The Nobel Prize must be decolonised to truly celebrate global excellence

This year's Nobel laureate for Economics Claudia Goldin, Physics Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz and Anne L'Huillier, in Chemistry Moungi G Bawendi, Louis E Brus and Aleksey Yekimov, at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm on Thursday. — Reuters

AS the The Nobel Prize award ceremony kicks off today in Sweden and Norway, amid the Nobel Week festivities, it is worth noting that Nobel laureates, whether by affiliation or residence, overwhelmingly hail from the Western world.

As affiliation is also a marker of regional origin, it spotlights the pervasive influence of Western research institutions and intellectual culture on the achievement and acknowledgement of excellence.The Nobel Prize, which highlights excellence in science, literature, economics and the promotion of peace, continues to tilt disproportionately towards Western laureates, inviting critical scrutiny of its professed global character and alignment with Alfred Nobel’s visionary intent.