LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Nobel Prize Nomination

Madam, I would like to draw your attention about the Nobel Prize nomination. In September each year, the Nobel Prize Committee sends nomination forms to 3000 individuals who nominate candidates for the Nobel Prize in various disciplines. From 1901 to 2012, Nobel Prizes were awarded 555 times to 863 people and organizations. Certainly, Nobel prizes are very much prestigious and most glorious awards. The number of nominators is limited since the scientific community has been markedly enlarged. Occasionally these prizes are subject to criticism with respect to their nomination mechanism. The criticism rose at numerous occasions such as Banting and Macleod were nominated first time and awarded Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine in 1923. In contrast, Robert Koch was nominated 55 times before he received the Prize in 1905, and Ferdinand Sauerbruch, a German surgeon never got the prize despite 54 times nominations.