Polish scientists one step away from the Nobel Prize. They had outstanding achievements, but they did not receive awards
When we think of Polish scientists in the context of the Nobel Prize, Maria Skłodowska-Curie immediately comes to mind. However, it is worth recalling a few Poles who had outstanding achievements in their fields and were nominated for the Nobel Prize many times, but ultimately did not receive the award.
The Nobel Prize was first awarded in 1901. Since then, it has been awarded annually for outstanding contributions to humanity in several categories, including scientific achievements in the fields of physics, chemistry and physiology or medicine.
Nobel Prize winners associated with Poland
When it comes to Polish scientists who received the Nobel Prize, Maria Skłodowska-Curie comes to mind first. The outstanding Polish woman reached for this award twice, and additionally she received it as the first woman in the world.
Apart from Skłodowska-Curie, the Nobel Prize was awarded to several other Polish scientists. They were often Polish Jews who, like Skłodowska-Curie, emigrated from Poland at various moments in history and developed their scientific careers in the West.
Polish scientists nominated for the Nobel Prize for outstanding achievements
However, in the history of science there are many distinguished Polish scientists who were nominated for the Nobel Prize many times for their outstanding achievements, but never received the award. We remind you of some of them in our gallery. For example, Rudolf Weigl for the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was nominated in nine different years, receiving a total of 75 applications with references.
Nominations for the Nobel Prize may be submitted by scientific institutions, scientists and laureates of the Prize in a given category from previous years invited by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in the case of prizes in physics and chemistry or the Karolinska Institute in the case of prizes in physiology or medicine. You cannot nominate yourself. The award is not awarded posthumously.
According to the statutes of the Nobel Foundation, the names of nominees for the Nobel Prize are not disclosed until after fifty years. Our list is based on the official Nobel database, which presents data in the field of chemistry and physics until 1970, and in the field of medicine or physiology until 1953.
