Welcome to the World of Nobel Prizes
Every October, a handful of scientists receive the prestigious Nobel Prize in various categories such as physiology, medicine, physics, or chemistry. The winners are startled from their sleep, put on a shirt over their pajamas, and explain their groundbreaking research to the world through a video call to Stockholm.
While the media scrambles to understand complex scientific terms like “quantum dots” or “entangled photons,” the excitement fades away quickly in the relentless news cycle.
The idea behind the Nobel Prizes is to reward outstanding scientific discoveries that benefit humankind. These prizes highlight significant milestones in scientific progress, such as the rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines, energy-saving LED lights, and revolutionary gene-editing technologies.
Despite their importance, the Nobel Prizes face criticism for their lack of diversity and bias towards Western scientific institutions. The awards tend to focus on individual scientists, overshadowing the collaborative efforts of research teams worldwide.
Ultimately, while the Nobel Prizes serve as a beacon of scientific achievement, they also shed light on the need for greater inclusivity and recognition in the global scientific community.