# List of awards considered the highest in a field

Several fields of human cultural and scientific development are not included in the list of Nobel Prizes, because they are neither among the prizes established as part of Alfred Nobel's will nor, in the case of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, sponsored afterwards by the Nobel Foundation. While the foundation has discouraged (and occasionally taken legal action against) individuals and organizations that have used the Nobel name to refer to prizes not meeting the aforementioned criteria, several prominent individuals and organizations have nonetheless used the label "Nobel Prize of X" to refer to highly prestigious awards in fields of activity not covered by the official Nobel Prizes. These awards are listed below.

## Prizes sponsored by the Nobel Foundation

Alfred Nobel's last will of 1895 only included five prizes, covering outstanding achievements who confer the "greatest benefit on mankind" in the fields of chemistry, physics, literature, peace, and physiology or medicine. The original Nobel prizes to be administered by the Nobel Foundation thus include:
* Nobel Prize in Chemistry
* Nobel Prize in Physics
* Nobel Prize in Literature
* Nobel Peace Prize
* Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
The foundation also sponsors the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences and has trademarked the term "Nobel Prize"; so, this designation cannot be legally used to refer to any prizes other than the five original Nobels.

## Prizes not sponsored by the Nobel Foundation

Several prizes in fields of study and achievement not covered by the original Nobel Prizes have been established by various entities. Some have been referred to as the "Nobel Prize of" that particular field, in the vast majority of cases without the approval of the Nobel Foundation. These prizes are generally the highest awards in their fields. For some fields, more than one prestigious prizes are listed below. Some most important prizes in the world are presented in bold. The distinguished prizes not conferred by the Nobel Foundation include (with the year when a prize was first awarded in brackets):

### Mathematical sciences
#### Applied mathematics

* John von Neumann Lecture Prize (1960)
* Carl Friedrich Gauss Prize (2006)$^1$
* George David Birkhoff Prize (1968)$^2$
* Norbert Wiener Prize (1970)$^2$

#### Mathematics

* Abel Prize (2003)
* Fields Medal (1936)$^1$
* Chern Medal (2010)$^2$
* Salem Prize
* Wolf Prize in Mathematics (1978)$^3$

#### Statistics

* Rousseeuw Prize for Statistics (2022)
* International Prize in Statistics (2017)
* COPSS Presidents' Award (1981)$^1$

### Engineering
#### Electrical engineering

* IEEE Medal of Honor (1917)
* Faraday Medal (1922)
* Edison Medal (1909)

#### Engineering

* Charles Stark Draper Prize (1989)
* John Fritz Medal (1902)
* Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering (2013)

#### Mechanical engineering

* ASME Medal (1921)
* Timoshenko Medal (1957)
* James Watt International Gold Medal (1937)

### Technology
#### Automation/control/cybernetics

* IEEE Control Systems Award (1982)
* Giorgio Quazza Medal (1981)
* Hendrik W. Bode Lecture Prize (1989)
* Richard E. Bellman Control Heritage Award (1979)

#### Communications

* Marconi Prize (1975)
* IEEE Alexander Graham Bell Medal (1976)

#### Computer science

* Turing Award (1966)
* IEEE John von Neumann Medal (1992)
* Computer Pioneer Award (1981)$^1$
* IMU Abacus Medal (1982)$^2$

#### Information technology

* W. Wallace McDowell Award (1966)
* C&C Prize (1985)
* Mountbatten Medal (1992)

#### Information theory

* Claude E. Shannon Award (1972)
* IEEE Richard W. Hamming Medal (1988)

#### Quantum information science

* International Quantum Communication Award (1996)
* Micius Quantum Prize (2018)
* Rolf Landauer and Charles H. Bennett Award in Quantum Computing (2017)$^1$

#### Robotics

* Joseph F. Engelberger Robotics Award (1977)
* IEEE Robotics and Automation Award (2004)

