The late Danish senior lecturer Niels Christian Thostrup bequeathed more than half of his assets to the Nobel Foundation. Mr Thostrup had a lifelong interest in physics and mathematics, especially mathematical physics.

“We are very grateful for this bequest and for Niels Christian Thostrup’s faith in the Nobel Foundation. It is uncommon but obviously very gratifying when people want to help strengthen the Nobel Prize in this way,” says Vidar Helgesen, Executive Director of the Nobel Foundation.

The bequest to the Nobel Foundation amounts to nearly SEK 42 million (about USD 4.5 million). It will become part of the Foundation’s assets, which primarily finance the Nobel Prize and the adjudication work of the prize awarding institutions.

The Nobel Foundation intends to acknowledge the bequest in collaboration with the Nobel Committee for Physics at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. One possible way is to invite a group of promising young scientists from different countries who specialise in mathematical physics to participate in a Nobel symposium. During the symposium, they can make valuable new contacts and gain deeper academic insights and inspiration.

Niels Christian Thostrup was born into a family of Danish entrepreneurs. In his teens, he already showed a great interest in physics and mathematics. He studied at the University of Copenhagen and later became a lecturer at Ordrup Gymnasium, a high school in Charlottenlund near Copenhagen. During some periods of his life, he also lived in Britain, Sweden and the Bahamas. His lifelong interest in mathematical physics led to his decision to bequeath part of his estate to the Nobel Foundation.