A Call for Change: Expanding Nobel Prizes to Reflect Modern Science

The Nobel Committee has recently decided to award the Nobel Prizes in Chemistry and Physics to scientists who worked with AI. There was of course no computer science or artificial intelligence in the 1895 will from Alfred Nobel. This has caused some controversies as new research discoveries are sometimes difficult to classify into the traditional fields of the Nobel (physiology and medicine, physics, chemistry, and economics).

Alfred Nobel wanted to award the "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind.”

As a start, I suggest that a new prize should reward engineering sciences. Engineering is very interdisciplinary, very vast, and can clearly help humanity. It can be mechanical engineering, electrical, electronic and computer science engineering, chemical and material science engineering, bioengineering etc..

This will create a new venue for new discoveries to be recognized without encroaching over the traditional Nobel domains.

It is possible to create a new Prize under the umbrella of the Nobel Foundation (though not a traditional Nobel Prize as Alfred Nobel did not want new Prizes in his will) since it has been done before with economics. Indeed, in 1969, the Central Bank of Sweden established a Nobel Prize in Economics, formally the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel. Maybe it is time to do it.

These are are possible statutes for a Prize in Engineering Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel inspired by the ones for the Economics Nobel Prize:

Statutes for the Prize in Engineering Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel

Approved by the Crown on December 19, 2024, to take effect January 1, 2025.

§ 1: Introduction

The Prize in Engineering Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel is established in memory of Alfred Nobel, in recognition of significant advancements in engineering that have greatly benefitted humanity. This prize shall be awarded annually to individuals or groups whose work has demonstrated exceptional contributions to the field of engineering sciences, fostering innovation and solving pressing global challenges.

§ 2: Award Procedure

The process for nomination, evaluation, and awarding the Prize in Engineering Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel shall follow the rules established for other Nobel Prizes. A Prize Committee shall be appointed by the Royal Academy of Sciences to oversee the selection process.

§ 3: Allocation of Unawarded Funds

If, in any given year, the prize is not awarded, the funds shall be reserved for future awards. In the event that a nominee declines the prize or fails to claim the prize within the stipulated timeframe, the funds shall revert to the managing organization.

§ 4: Financial Management

The financial resources for this prize shall be provided by the Nobel Foundation. The funds shall be used to cover the expenses related to the presentation and management of the prize, including administrative costs. Any unused funds shall be preserved for future awards.

§ 5: Fund Oversight

The administration and auditing of the prize funds, along with their review by government-appointed officials, shall be subject to the same regulations as those governing other Nobel Prizes.

§ 6: Statutory Amendments

Proposals for amendments to these statutes may be made by the Royal Academy of Sciences or the Nobel Foundation's Board. Any proposed changes require joint approval by both bodies and must be submitted to the Government for final ratification.

§ 7: Nomination Eligibility

Nominations for the Nobel Prize in Engineering Sciences may be submitted by:

1. Members of the Royal Academy of Sciences, both Swedish and foreign.
2. Members of the Prize Committee for Engineering Sciences.
3. Previous laureates of the Prize in Engineering Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel.
4. Professors of relevant subjects at universities in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Norway.
5. Professors of equivalent subjects at at least six universities or institutions selected by the Royal Academy of Sciences to ensure an international and diverse representation.
6. Additional individuals or scientists that the Academy sees fit to invite for nominations.

The list of nominators in categories (5) and (6) shall be reviewed and updated annually by the Royal Academy.

§ 8: Composition of the Prize Committee

The Prize Committee shall consist of five members, elected by the Royal Academy of Sciences for three-year terms. Members may be re-elected twice in succession, and further re-election may only occur after a three-year hiatus. No member may serve beyond the age of seventy. The Academy shall elect a chairman from the committee members for a one-year term, which may be renewed twice.

§ 9: Nomination and Voting Procedures

Each year, by September, the Prize Committee shall invite eligible nominators to submit proposals for the prize by February 1 of the following year. The Prize Committee will review the proposals and submit its final recommendation to the Academy of Sciences by the end of September. The relevant class within the Academy will provide its opinion, and the final decision shall be made by the Academy before mid-November.

§ 10: Confidentiality

All discussions, opinions, and proposals related to the prize award process shall remain confidential and may not be disclosed or published.

§ 11: Compensation for Committee Members

Compensation for Prize Committee members, co-opted experts, and other individuals engaged by the committee shall be determined by the Academy of Sciences following consultation with the relevant class.

§ 12: Medal Award

Each member of the Royal Academy of Sciences who participates in the final decision meeting for the Nobel Prize in Engineering Sciences shall receive a gold medal in memory of Alfred Nobel. The keeper of the minutes shall also be awarded a gold medal for their service.

§ 13: Statutory Meetings

All matters concerning the Nobel Prize in Engineering Sciences shall be considered at special meetings of the relevant class within the Academy and the full Academy. The minutes of these meetings shall be recorded separately from other Academy business. The Nobel Foundation shall cover all expenses related to these meetings.

§ 14: Amendment Process

Proposals to amend these statutes may be initiated by members of the Academy or the Prize Committee. All proposed amendments shall be reviewed by the Prize Committee and the relevant class within the Academy. Any approved amendments must be submitted to the Government for final approval.

These statutes shall take effect on January 1, 2025, and apply retroactively to any actions necessary for the implementation of the prize.

Let's make this happen, please sign this petition https://chng.it/BJwTfrnbnT