Chemistry Laureate Frances Arnold in the laboratory
Photo kindly provided by Caltech
Marie Curie was the first woman to be awarded in 1903 (Physics Prize), followed by Bertha von Suttner who was awarded in 1905 (Peace Prize). As of 2017, the Nobel Prize have been awarded to women 52 times (Marie Curie is awarded twice). In 2009, the year when most women were awarded in a single year, five women were awarded.
Literary mastery, pioneering science, life-saving discoveries and actions for peace and human rights - achievements of women around the world awarded the Nobel Prize.
Developed a technique that revolutionised laser technology
Donna Strickland
Ill. Niklas Elmehed. © Nobel Media
Conducted the first directed evolution of enzymes
Frances H. Arnold
Ill. Niklas Elmehed. © Nobel Media
Campaigning to end sexual violence in war
Nadia Murad
Ill. Niklas Elmehed. © Nobel Media
Gave voice to the post-Soviet individual
Photo: A. Mahmoud
Discovered a novel therapy against malaria
Photo: A. Mahmoud
Discovered the brain's positioning system
Photo: A. Mahmoud
Advocate of girls' right to education
Photo: K. Opprann
Master of the contemporary short story
Photo: J. Munro
Promoter of peace, justice and democratic rule in Liberia
Photo: K. Opprann
Activist for women's rights, peace and social justice
Photo: K. Opprann
Led work for women's rights in Yemen
Photo: K. Opprann
Studied the management of common property
© The Nobel Foundation. Photo: U. Montan
Writer depicting corruption, intolerance and repression
© The Nobel Foundation. Photo: U. Montan
Discovered the vital role of telomeres
© The Nobel Foundation. Photo: U. Montan
Discovered the vital role of telomeres
© The Nobel Foundation. Photo: U. Montan
Mapped the ribosome at the atomic level
© The Nobel Foundation. Photo: U. Montan
Discovered the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
© The Nobel Foundation. Photo: U. Montan
Wrote about how and why we live
© The Nobel Foundation. Photo: U. Montan
Founder of grass roots movement to combat deforestation
Photo from the Nobel Foundation archive.
Discovered how our sense of smell works
Photo from the Nobel Foundation archive.
Revealed the absurdity of society's clichés in her writing
Photo from the Nobel Foundation archive.
Human rights activist and lawyer
Photo from the Nobel Foundation archive.
Peace activist and campaigner against landmines
Photo from the Nobel Foundation archive.
Wrote poetry that links the past with the present
Photo from the Nobel Foundation archive.
Discovered genetic mechanisms controlling early development
Photo from the Nobel Foundation archive.
Depicts the historical role of African-American women in society
Photo from the Nobel Foundation archive.
Campaigner for the rights of indigenous peoples
Photo from the Nobel Foundation archive.
Depicted the consequences of apartheid
Photo from the Nobel Foundation archive.
Led a struggle for democracy and human rights in Myanmar
Photo from the Nobel Foundation archive.
Discovered important principles for drug treatment
Photo from the Nobel Foundation archive.
Investigated how the nervous system grows and develops
Photo from the Nobel Foundation archive.
Discovered mobile genetic elements, "jumping genes"
Photo from the Nobel Foundation archive.
Played a central role in the United Nations' disarmament negotiations
Photo from the Nobel Foundation archive.
Worked for the poor in Calcutta through her order, the Missionaries of Charity
Photo from the Nobel Foundation archive.
Developed a methodology for the determination of protein hormones in the blood
Photo from the Nobel Foundation archive.
Founded a grass roots movement against violence in Northern Ireland
Photo from the Nobel Foundation archive.
Founded a grass roots movement against violence in Northern Ireland
Photo from the Nobel Foundation archive.
Presented the cultural heritage of the Jewish people
Photo from the Nobel Foundation archive.
Determined the crystal structures of penicillin and vitamin B12
Photo from the Nobel Foundation archive.
Made the first advanced model of nuclear structure
Photo from the Nobel Foundation archive.
Proved insight into glycogen and glucose metabolism
Photo from the Nobel Foundation archive.
Leader of the American peace movement
Photo from the Nobel Foundation archive.
Wrote lyrical poetry on the theme of love, betrayal and nature
Photo from the Nobel Foundation archive.
Portrayed peasant life in China
Photo from the Nobel Foundation archive.
Discovered artificial radioactivity
Photo from the Nobel Foundation archive.
Social worker active in the peace movement
Photo from the Nobel Foundation archive.
Made vivid the life of medieval women
Photo from the Nobel Foundation archive.
Portrayed the harsh life in Sardinia in her poetry
Photo from the Nobel Foundation archive.
Storyteller and painter of peasant life
Photo from the Nobel Foundation archive.
Leader in the international peace movement
Photo from the Nobel Foundation archive.
Discovered the elements radium and polonium
Pioneering research on radiation
Photo from the Nobel Foundation archive.