Why the United States dominates the Nobels
- The United States has racked up 400 Nobel medals since 1901
- US universities have long history of attracting top world talent
No fewer than eight of this year’s 13 Nobel winners were American citizens, extending a historic trend tied to the strength of US academia and its ability to attract top world talent.
American universities consistently dominate “Global top 100” rankings, with a mix of private “Ivy Leagues” with lavish endowments and prestigious state colleges.
Since the first Nobels were awarded in 1901, the US has racked up 400 medals, followed by the United Kingdom with 138 and Germany with 111 – these figures include people affiliated with multiple countries.
The Armenian-American, who grew up in Lebanon, credited his success to the public-funded University of California system, where he received his bachelors and did his postdoc, as well as the Scripps Research Institute where he has been based for two decades.
The University of California is also home to his co-winner David Julius, of UC San Francisco. In all, UC staff and faculty have won 70 Nobels – one shy of the total won by France, the fourth-leading country.