5 little-known facts about the Nobel Prize.

Information about the nominations is kept secret for 50 years, the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony takes place in Norway while other fields are held in Sweden – these are some interesting facts about the Nobel Prize.

Pakistani 17-year-old feminist activist Malala Yousafzay receives the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize. Photo: Reuters

Who was the "founding father" of the award?

Alfred Nobel – the renowned Swedish scientist and inventor – is credited with establishing the Nobel Prize in the fields of medicine, chemistry, literature, and peace. The prizes were first awarded in 1901, five years after Alfred Nobel's death.

However, the Nobel Prize in Economics was not Alfred Nobel's idea but was initiated by the Swedish Central Bank in 1968 in his memory. Although awarded alongside the other prizes and with the same selection criteria, the Nobel Prize in Economics does not share the same origins as the other four fields.

Secret

By rule, the Swedish Academy prohibits judges from disclosing their discussions on the Nobel Prize for 50 years. This means we cannot know for certain in advance how the judges selected the 2015 Nobel laureates and who was on the shortlist in each field.

Judges must avoid hinting at the winner before the final results are announced. However, there are exceptions. For example, last year, news of French writer Patrick Modiano winning the Nobel Prize in Literature was widely discussed for days leading up to the award ceremony.

Who could win the prize?

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is a strong candidate for this year's Nobel Peace Prize. Photo: Times

Thousands of people around the world who meet the organizing committee's criteria can become candidates for the Nobel Prize. These include university professors, politicians, previous Nobel laureates, and even members of the committee itself.

Nominators can make their suggestions publicly, especially for the Nobel Peace Prize. This allows us to know that German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Pope Francis, and former US National Security Agency (NSA) employee Edward Snowden are among the prominent figures out of the 273 candidates for this year's Nobel Peace Prize.

Where will the awards be presented?

The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo, Norway, while the other prizes are awarded in Sweden. This is in accordance with the wishes of the prize's founder, Alfred Nobel.

Sometimes disagreements arise between the Nobel Foundation in Stockholm – the body that administers the prize money – and the Nobel Committee in Oslo.

How do I win the prize?

The answer is patience. Scientists often have to wait decades for the award judges to take notice. They want to ensure that every nomination stands the test of time.

Nobel Prizes are typically awarded to individuals who have benefited humanity, those responsible for maintaining the connection between peoples, abolishing or reducing the permanent presence of military forces, and promoting the peace process for humankind.

According to zing.vn