#### Technology

* Millennium Technology Prize (2004)
There are two other technology awards also sometimes referred to as a "Nobel":
* Lemelson–MIT Prize (1995), which is dubbed as the "Nobel Prize of inventing" or "Oscar for inventors", awarded to outstanding mid-career inventors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and have received a bachelor's degree within 25 years, as well as Lemelson–MIT Lifetime Achievement Award (awarded from 1995 to 2006), which recognized distinguished inventors whose pioneering spirit and inventiveness throughout their careers improved society and inspired others
* Honda Prize (1980), an international award that acknowledges the efforts of an individual or group who contribute new ideas which may lead the next generation in the field of ecotechnology, sometimes referred to as the "Nobel Prize in technology" since it has put a spotlight on achievements in a variety of fields based on a wide perspective in the future, including two Turing-awarded artificial intelligence accomplishments

### Physical or applied sciences
#### Astronomy

* Kavli Prize in Astrophysics (2008)
* Gruber Prize in Cosmology (2000)
* Crafoord Prize in Astronomy (1985)
* Shaw Prize in Astronomy (2004)

#### Energy research

* ENI Award (2008)
* Fermi Award (1956)
* Global Energy Prize (2003)

#### Materials research

* Von Hippel Award (1976)
* MRS Medal (1990)

#### Nanoscience

* Kavli Prize in Nanoscience (2008)
* Feynman Prize in Nanotechnology (1993)

#### Operations research

* John von Neumann Theory Prize (1975)

#### Optics/photonics

* Frederic Ives Medal/Jarus W. Quinn Prize (1929)
* IEEE Photonics Award (2004)
* SPIE Gold Medal (1977)

### Biological sciences, cognitive sciences and health sciences
#### Bioengineering

* Russ Prize (2001)
* Robert A. Pritzker Distinguished Lecture Award (1991)

#### Biology/ecology

* Crafoord Prize in Biosciences (1984)

#### Biomedicine

* Lasker Award (1946)
* Canada Gairdner Award (1959)
* Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize
* Warren Alpert Foundation Prize
* UNESCO Science Prize
* Wolf Prize in Medicine (1978)

#### Cognitive science

* Rumelhart Prize (2001)
* Jean Nicod Prize (1993) recognizes top research in philosophically oriented cognitive sciences and the philosophy of mind.

#### Conservation biology

* Indianapolis Prize (2006)
* BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Ecology and Conservation Biology (2008)

#### Dentistry/oral sciences

* IADR Gold Medal (2018)
* IADR Distinguished Scientist Award (1960)

#### Environmental epidemiology

* John Goldsmith Award

#### Microbiology

* Leeuwenhoek Medal (1875)

#### Neuroscience

* Brain Prize (2011)

#### Nursing

* Florence Nightingale Medal (1920)

#### Optometry

* Glenn A. Fry Award

#### Pharmaceutical research

* Prix Galien Award

#### Psychology

* Grawemeyer Award (2001)
* Kurt-Koffka Medal (2008)

### Geosciences, agricultural sciences and environmental sciences
#### Agriculture

* Wolf Prize in Agriculture (1978)
* World Food Prize (1987)
* Bertebos Prize (1997)

#### Atmospheric science

* Carl-Gustaf Rossby Research Medal (1951)

#### Earth science

* Crafoord Prize in Geosciences (1983)

#### Environmental science

* Blue Planet Prize (1992)
* Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement (1974)

#### Forestry

* Marcus Wallenberg Prize (1981)

#### Geography

* Vautrin Lud Prize (1991)
* Vega Medal (1881)$^1$

#### Geology

* Vetlesen Prize (1960)
* Wollaston Medal (1831)
* Penrose Medal (1927)

#### Hydrology

* International Hydrology Prize (1981)
* Robert E. Horton Medal (1976)

#### Limnology

* Naumann-Thienemann Medal (1930)

#### Meteorology

* International Meteorological Organization Prize (1956)

#### Oceanography

* A.G. Huntsman Award for Excellence in the Marine Sciences (1980)
* Alexander Agassiz Medal (1913)

#### Soil science

* Dokuchaev Award

#### Sustainability

* Katerva Award
There are two other environmental awards often referred to as a "Nobel":
* Goldman Environmental Prize (1990) for environmental activism, often referred to as the "Green Nobel"
* Stockholm Water Prize (1991) for water-related achievements, known as the "Nobel Prize of water"

### Social sciences and disciplines, business, humanities, and the arts
#### Anthropology

* Huxley Memorial Medal and Lecture (1900)
* The Swedish Society for Anthropology and Geography (SSAG), whose highest patron is the King of Sweden, awards a Gold Medal (called Retzius Medal before 2015) to world-leading scholars in anthropology and human geography.

