Over the past few decades, many Chinese people have paid attention to the Nobel Prize.
However, since the founding of the People's Republic of China, Chinese scientists have had very few opportunities to win the Nobel Prize.
In the past decade, Chinese interest in the Nobel Prize has gradually decreased.
This may be related to the continuous controversies surrounding the awarding of the Nobel Prize, with some even believing that the Nobel Prize may lose its prestigious status. What is really happening?
1. The Influence of the Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prize was established by the famous scientist Alfred Nobel.
He was born in the 1830s in Stockholm, Sweden, and showed a strong interest in scientific research from a young age, with the support of his parents.
At 17, he studied chemistry in Paris, France, and in his early 20s, he conducted his first explosive experiment using nitroglycerin.
Despite an accident that resulted in his brother's death, Nobel continued his research and eventually successfully invented dynamite.
In the 1870s, he developed blasting gelatin, a safer and more powerful explosive.
Due to his outstanding achievements in chemistry, Nobel was awarded the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences' scientific medal in the 1880s and joined the academy.
He was also well-regarded in the UK and France, not only for his scientific talent but also for his significant business success.
From 1873 onwards, his enterprise grew into a large multinational conglomerate with over 90 factories.
By the early 1890s, the Nobel conglomerate had become one of the most influential business groups in Europe, holding over 350 technological patents.
In 1896, Nobel's will designated a portion of his estate (about $10 million) to establish the Nobel Foundation, which would award prizes to individuals who made significant contributions in various fields.
After Nobel's death, the foundation began awarding the Nobel Prizes, which gradually became one of the most prestigious awards globally, with many scientists taking pride in winning a Nobel Prize.
The popularity of the Nobel Prize is closely linked to Nobel's own moral character and dedication to science.
2. Chinese Scientists and the Nobel Prize
Chinese scientists have long aspired to win the Nobel Prize, but due to various reasons, the number of actual Chinese laureates is very small.
Currently, there are only three Nobel laureates with Chinese citizenship: Mo Yan (Literature), Tu Youyou (Medicine), and Yang Zhenning (Physics).
It's worth noting that Yang Zhenning did not hold Chinese citizenship when he received the Nobel Prize.
Additionally, several scientists of Chinese descent have won the Nobel Prize, but most have moved abroad and no longer hold Chinese citizenship, making the number of Nobel laureates among Chinese scientists even more limited.
3. Controversies Surrounding the Nobel Prize
The decreased interest of Chinese people in the Nobel Prize is primarily due to the perception that the awarding process is not fair.
With a population of 1.4 billion and rapidly advancing science and technology, Chinese scientists rarely winning the Nobel Prize seems unscientific.
The awarding of the Nobel Prize may involve political factors, which is related to its awarding process.
The prize money for the Nobel Prize comes from the Nobel Foundation, which has limited funds and may face operational issues.
Later, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences provided financial support, but the condition was that part of the Nobel Prize evaluation rights be transferred to the academy.
Currently, the Nobel Prizes in Physics, Chemistry, and Economic Sciences are mainly awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the Physiology or Medicine Prize by the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, and the Literature Prize by the Swedish Academy.
Although science has no borders, scientists have nationalities, and their political attitudes vary. Evaluations may consider various factors, including the scientist's country and relationships with the evaluators.
The awarding of the Nobel Prize was not always controversial. In its early years, the Nobel Prize was awarded more impartially, with the committee focusing solely on the scientist's achievements, regardless of their nationality or moral character.
In 1919, a German scientist won the Nobel Prize in Physics despite having participated in designing poison gas.
During the Cold War, problems began to emerge in the awarding of the Nobel Prize, with some committee members possibly having personal relationships with the laureates.
As the awarding of the Nobel Prize became increasingly unfair, controversies grew, leading to reduced interest from Chinese people.
However, the Nobel Prize still holds significant influence internationally, with each awarding attracting the attention of many scientists.
If political factors continue to be considered in the awarding process, the Nobel Prize's authority will further decline.
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