All people heard about the famous award, which is given to scientists for their contribution to science and innovative developments. And the scientists themselves do not leave the covers of fashion magazines and are well correcting their financial situation.
The initiator of the introduction of the award was the famous Swedish engineer and chemist Alfred Nobel. The scientist was ahead of everyone at the pace of the world of inventions - his legacy is more than 350 scientific developments. Nobel bequeathed part of his fortune to the foundation he created in 1895, which was to award outstanding minds and stimulate further productive activities. The first ceremony was held after the death of the scientist. Now it takes place every year in December in one of the Stockholm city halls.
The prestige of this award makes scientists work hard. But what circumstances force people to consciously refuse the highest award in their field?
Consider 10 high-profile cases of failure of the Nobel Prize laureates.
10. Bernard Shaw
The famous writer, whose work is permeated by humanism, satire and idealism, representatives of the commission determined the prize in 1925. The author refused it, believing that financial assistance at this moment was no longer relevant, and he was able to overcome all the “thorns” on the path to success on his own. Journalists quickly spread the news about the eccentric behavior of the poet, as a result of which he began to receive many letters of various contents. In some, the Americans were perplexed that if the Show was so rich, then he could share it with ordinary people. Such behavior annoyed the writer, and he turned to people with irony, lamenting that the Nobel Prize is a mistake for the world of science.
9. Alexander Solzhenitsyn
In the 70s, the famous writer of the USSR and the dissident also refused an honorary award. Her Alexander was awarded for high morality and the preservation of the traditions of Russian identity. The author did not even appear at the presentation ceremony - he was afraid that a similar award would hinder his return from Stockholm to Russia. So it happened, in fact - after the recognition of the writer as a world college, active persecution began. Solzhenitsyn’s manuscripts were seized and destroyed, and the famous book The Gulag Archipelago, published in France in 1973, became the reason for declaring the writer a traitor to the Motherland. This was followed by expulsion from the Soviet Union. Nevertheless, the commemorative award "waited" for its owner - Solzhenitsyn received it a year later.
8. Fan Ding Khai
A political person under the pseudonym Le Duc Tho led the North Vietnamese delegation, which was present at the peace talks in France. For their diplomatic activities, in 1973 they were going to pass the famous prize to Fan. She was also awarded the “colleague” Khai - Secretary of State of the States Henry Kissinger. The result of the productive communication of these 2 diplomats was the signing of a ceasefire in Paris. Fan Ding, however, refused the prize because the signing of the agreement was not the end of the war, so the celebration of the leaders was premature.
7. Adolf Butenandt
The famous German chemist devoted his life to the study of sex hormones in the body. The scientist learned to excrete from human urine dehydroeliandrosterone and androsterone - derivatives, which made it possible to examine in detail the structure of testosterone and perform its artificial synthesis. In 1934, the author was also able to independently obtain a pure form of the female hormone progesterone. For services in 1939 he was awarded the Nobel Prize. But Adolph Butenandt could not pick up the award due to the political situation.
6. Leo Tolstoy
The Academy of Sciences in Russia nominated a writer and philosopher for an award in 1906. Tolstoy wrote to the good comrade writer Yarnefelt asking him not to be awarded this insignia. At the age of 78, the writer did not see the point in the money allocated, since he himself was from a noble family with a wealthy estate. He also probably did not want to be “famous” as one of the oldest nominees for the award. A friend of the writer fulfilled the request, and it was addressed to the poet from Italy, Carducci.
5. Jean-Paul Sartre
The famous French playwright and philosopher was awarded the award in 1964. Jean-Paul predicted a bright future in literature, as his texts were imbued with the spirit of freedom and had a significant influence on the spirit of that time. The writer chose to refuse the award, again because of philosophical considerations. Money and fame, according to his reasoning, can become obstacles to independence and fruitful work. The playwright officially made a statement of refusal in Paris, and a few months later shocked the world community with the fact that he was going to leave the literary field, calling him the "surrogate" of the effective transformation of the world.
4. James Watson
A biologist and colleagues received an award back in the 60s for their amazing discovery of DNA and an explanation of its molecular structure. This changed the course of biological science, making it possible to decipher the individuals' genome. Recently, the scientist has been studying cancer processes and is looking for effective processes to combat them. For new searches, the author needed funds, and the income from fees for the textbooks sold had run out. To resume effective work, the biologist decided on a radical step - he put up for sale a Nobel medal, despite the importance of this memorable award. At an auction it was bought back for almost 5 million US dollars, after which it was immediately returned to the owner. Here is such a wide step to maintain scientific progress - this is not the politicians' allegiance to you.
3. Richard Kun
The first state structure that forbade the country's scientists to accept the Nobel Prize was the sensational Third Reich. Nazi representatives called the decisions of the prize committee politically tinted. As a result of the hype, the well-known chemist Richard Kun, a native of Germany, could not take his well-deserved reward. She was awarded a scientist in 1938 for effective research on vitamins and carotenoids. Kun also determined the structure and was able to artificially synthesize several hundred natural components, including plant pigments. After the end of World War II, the biochemist was able to get a well-deserved medal, however, no one returned the "burnt" money during this time.
2. Boris Pasternak
The famous writer received an award in 1958 for his novel Doctor Zhivago. Pasternak was very moved and pleasantly surprised by the news, but the happiness did not last long - active persecution by the Central Committee of the CPSU began. In his homeland, Boris was considered an enemy of the state, which was manifested in his supposedly anti-Soviet texts. The attacks were supported by newspaper editions, theaters removed the plays translated by him, and the Writers Union excluded them from their lists. But this is not all - Boris Leonidovich was presented with a demand for the deprivation of Soviet citizenship. The last drop brought the writer, with all his soul belonging to his homeland, out of balance, against which he hastened to refuse the award. A diploma and a medal were nevertheless transferred to the Pasternak family posthumously.
1. Gerhard Domagk
He also fell victim to Hitler’s political dictator during the war. In 1939, a well-known German bacteriologist was awarded the Nobel Prize for the discovery of pronosyl sulfanilamide, an antibiotic aimed at combating streptococcal pathogens. After the war ended, Domagk had the right to take the medal, but the financial support for the award expired.
This is how politicians and other persecutors prevented worthy scientists from receiving a well-deserved reward. A real researcher is not interested in medals and financial motivation, because unique discoveries are the work of his life.