After a woman was awarded the Nobel prize in physics, chemistry, or medicine (there haven't been any female laureates in economics so far) it takes on average 8 years until the next female laureate is due. The kernel density estimate of the waiting time looks quite ugly. Quick and dirty fitting suggests that the Gamma(1.7,4.6)-Distribution offers the best approximation. 
Links to female laureates are here. Ten women have been Literature laureates (10%). In Physiology & Medicine, there have been seven female laureates (4%), Chemistry three (2%), Physics two (1%). 0 Fields Medals (Math). (The Nobel peace prize is too "soft" to be comparable)
Over the twentieth century the general rate of Nobel prizes (ex-peace) for women has been a rather consistent 2.5%.
Links to female laureates are here. Ten women have been Literature laureates (10%). In Physiology & Medicine, there have been seven female laureates (4%), Chemistry three (2%), Physics two (1%). 0 Fields Medals (Math). (The Nobel peace prize is too "soft" to be comparable)
Over the twentieth century the general rate of Nobel prizes (ex-peace) for women has been a rather consistent 2.5%.
Mahalanobis - am 2006-04-23 22:17
