Geniuses and heroes in science

Nobel Prizes were awarded for the first time in 1901 based on the last will of Swedish chemist and industrialist Alfred Nobel (1833-1896).

Now that more than a century has passed these prizes have become a prestigious award in the world of academia, science and culture, but they have also acquired a symbolic value.

The announcement of Nobel Prize winners captures the attention of both the public and the press, and puts science, research, literature and peace in the spotlight.

Every year around this time the University of Trento organizes a series of lectures on the Nobel topics and invites the student and local community to attend.

This year the lectures will also focus on the meaning of these prizes since their establishment, and on their impact on how we perceive science and scientists.

One lecture will be on the Fields Medal, which is often described as the Nobel prize for Mathematics.

It has been awarded since 1936, every 4 years, to 4 mathematicians under 40 years of age.

It is not awarded by the Swedish Academy of Sciences but it is as prestigious as the Nobel.

Source: www.webmagazine.unitn.it