#### Architecture

* Pritzker Prize (1979)
See also 'Arts' below.

#### Arts

* Praemium Imperiale, includes award categories in painting, sculpture, architecture, music, and a single film and theatre category.
* Wolf Prize in Arts (1981)
See also 'Architecture' and 'Nobel Prize in Literature' above, and 'Design', 'Music', and 'Photography' below.

#### Criminology

* Stockholm Prize in Criminology (2006)

#### Design

* Red Dot Design Award

#### Economics

Although there is an economic sciences prize sponsored by the Nobel Foundation, the following have also been referred to colloquially:
* John Bates Clark Medal (1947)$^1$
* Erwin Plein Nemmers Prize in Economics (1994)
* John von Neumann Award (1995)$^2$

#### Education

* Karolinska Prize for Research in Medical Education (2004)
* WISE Prize
* Yidan Prize is the world's most prestigious award in educational research.

#### Entrepreneurship

* Global Award for Entrepreneurship Research (1996)

#### Film

* Academy Awards (1929)
See also 'Arts' above and 'Television' below.

#### Finance

* Deutsche Bank Prize in Financial Economics (2005)
* IAQF Financial Engineer of the Year (1993)
* Fischer Black Prize (2003)$^1$

#### Futures Studies, Foresight

* UNESCO Chair in Futures Studies and Futures Literacy

#### Geography

* Vautrin Lud Prize (1991)
* The Swedish Society for Anthropology and Geography (SSAG), whose highest patron is the King of Sweden, awards a Gold Medal (called Retzius Medal before 2015) to world-leading scholars in human geography and anthropology.
See the section on Geosciences, Agricultural Sciences and Environmental Sciences awards above for prizes focused exclusively on physical geography.

#### Human rights

* Martin Ennals Award (1994)

#### Humanities

* Kluge Prize (2003)

#### Journalism

* Pulitzer Prize

#### Linguistics

* Neil and Saras Smith Medal for Linguistics (2014)

#### Literature

* Hans Christian Andersen Award for writers and illustrators of children's literature. The writer award is sometimes referred to as the 'little Nobel'.
See also 'Prizes sponsored by the Nobel Foundation' above.

#### Music/musicology

* Grammy Awards
* Songwriters Hall of Fame
* Ernst von Siemens Music Prize (1972)
* Polar Music Prize (1989)
* Gramophone Classical Music Awards
* Diapason d'Or
* Picasso Medal
See also 'Arts' above.

#### Painting

See 'Arts' above.

#### Philosophy

* Berggruen Philosophy Prize (2016)
* Rolf Schock Prize (1993)
* Jean Nicod Prize recognizes top research in the philosophy of mind and philosophically oriented cognitive sciences.

#### Photography

* Hasselblad Award (1980)

#### Political science

* Johan Skytte Prize in Political Science (1995)

#### Public service/public administration

* United Nations Public Service Awards (2003)

#### Records and Information Management

* Emmett Leahy Award (1967)$^1$

#### Sculpture

See 'Arts' above.

#### Social sciences/sociology

* Holberg Prize (2003)
* Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences$^1$
* Stein Rokkan Prize for Comparative Social Science Research (1981)

#### Television

* Emmy Awards
See 'Arts' and 'Film' above.

#### Theatre

* Tony Awards
See 'Arts' above.

#### Tourism

* UNWTO Ulysses Prize (2003)

#### Urbanism

* Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize (2010)

### Other fields
#### Religion

* Templeton Prize (1973)

#### Sports

* Laureus World Sports Awards