectured around the world on many topics related to the Nobel Prizes. Currently he is the Vice-Chairman of the Board of the J. Craig Venter Institute. He also has one of the leading functions at the Royal Swedish Court as Lord Chamberlain in Waiting.