About SIYSS

As time went by more nations were invited to participate in the program. For the 10th SIYSS in 1985 more nationalities than ever participated in the week-long seminar. Since then, the program has been held with about 25 participants. The students are introduced to Swedish science and research and get some knowledge of Sweden and Swedish customs. Furthermore the program brings together young people from all over the world with similar interests and thus aims to promote international understanding and friendship. The arranging of the seminar in connection with the Nobel festivities places it in a more solemn and inspiring context.

Participants of SIYSS

The participants in SIYSS are selected in different ways, some of them are winners of the National Science Fairs which are held in many of the participating countries, others are representing the organizations corresponding to the Swedish Federation of Young Scientists. Some are also selected because of being succesful students at their university. Whatever the background is of participating in SIYSS, we all have two things in common: a great interest in natural sciences and a curiosity for other cultures and people.

Every year there are about 25 participants in the ages between 18 and 25 from around 18 different countries all over the world who come and visit us in December.

Alfred Nobel

Alfred Nobel was born in Stockholm on October 21, 1833. In 1842, his family moved to St. Petersburg, where Alfred and his brothers were given a first class education by private teachers. The training included natural sciences, languages and literature. By the age of 17 Alfred Nobel was fluent in Swedish, Russian, French, English and German. His primary interests were in English literature and poetry as well as in chemistry and physics. Alfred's father, who wanted his sons to join his enterprise as engineers, sent him abroad for further training in chemical engineering. During a two year period Alfred Nobel visited Sweden, Germany, France and the United States.

In Paris, he met the young Italian chemist Ascanio Sobrero who, three years earlier, had invented nitroglycerine, a highly explosive liquid. Alfred Nobel became very interested in nitroglycerine and how it could be put to practical use in construction work. He also realized that the safety problems had to be solved and a method had to be developed for the controlled detonation of nitroglycerine.

After his return to Sweden in 1863, Alfred Nobel concentrated on developing nitroglycerine as an explosive and in 1864 he was able to start mass production of nitroglycerine. To make the handling of nitroglycerine safer Alfred Nobel soon found that mixing nitroglycerine with silica would turn the liquid into a paste which could be shaped into rods of a size and form suitable for insertion into drilling holes. In 1867 he patented this material under the name of dynamite. To be able to detonate the dynamite rods he also invented a detonator (blasting cap) which could be ignited by lighting a fuse.

These inventions were made at the same time as the diamond drilling crown and the pneumatic drill came into general use. Together these inventions drastically reduced the cost of blasting rock, drilling tunnels, building canals and many other forms of construction work.

The market for dynamite and detonating caps grew very rapidly and Alfred Nobel also proved himself to be a very skillful entrepreneur and businessman. Over the years he founded factories and laboratories in some 90 different places in more than 20 countries. Many of the companies founded by Nobel have developed into industrial enterprises that still play a prominent role in the world economy.

Although he lived in Paris much of his life he was constantly traveling. Victor Hugo at one time described him as "Europe's richest vagabond". When he was not traveling or engaging in business activities Nobel himself worked intensively in his various laboratories, first in Stockholm and later in Hamburg (Germany), Ardeer (Scotland), Paris and Sevran (France), Karlskoga (Sweden) and San Remo (Italy). He focused on the development of explosives technology as well as other chemical inventions, including such materials as synthetic rubber and leather, artificial silk, etc. By the time of his death in 1896 he had 355 patents.

Alfred Nobel died in San Remo, Italy, on December 10, 1896. When his will was opened it came as a surprise that his fortune was to be used for Prizes in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature and Peace.

Alfred Nobel's greatness lay in his ability to combine the penetrating mind of the scientist and inventor with the forward-looking dynamism of the industrialist. Nobel was very interested in social and peace-related issues and held what were considered radical views in his era. He had a great interest in literature and wrote his own poetry and dramatic works. The Nobel Prizes became an extension and a fulfillment of his lifetime interests.