Frequently Asked Questions – Nominations to the Wolf Prize
What are the Wolf Prize categories?
The Wolf Prize categories are –
Sciences: Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Agriculture, and Mathematics
Arts: Architecture, Music, Painting, and Sculpture.
– These categories were laid out in the Wolf Foundation Law. In 1975.
Are Wolf Prizes given every year?
Yes, the Wolf Prizes are awarded annually. The Wolf Foundation presents four prizes in the sciences and one prize in the arts each year.
- In the sciences, prizes are awarded in four of the following fields each year, rotating annually: Agriculture, Chemistry, Mathematics, Medicine, and Physics.
- In the arts, one prize is awarded each year, rotating among the categories of Painting and Sculpture, Architecture, and Music.
Who Can Nominate for the Wolf Prize?
Nominations for the Wolf Prize are by invitation only. Each year, the Wolf Foundation invites thousands of esteemed individuals, including members of academies, university professors, scientists, past Wolf Prize laureates, presidents of national academies, and leaders of professional associations, to submit nominations for the following year’s prizes.
Once all nominations are submitted, the international Wolf Prize committees review and select the laureates.
How Can You Become a Nominator?
Only individuals who meet the criteria for qualified nominators, as outlined by statute or approved by the Wolf Foundation, are eligible to nominate candidates for the Wolf Prize.
If you wish to be considered as a nominator, please contact the Wolf Foundation at [email protected]. Include your request along with your full name, title, affiliation, position, and field of research/expertise.
Are There Limits on the Number of Nominations an Institution Can Submit?
There are no limits to the number of nominations an individual, organization, or institution can submit. However, due to the highly competitive nature of the Wolf Prize, we recommend focusing on nominating the strongest candidate in each field. Submitting multiple candidates from the same field is advisable only if they collaborated on the same breakthrough; in such cases, they should be submitted as a joint nomination.
Who Is Eligible to Be Nominated for the Wolf Prize?
The Wolf Prize is awarded to scientists and artists worldwide for their professional achievements that benefit humanity. Anyone who has made an original and significant contribution in their field is eligible for nomination. The highly competitive Wolf Prize honors individuals whose work opens new frontiers. Nominees can reside in any country.
Candidates must be nominated by qualified individuals who have received an invitation from the Wolf Foundation. Self-nominations are not permitted.
What Does the Wolf Prize Recognize?
The Wolf Prize honors exceptional research and breakthroughs that have fundamentally transformed the understanding, practice, or trajectory of a specific field. It is not designed to acknowledge cumulative lifetime contributions, ongoing leadership roles, or administrative work.
The Prize is awarded for significant breakthroughs rather than for exemplary careers or leadership within a particular discipline. Nominations highlighting achievements in enhancing public understanding of science through teaching, mentoring, or influential roles in policy, legislative, or other initiatives aimed at accelerating scientific progress will not be considered.
Can I nominate someone posthumously for the Wolf Prize?
No. We do not accept posthumous. The Wolf Foundation does not award posthumous honors.
Can I nominate myself for the Wolf Prize?
A person cannot nominate himself/herself. We do not accept self-nominations.
Can I nominate an Institute, association, NGO, etc., for the Wolf Prize?
The Wolf Prize is awarded to individuals, not to institutions or organizations.
Can I Nominate Multiple Candidates to Share the Prize? How Many People Can Share the Same Wolf Prize?
Scientific discoveries often arise from collaborative efforts or independent observations made by multiple individuals. A Wolf Prize can be shared by up to three individuals.
Nominations for two or three candidates may be submitted jointly to share the prize, but this is only permitted for collaborative work or contributions directly related to the same specific achievement. Each candidate must be nominated using a separate form, with the joint nomination clearly indicated as appropriate.
Please note that a joint nomination serves as a recommendation to the committee, which will evaluate each candidate individually.
How long are nominations viable?
Nominations are considered for three cycles following their initial submission. The nominator does not need to take any action for the file to be included during this period. However, we strongly encourage nominators to review and update their existing nominations each year prior to the deadline. After three cycles, a new nomination package is required.
How are nominations evaluated? Who selects the Wolf Prize Laureates?
Nominations are evaluated by international jury committees appointed annually for each field (e.g., Chemistry, Medicine, Physics, Mathematics, Agriculture, Painting and Sculpture, Architecture, and Music). These committees consist of distinguished experts from various countries, representing diverse subfields within their disciplines. The committees strive to reflect a broad spectrum of experience, expertise, and knowledge from the global scientific community.
The deliberations and committee members remain confidential. Decisions are final and irrevocable.
Is the nomination process confidential?
Yes. All nominating materials, the deliberations, and committee members are kept strictly confidential.
Are the Jury committee members and nominations made public?
According to “Wolf Foundation law” and bylaws, the identity of the Prize Committee Members and their deliberations are confidential.
The Wolf Foundation’s statutes restrict disclosure of information about the nominations, whether publicly or privately. The restriction concerns the nominees and nominators, as well as investigations and opinions related to the award of a prize. The proceedings, committee members, and recommendations are kept confidential, except for the citation of the recipient’s prize justifications, which the committee members write and the Wolf Foundation publishes.
Scope of the Agriculture Field
For the purposes of the Wolf Prize, the field of Agriculture is broadly defined and encompasses the full range of agricultural sciences and related disciplines. This includes, but is not limited to: agronomy; horticulture; agroforestry; plant sciences, breeding and agricultural genetics; animal sciences and animal husbandry; veterinary sciences; fisheries and aquaculture; agricultural engineering and technology; agricultural and environmental economics; soil and water sciences; natural resources and their sustainable use in agriculture; entomology; plant pathology and agricultural microbiology; food science and technology; nutrition as it relates to food and agriculture; food security; and environmental sciences directly related to agriculture, food production, and the sustainable management of agricultural resources.
Nominations are welcome for researchers whose outstanding contributions have significantly advanced agricultural science, food production and security, sustainability, or the responsible use of natural resources.