Nobel Prizes 2008

The Nobel Prize is an international award administered by the Nobel Foundation in Stockholm, Sweden. Every year since 1901 the Nobel Prize has been awarded for achievements in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and for peace. The Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel was added in 1968.

Physiology or Medicine

One half was awarded to Harald zur Hausen for his discovery of human papilloma viruses causing cervical cancer, the other half jointly to Françoise Barré-Sinoussi and Luc Montagnier for their discovery of human immunodeficiency virus.

Physics

One half awarded to Yoichiro Nambu for the discovery of the mechanism of spontaneous broken symmetry in subatomic physics, the other half jointly to Makoto Kobayashi and Toshihide Maskawa for the discovery of the origin of the broken symmetry which predicts the existence of at least three families of quarks in nature.

Chemistry

Awarded jointly to Osamu Shimomura, Martin Chalfie and Roger Y. Tsien for the discovery and development of the green fluorescent protein, GFP.

Literature

Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clézio author of new departures, poetic adventure and sensual ecstasy, explorer of a humanity beyond and below the reigning civilization. See copies of his works on the library catalogue.

Peace

Awarded to Martti Ahtisaari for his important efforts, on several continents and over more than three decades, to resolve international conflicts.

Economic Sciences

The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 2008 was awarded to Paul Krugman for his analysis of trade patterns and location of economic activity.

More information on the prize and prize winners can be found on the Nobel Prize website and on the libraries Nobel Prize webpage.