The Nobel Prize – Celebrating Science, Creativity and Human Progress
Alfred Nobel (21 October 1833 – 10 December 1896) was a Swedish chemist, inventor, engineer and entrepreneur, best known for inventing dynamite and establishing the Nobel Prizes. During his lifetime, he registered as many as 355 patents and made significant contributions to the development of science and technology.
In his will, signed in 1895, A. Nobel bequeathed most of his fortune to establish prizes recognising individuals and organisations whose work had conferred the greatest benefit to humankind. This laid the foundations for one of the world's most prestigious awards – the Nobel Prizes.
The first Nobel Prizes were awarded in 1901. They are presented annually for outstanding achievements in five fields: Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature and Peace. In 1968, the Sveriges Riksbank (Sweden's central bank) established an additional prize in Economic Sciences in memory of Alfred Nobel.
The Nobel laureates are selected by different institutions in Sweden and Norway, in recognition of their outstanding achievements and contributions to their respective fields. Each laureate receives a gold medal, a diploma and a monetary award. The Nobel Prize award ceremony takes place every year on 10 December, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel's death.
Over more than a century, the Nobel Prizes have become not only a recognition of outstanding individual achievement but also a symbol of global significance, reminding us of the profound impact that science, creativity, bold ideas and dedication can have on human progress.
This exhibition presents the collection amassed over many years by Prof. Habil. Dr Eugenijus Norkus, a researcher at FTMC's Catalysis Department. It features notebooks and coins associated with Nobel laureates and their respective fields.
These objects offer a glimpse into the history of the Nobel Prizes through the lens of collecting, while commemorating the people whose work has changed the world.
The exhibition opens on 10 December 2026 and can be visited in the main lobby of FTMC, Saulėtekio al. 3, Vilnius.
