My advice is to stay away from the hard sciece prizes and shoot for something that can't be falsified, maybe a Peace or Economics Prize.
From the BBC:
We sift through the stats to discover the hidden factors behind capturing arguably the most prestigious prizes in the world.
Genius, passion, hard work, and a little bit of luck – that’s what we are told sets Nobel prize recipients apart from us mere mortals. But could there be any secret, hidden factors that come into play?...MORE
*From last week's "MacArthur Foundation Awards 2012 Genius Grants (and how to win one)":
...Warning: Spoilers
Rule No. 1: Live in New York or San Francisco.
Rule No. 2: Be a professor.
Rule No. 3: If you don't want to teach college, make art.
Rule No. 4: Do not, under any circumstances, work for the government or the private sector.
Rule No. 5: Upset conventional wisdom.
Rule No. 6: Be left wing.
Rule No. 7: Be slightly, but not dangerously, quirky....
