Nobelovy ceny a přírodní vědy – Norrby Erling (2013)

The Nobel Prizes awarded in the field of natural sciences are among the highest accolades for scientific achievements. This book provides an overview of its recipients, particularly from the fields of biological sciences, namely chemistry, physiology, and medicine. Thanks to archival materials, gradually published after being hidden from public view for fifty years, the author was able to shed light on both past and present mechanisms for selecting laureates. Many of the awards, which stemmed from an extraordinarily demanding evaluation process, are linked to discoveries in the field of infectious diseases and the interdisciplinary field of genetics. The book does not only focus on individuals but also describes the environment that is inseparably linked to scientific creativity. Nowhere does this mysterious activity – the main driver of improving the human condition – receive as much attention as during the nominations of individuals deemed worthy of the Nobel Prize.