Are the Nobel prize science categories outdated? Ten scientists and engineers argue, in an open letter to the Nobel prize committee published in New Scientist magazine, that they are."If the World Health Organization were to eradicate malaria," they point out, "the achievement might not qualify for any of the existing prizes. Fundamental breakthroughs in areas such as neuroscience and ecology ... are also going unrecognized." Nor do existing categories offer much for achievements in climate change. The writers advocate creating prizes for "Global Environment" and "Public Health," and expanding the physiology/medicine category "to recognise contributions from across the life sciences."

Has science "changed significantly since the first [Nobel] prizes were awarded"?

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Heather Horn