List of female Nobel laureates

All Nobel Prizes won by women
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The Nobel Prizes are awarded annually by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the Swedish Academy, the Karolinska Institute, and the Norwegian Nobel Committee to individuals who make outstanding contributions in the fields of Chemistry, Physics, Literature, Peace, Physiology or Medicine and Economics.[1] All but the economics prize were established by the 1895 will of Alfred Nobel, which dictates that the awards should be administered by the Nobel Foundation. The Nobel prize in Economics, or The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, was established in 1968 by the Sveriges Riksbank, the central bank of Sweden, for outstanding contributions in the field of Economics.[2] Each prize is awarded by a separate committee; the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awards the Prizes in Physics, Chemistry, and Economics, the Swedish Academy awards the Prize in Literature, the Karolinska Institute awards the Prize in Physiology or Medicine, and the Norwegian Nobel Committee awards the Prize in Peace.[3] Each recipient receives a medal, a diploma and a cash prize that has varied throughout the years.[2] In 1901, the winners of the first Nobel Prizes were given 150,782 SEK, which is equal to 7,731,004 SEK in December 2007. In 2008, the winners were awarded a prize amount of 10,000,000 SEK.[dead link][4] The awards are presented in Stockholm (Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature and Economics) and Oslo (Peace) in an annual ceremony on December 10, the anniversary of Nobel's death.[dead link][5]

Following the awards of 2011 (other than the 2011 Economics Prize), the Nobel Prize has been awarded 807 times to men and 44 times to women (there have also been 23 awards to organizations).[6][7][8] The first woman to win a Nobel Prize was Marie Curie, who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1903 with her husband, Pierre Curie, and Henri Becquerel.[7][9] Curie is also the only woman to have won multiple Nobel Prizes; in 1911, she won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry (and is accordingly included twice in the total figure of 44 for female laureates). Curie's daughter, Irène Joliot-Curie, won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1935, making the two the only mother-daughter pair to have won Nobel Prizes.[7] Fifteen women have won the Nobel Peace Prize, twelve have won the Nobel Prize in Literature, ten have won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, four have won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, two have won the Nobel Prize in Physics and one woman (in 2009) has won the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences.[7][10] The most Nobel Prizes awarded to women in a single year was in 2009, when five women became laureates.

Laureates

Year Image Laureate Country Category Rationale
1903 Marie Curie.jpg Curie-Skłodowska, MarieMarie Curie-Skłodowska
(shared with Pierre Curie and Henri Becquerel)		 Poland and France Physics "in recognition of the extraordinary services they have rendered by their joint researches on the radiation phenomena discovered by Professor Henri Becquerel"[9]
1905 Bertha von Suttner portrait.jpg Suttner, Bertha vonBertha von Suttner Austria–Hungary Peace Honorary President of Permanent International Peace Bureau, Bern, Switzerland; Author of Lay Down Your Arms.[11]
1909 Selma Lagerlof (1908), painted by Carl Larsson.jpg Lagerlof, SelmaSelma Lagerlöf Sweden Literature "in appreciation of the lofty idealism, vivid imagination and spiritual perception that characterize her writings"[12]
1911 Marie Curie.jpg Curie-Skłodowska, MarieMarie Curie-Skłodowska Poland and France Chemistry "for her discovery of radium and polonium"[13]
1926 Grazia Deledda 1926.jpg Deledda, GraziaGrazia Deledda Italy Literature "for her idealistically inspired writings which with plastic clarity picture the life on her native island and with depth and sympathy deal with human problems in general"[14]
