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Comment by noobermin | Hacker News Reader

May be I should know better, but is there no Nobel category for computer science or mathematics? This isn't physics, this is absolutely embarrassing. May be all those bitter elder physicists who didn't get a prize can feel a little justified in their derision of the institution.

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Computer science has the Turing award and mathematics the Fields medal. Neither is exactly equivalent to the Nobel but they're similar levels of prestige.

The Nobel prize fields and criteria are a bit random, they're essentially just whatever Alfred Nobel wrote in his will.

they're similar levels of prestige

Within their respective fields, not in general. What makes the Nobel so unique and desirable is that everybody knows what it is and is impressed by it. Mentioning that you've won a Nobel prize will impress people and open doors in virtually any circumstance. Saying you have a Turing award will mostly lead to blank stares from anybody outside the field.

It also lets you co-host the Ig Nobels, if that’s a more meaningful accomplishment to you.

There no Nobel category for computer science or mathematics.