List of awards considered the highest in a field


This is a list of awards that are considered the highest in a field of science, business, humanities, art, religion, or sports.

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:
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 :

Mathematical sciences

Applied mathematics

Mathematics

Abel Prize Fields Medal 1

Statistics

Engineering

Electrical engineering

IEEE Medal of Honor

Engineering

Mechanical engineering

Technology

Automation/control/cybernetics

Communications

Computer science

Turing Award

Information technology

Information theory

Quantum information science

Robotics

Technology

There are two other technology awards also sometimes referred to as a "Nobel":Lemelson–MIT Prize, 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, which recognized distinguished inventors whose pioneering spirit and inventiveness throughout their careers improved society and inspired othersHonda Prize, 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

Energy research

Materials research

Nanoscience

Operations research

Optics/photonics

Biological sciences, cognitive sciences and health sciences

Bioengineering

Biology/ecology

Biomedicine

Brewing

Cognitive science

Conservation biology

Dentistry/oral sciences

  • IADR Gold Medal
  • IADR Distinguished Scientist Award

Epidemiology

Microbiology

Neuroscience

Nursing

Optometry

  • Glenn A. Fry Award

Pharmaceutical research

  • Prix Galien Award

Psychology

Geosciences, agricultural sciences and environmental sciences

Agriculture

Atmospheric science

Earth science

Environmental science

Forestry

Geography

Geology

Hydrology

Limnology

  • Naumann-Thienemann Medal

Meteorology

Oceanography

Soil science

  • Dokuchaev Award

Sustainability

  • Katerva Award
There are two other environmental awards often referred to as a "Nobel":

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

Anthropology

Architecture

''See also 'Arts' below.''

Arts

''See also 'Nobel Prize in Literature' and 'Architecture' above, as well as 'Design', 'Film', 'Literature', 'Music', 'Photography', 'Television', and 'Theatre' below.''

Criminology

Design

Economics

Although there is an economic sciences prize sponsored by the Nobel Foundation, the following have also been referred to colloquially:

Education

Entrepreneurship

Film

''See also 'Arts' above and 'Television' below.''

Finance

Futures studies

Geography

See the section on Geosciences, Agricultural Sciences and Environmental Sciences awards above for prizes focused exclusively on physical geography.

History

  • Dan David Prize, originally awarding innovative research that cut across traditional boundaries and paradigms; starting in 2022 switched its focus to support outstanding contributions to the study of history and other disciplines that shed light on the human past. It is the largest history prize in the world, and has been referred to as the 'Nobel of historians'.

Human rights

Humanities

Journalism

Linguistics

Music/musicology

''See also 'Arts' above.''

Painting

''See 'Arts' above.''

Philosophy

Photography

Political science

Public service/public administration

Records and Information Management

Sculpture

''See 'Arts' above.''

Social sciences/sociology

Tourism

  • UNWTO Ulysses Prize

Urbanism

Other fields

Religion

Sports