1928 Sigrid Undset crop.jpg Undset, SigridSigrid Undset Norway Literature "principally for her powerful descriptions of Northern life during the Middle Ages"[15]
1931 Jane Addams profile.jpg Addams, JaneJane Addams
(shared with Nicholas Murray Butler)		 United States Peace Sociologist; International President, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom.[16]
1935 Joliot-curie.jpg Joliot-Curie, IreneIrène Joliot-Curie
(shared with Frédéric Joliot-Curie)		 France Chemistry "for their synthesis of new radioactive elements"[17]
1938 Pearl Buck.jpg Buck, Pearl S.Pearl S. Buck United States Literature "for her rich and truly epic descriptions of peasant life in China and for her biographical masterpieces"[18]
1945 Gabriela Mistral(1924).jpg Mistral, GabrielaGabriela Mistral Chile Literature "for her lyric poetry which, inspired by powerful emotions, has made her name a symbol of the idealistic aspirations of the entire Latin American world"[19]
1946 EmilyGreeneBalch.jpg Balch, Emily GreeneEmily Greene Balch
(shared with John Raleigh Mott)		 United States Peace Formerly Professor of History and Sociology; Honorary International President, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom.[20]
1947 Gerty Theresa Cori.jpg Cori, Gerty TheresaGerty Theresa Cori
(shared with Carl Ferdinand Cori and Bernardo Houssay)		 United States Physiology or Medicine "for their discovery of the course of the catalytic conversion of glycogen"[21]
1963 Mayer.jpg Goeppert-Mayer, MariaMaria Goeppert-Mayer
(shared with J. Hans D. Jensen and Eugene Wigner)		 United States Physics "for their discoveries concerning nuclear shell structure"[22]
1964 Dorothy Hodgkin Nobel.jpg Hodgkin, Dorothy CrowfootDorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin United Kingdom Chemistry "for her determinations by X-ray techniques of the structures of important biochemical substances"[23]
1966 Nelly Sachs 1910.jpg Sachs, NellyNelly Sachs
(shared with Samuel Agnon)		 Sweden and Germany Literature "for her outstanding lyrical and dramatic writing, which interprets Israel's destiny with touching strength"[24]
1976 Betty Williams.jpg Williams, BettyBetty Williams United Kingdom Peace Founder of the Northern Ireland Peace Movement (later renamed Community of Peace People)[25]
1976 Mairead Corrigan Gaza.jpg Corrigan, MaireadMairead Corrigan United Kingdom Peace Founder of the Northern Ireland Peace Movement (later renamed Community of Peace People)[25]
1977 Rosalyn Yalow - portrait.jpg Sussman Yalow, RosalynRosalyn Sussman Yalow
(shared with Roger Guillemin and Andrew Schally)		 United States Physiology or Medicine "for the development of radioimmunoassays of peptide hormones"[26]
1979 MotherTeresa 090.jpg Teresa, MotherMother Teresa India and
Yugoslavia		 Peace Leader of Missionaries of Charity, Calcutta.[27]
1982 ARB-Alva-Myrdal.jpg Myrdal, AlvaAlva Myrdal
(shared with Alfonso García Robles)		 Sweden Peace Former Cabinet Minister; Diplomat; Writer.[28]
1983 McClintock, BarbaraBarbara McClintock United States Physiology or Medicine "for her discovery of mobile genetic elements"[29]
1986 Rita Levi Montalcini.jpg Levi-Montalcini, RitaRita Levi-Montalcini
(shared with Stanley Cohen)		 Italy and
United States		 Physiology or Medicine "for their discoveries of growth factors"[30]
1988 Nci-vol-8236-300 Gertrude Elion.jpg Elion, Gertrude B.Gertrude B. Elion
(shared with James W. Black and George H. Hitchings)		 United States Physiology or Medicine "for their discoveries of important principles for drug treatment"[31]
1991 Nadine Gordimer 01.JPG Gordimer, NadineNadine Gordimer South Africa Literature "who through her magnificent epic writing has - in the words of Alfred Nobel - been of very great benefit to humanity"[32]
1991 Aung San Suu Kyi.jpg Suu Kyi, Aung SanAung San Suu Kyi Burma Peace "for her non-violent struggle for democracy and human rights"[33]
1992 Rigoberta Menchu Tum.JPG Menchu, RigobertaRigoberta Menchú Guatemala Peace "in recognition of her work for social justice and ethno-cultural reconciliation based on respect for the rights of indigenous peoples"[34]
