What is Ig Nobel Prize?

OV Digital Desk
2 Min Read
Ig Nobel Prize

The Ig Nobel Prizes are a satirical award ceremony that recognizes achievements that “first make people laugh, and then make them think.” They are presented annually by the Annals of Improbable Research, a magazine that highlights humorous and unconventional scientific research. The awards are intended to celebrate the unusual, honor the imaginative, and spur people’s interest in science, medicine, and technology.

The Ig Nobel Prizes are awarded in 10 categories: biology, chemistry, physics, literature, peace, economics, medicine, psychology, public health, and engineering. The awards event is organized by the scientific humor magazine, Annals of Improbable Research (AIR) are presented.

The Ceremony: Every September, in a gala ceremony in Harvard University’s Sanders Theatre, 1100 splendidly eccentric spectators watch the new winners step forward to accept their Prizes. These are physically handed to them by genuine (and genuinely bemused) Nobel Laureates. Thousands more, around the world, watch the live broadcast online. During these recent Covid-19 pandemic years, the ceremony has happened entirely online.

Can Sex Improve Nasal Function? — 2021 Ig Nobel Medicine Winner

Some examples of past Ig Nobel Prize winners include:

  • Medicine: A team of researchers who studied the effects of listening to opera on mice with a lung injury
  • Biology: A team of researchers who studied the behavior of ducks when confronted with an unfamiliar duck
  • Literature: A team of researchers who studied the psychological effects of being ignored on social media

The Ig Nobel Prizes are intended to be humorous and are not to be taken too seriously. They are a lighthearted way to celebrate the quirky and unconventional side of science and research.

The 2021 Ig Nobel Prizes were awarded at the 31st First Annual Ig Nobel Prize ceremony, on  9 September 2021. The 2022 Ig Nobel Prizes were awarded at the 32nd First Annual Ig Nobel Prize ceremony, on Thursday, 15 September 2022.

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