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Nobel Prize winners

Among its distinguished alumni and associates, the University has links with many Nobel Prize winners.

The awards are made annually in recognition of internationally significant cultural and scientific advances.

Prizes are given each year for Physics, Chemistry, Literature, Peace, and Physiology or Medicine.

In pictures

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Pioneering medicine

The most recent Nobel associated with the University was given to Sir Robert Edwards, an Edinburgh alumnus, who won his prize in 2010.

Edwards’ successful pioneering of in vitro fertilisation, the technique behind test tube babies, gained him the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

Other Physiology or Medicine laureates include Professor Peter Doherty, another Edinburgh graduate, who received a prize in 1996 for discovering how the body’s immune system protects against viruses.

Sir Paul Nurse, a former Post-Doctorate Researcher at Edinburgh, received an award in 2001 for the discovery of a gene that controls cell cycle regulation.

Sir Paul's discovery of the Cdk1 gene could aid cancer research, as cancer is caused by abnormal cell cycle regulation.

Former rectors

Nobels have been awarded to University officials.

Former Rector Sir Alexander Fleming received a prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1945 for the discovery of the antibiotic penicillin.

Sir Winston Churchil, another former Rector, received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1953.

Cross-disciplinary research

Some Nobel-winning discoveries have spanned the boundaries between different scientific disciplines, for example, research into X-rays.

Professor Hermann Muller, who worked at the University’s Institute of Animal Genetics, received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1946 for research that revealed the damaging effects of X-ray radiation.

Prior to this, Charles Glover Barkla, a Professor of Natural Philosophy at the University, received the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1918 for his discovery of characteristic X-ray elements.

Barkla’s work defined how X-rays themselves behave, whereas Muller demonstrated what they can do in medical practice.

Chemistry laureates

Elsewhere in the physical sciences, three Chemistry laureates are associated with the University.

Leading technology

Visiting Professor Kurt Wüthrich received the Prize in 2002 for the development of NMR spectroscopy.

The technology enables scientists to assess the physical and chemical properties of compounds, and has greatly aided progression of the life sciences.

DNA insight

Peter Mitchell, also a Visiting Professor at Edinburgh, received a prize in 1978.

He discovered how cells generate the energy they need, called ATP, by the movement of hydrogen across cell membranes.

Lord Alexander Todd, a Researcher at the University, received a prize in 1957.

He was recognised for his work on the structure and synthesis of nucleotides, the molecules that form DNA, and their co-enzymes, which help the molecules to function properly.

Practical discoveries

Aside from the acquisition of knowledge, research often has practical implications.

Sir Edward Appleton, former Principal, received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1947 for his contribution to the development of radar.

Professor Igor Tamm, a former student, also received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1958 for the joint discovery and interpretation of the Cherenkov-Vavilov effect.

This radiation can be used to measure the intensity of a nuclear reaction and how much radioactivity is left in spent nuclear fuel rods.

Hormone research

Former medical researcher Professor Vincent du Vigneaud received the 1955 Nobel Prize for Chemistry.

His work focused on unravelling the structure and synthesis of the hormone oxytocin.

The hormone causes contractions during childbirth. Artificial forms of oxytocin can be given to induce labour.

Building on previous work

Other research has been recognised for finding new applications for previous discoveries.

Max Born, a Tait Professor of Natural Philosophy at the University, received the 1954 Nobel Prize for Physics for his fundamental research in quantum mechanics.

Climate change research

Scientists associated with the University contributed to the work of the International Panel on Climate Change, which shared the 2007 Prize for Peace with Al Gore.

Contributors included Professor Gabi Hegerl and Professor Mark Rounsevell, both of the School of GeoSciences.

Dr Terry Barker, a former student at Edinburgh, also took part in the work of the IPCC.

Financial nous

In the field of economics, former student Sir James Mirrlees received the 1996 Nobel Memorial Prize.

Mirrlees was honoured for his pioneering economic theories, including studies on income tax.

His award, the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, is not officially a Nobel but is considered to be the equivalent.

Mathematical excellence

The Abel Prize for Mathematics is the equivalent to a Nobel.

Honorary Professor Sir Michael Atiyah received this prize in 2004 for his Atiyah-Singer theorem, with Professor Isadore Singer.

The theorem is considered one of the landmark discoveries of modern mathematics and is used in theoretical physics.

Photography credits: Robert Edwards, Bourn Hall Clinic. Edward Appleton, Charles Glover Barkla, Igor Tamm, Max Born, Nobel foundation.