1993 Toni Morrison 2008-2.jpg Morrison, ToniToni Morrison United States Literature "who in novels characterized by visionary force and poetic import, gives life to an essential aspect of American reality"[35]
1995 Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard mg 4383.jpg Nusslein-Volhard, ChristianeChristiane Nüsslein-Volhard
(shared with Edward B. Lewis and Eric F. Wieschaus)		 Germany Physiology or Medicine "for their discoveries concerning the genetic control of early embryonic development"[36]
1996 Szymborska.jpg Szymborska, WislawaWisława Szymborska Poland Literature "for poetry that with ironic precision allows the historical and biological context to come to light in fragments of human reality"[37]
1997 JodyWilliams1.jpg Williams, JodyJody Williams
(shared with the International Campaign to Ban Landmines)		 United States Peace "for their work for the banning and clearing of anti-personnel mines"[38]
2003 Ebadi.jpg Ebadi, ShirinShirin Ebadi Iran Peace "for her efforts for democracy and human rights. She has focused especially on the struggle for the rights of women and children"[39]
2004 Elfriede jelinek 2004 small.jpg Jelinek, ElfriedeElfriede Jelinek Austria Literature "for her musical flow of voices and counter-voices in novels and plays that with extraordinary linguistic zeal reveal the absurdity of society's clichés and their subjugating power"[40]
2004 Wangari Maathai in Nairobi.jpg Maathai, WangariWangari Maathai Kenya Peace "for her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace"[41]
2004 LindaBuck cropped 1.jpg Buck, Linda B.Linda B. Buck
(shared with Richard Axel)		 United States Physiology or Medicine "for their discoveries of odorant receptors and the organization of the olfactory system"[42]
2007 Doris lessing 20060312 (square).jpg Lessing, DorisDoris Lessing United Kingdom Literature "that epicist of the female experience, who with scepticism, fire and visionary power has subjected a divided civilisation to scrutiny"[43]
2008 Françoise Barré-Sinoussi-press conference Dec 06th, 2008-1.jpg Barre-Sinoussi, FrancoiseFrançoise Barré-Sinoussi
(shared with Harald zur Hausen and Luc Montagnier)		 France Physiology or Medicine "for their discovery of human immunodeficiency virus"[44]
2009 Elizabeth Blackburn 2009-01.JPG Blackburn, ElizabethElizabeth Blackburn
(shared with Carol W. Greider and Jack W. Szostak)		 Australia and United States Physiology or Medicine "for the discovery of how chromosomes are protected by telomeres and the enzyme telomerase"[45]
2009 Carol Greider 2009-01.JPG Greider, Carol W.Carol W. Greider
(shared with Elizabeth Blackburn and Jack W. Szostak)		 United States Physiology or Medicine "for the discovery of how chromosomes are protected by telomeres and the enzyme telomerase"[45]
2009 AdaYonath.jpg Yonath, Ada E.Ada E. Yonath
(shared with Venkatraman Ramakrishnan and Thomas A. Steitz)		 Israel Chemistry "for studies of the structure and function of the ribosome"[46]
2009 Herta Muller.jpg Muller, HertaHerta Müller Germany and Romania Literature "who, with the concentration of poetry and the frankness of prose, depicts the landscape of the dispossessed"[47]
2009 Nobel Prize 2009-Press Conference KVA-30.jpg Elinor OstromElinor Ostrom
(shared with Oliver E. Williamson)		 United States Economics "for her analysis of economic governance, especially the commons"[48]
2011 Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, April 2010.jpg Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Liberia Peace "For their non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women's rights to full participation in peace-building work"[49]
Leymah-gbowee-at-emu-press-conference.jpg Leymah Gbowee
Tawakkol Karman.jpg Tawakel Karman Yemen
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References

General
Specific
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  2. ^ a b "The Nobel Prize". Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 2008-10-16. 
