Alfred Nobel (1833-96), the Swedish engineer who invented dynamite, left $9,000,000 in a fund to provide yearly awards for men and women whose work has benefited mankind. There are five Nobel Prizes—in physics, chemistry, medicine or physiology, literature and for the promotion of peace. The physics and chemistry prizes are awarded by the Royal Academy of Science in Stockholm; the medicine prizes by the Caroline Medical-Chirurgical Institute in Stockholm; the literature prizes by the Swedish Academy in Stockholm; the peace prizes by the Swedish Parliament. The names of candidates are submitted by persons qualified in the various fields. Although the winners are generally announced earlier in the year. the actual ceremony of awarding the prizes takes place annually on the anniversary of Nobel's death, December 10. A gold medal and a diploma accompany the money.
