The Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute

The Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute is a distinguished body responsible for awarding the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. This prestigious assembly is headquartered at the Nobel Forum on the grounds of the Karolinska Institute campus in Stockholm, Sweden.

Historical Background

The inception of the Nobel Assembly can be traced back to the establishment of the Nobel Prizes by Alfred Nobel, who bequeathed his fortune to fund annual awards for achievements in several fields. The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was first awarded in 1901. Initially, the decision-making body comprised all professors of the Karolinska Institute—a group sometimes referred to collectively as the Nobel Assembly.

In 1977, the Nobel Assembly was established as a separate private organization to streamline the prize-awarding process. This move transformed what was once a collective of all professors into a formal, structured assembly dedicated to the task.

Composition and Function

Since 1984, membership in the Nobel Assembly has been restricted to 50 professors from the Karolinska Institute. This select group is tasked with the critical function of awarding the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine each year. The rigorous process of collecting nominations and screening candidates is primarily managed by the Nobel Committee at the Karolinska Institute, which consists of five dedicated members. The committee conducts preliminary evaluations and presents recommendations for the Assembly's final decision.

Notably, the Nobel Assembly operates independently of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, which is responsible for awarding the Nobel Prizes in Physics and Chemistry, as well as the Swedish Academy, which awards the Nobel Prize in Literature.

The Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute

Historical Background

Composition and Function

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