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  4. ^ "The Nobel Prize Amounts". Nobel Foundation. Archived from the original on July 31, 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-16. 
  5. ^ "The Nobel Prize Award Ceremonies". Nobel Foundation. Archived from the original on August 22, 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-16. 
  6. ^ "Nobel Laureates Facts". Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 2011-10-07. 
  7. ^ a b c d "Nobel Laureates Facts - Women". Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 2011-10-07. 
  8. ^ "Nobel Laureates Facts - Organizations". Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 2009-10-13. 
  9. ^ a b "Nobel Prize in Physics 1903". Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 2008-10-16. 
  10. ^ "Economics 2009". Nobel Foundation. 2009-10-12. Retrieved 2009-10-12. 
  11. ^ "Nobel Peace Prize 1905". Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 2008-10-16. 
  12. ^ "Nobel Prize in Literature 1909". Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 2008-10-16. 
  13. ^ "The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1911". Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 2008-10-16. 
  14. ^ "Nobel Prize in Literature 1926". Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 2008-10-16. 
  15. ^ "Nobel Prize in Literature 1928". Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 2008-10-16. 
  16. ^ "Nobel Peace Prize 1931". Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 2008-10-16. 
  17. ^ "The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1935". Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 2008-10-16. 
  18. ^ "Nobel Prize in Literature 1938". Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 2008-10-16. 
  19. ^ "Nobel Prize in Literature 1945". Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 2008-10-16. 
  20. ^ "Nobel Peace Prize 1946". Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 2008-10-16. 
  21. ^ "Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1947". Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 2008-10-16. 
  22. ^ "The Nobel Prize in Physics 1963". Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 2008-10-16. 
  23. ^ "The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1964". Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 2008-10-16. 
  24. ^ "Nobel Prize in Literature 1966". Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 2008-10-16. 
  25. ^ a b "Nobel Peace Prize 1976". Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 2008-10-16. 
  26. ^ "Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1977". Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 2008-10-16. 
  27. ^ "Nobel Peace Prize 1979". Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 2008-10-16. 
  28. ^ "Nobel Peace Prize 1982". Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 2008-10-16. 
  29. ^ "Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1983". Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 2008-10-16. 
  30. ^ "Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1986". Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 2008-10-16. 
  31. ^ "Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1988". Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 2008-10-16. 
  32. ^ "Nobel Prize in Literature 1991". Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 2008-10-16. 
  33. ^ "Nobel Peace Prize 1991". Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 2008-10-16. 
  34. ^ "Nobel Peace Prize 1992". Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 2008-10-16. 
  35. ^ "Nobel Prize in Literature 1993". Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 2008-10-16. 
  36. ^ "Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1995". Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 2008-10-16. 
  37. ^ "Nobel Prize in Literature 1996". Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 2008-10-16. 
  38. ^ "Nobel Peace Prize 1997". Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 2012-09-09. 
  39. ^ "Nobel Peace Prize 2003". Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 2008-10-16. 
  40. ^ "Nobel Prize in Literature 2004". Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 2008-10-16. 
  41. ^ "Nobel Peace Prize 2004". Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 2008-10-16. 
  42. ^ "Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2004". Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 2008-10-16. 
  43. ^ "Nobel Prize in Literature 2007". Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 2008-10-16. 
  44. ^ "Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2008". Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 2008-10-16. 
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  46. ^ "Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2009". Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 2009-10-07. 
  47. ^ "Nobel Prize in Literature 2009". Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 2009-10-08. 
  48. ^ "Nobel Prize in Economics 2009". Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 2009-10-12. 
  49. ^ "The Nobel Peace Prize 2011". Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 2011-10-07. 
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Last modified on 15 April 2013, at 17:11