How Einstein got the Nobel Prize

Abstract The procedure of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences for awarding the Nobel prize in physics is in outline as follows. Invitations to nominate are sent out by a five-member Nobel Committee (hereinafter called the Committee) elected from the membership. This Committee studies the proposals and supporting material, draws up a protocol of its deliberations, and decides by majority vote on a recommendation to the Academy.

The recommendation is then transmitted in the form of a report (hereinafter called the Report) that summarizes the merits of the proposals handed to the Committee and gives the reasons for its decision. The recommendatior: is voted on first by the Academy Klass (section) of physics. Then follows the decisive vote by the Academy in pleno (not just the physicists).

These votes need not agree with the Committee’s recommendation. For example, in 1908 the Committee unanimously proposed Planck. The Klass vote was also in support of Planck.

But the Academy chose Lippmann.