Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony - Improbable Research · Annals of Improbable Research (AIR) 25 The Twenty-Fifth 1 st Annual Ig® Nobel Prize Ceremony Thursday, September 17, 2015, 6:00 pm

IgBILL

Ig® Nobel Prize Ceremony

2015

This Year’s Theme: Life Twitter: #IgNobel

®

2 The Twenty-Fifth 1st Annual Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony – September 17, 2015

About the Ig Nobel Prizes

Ig Nobel Prizes are awarded for achievements that first make people

LAUGH, and then make them THINK. The Igs are intended to spur

public curiosity and interest in science and other fields of endeavor.

Ten prizes are awarded each year. Winners travel to the ceremony at

their own expense.

The Ig Nobel Prize winners are, despite possible appearances to the

contrary, real. Their achievements are well documented.

What to expect tonight: Imagine every ceremony you have ever

had to endure. Loop them all together, at high speed, upside down.

Add ten Ig Nobel Prize winners. That’s the Ig Nobel Prize ceremony.

Tonight’s ceremony includes a brief tribute to Don Featherstone, who was awarded the 1996 Ig Nobel Prize for art, for creating the plastic pink flamingo. Don died recently. We miss him.

Annals of Improbable Research (AIR) www.improbable.com 3

25The Twenty-Fifth 1st Annual

Ig® Nobel Prize Ceremony

Thursday, September 17, 2015, 6:00 pm

Sanders Theatre, Harvard University

Reluctantly inflicted on you bythe international science humor magazine

Annals of Improbable Research(AIR)

and co-sponsored by

The Harvard-Radcliffe Science Fiction Association

The Harvard-Radcliffe Society of Physics Students

The theme of this year’s ceremony is

Life© copyright 2015 Annals of Improbable Research

“Ig” and “Improbable Research” and the “tumbled thinker” logo are each reg. U.S. Pat. and Tm. Off.


From biology to psychology, find topics that

satisfy your intellectual curiosity. Check out our

thought-provoking courses—online or on campus.

Cerebral.

extension.harvard.edu


SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Pointless Preamble• Pre-ceremonyLobbyAccordioConcert(5:00,inthelobby)• Pre-ceremonyconcert(5:40,inthetheatre)• Ceremonybegins(6:00, in the theatre)• PaperAirplaneDeluge#1• TheTraditionalIgNobel“Welcome,Welcome”Speech• EntranceoftheNewWinners• IntroductionoftheNobelLaureatesandotherIgnitaries

Everything Else**• Awarding of the 2015 Ig Nobel Prizes*(weatherpermitting)• The Best Life:AMini-Operain3Acts*• The24/7Lectures• IntroductionofPastWinners*• PaperAirplaneDeluge#2• TheWin-a-Date-With-a-Nobel-laureateContest• OtherThings*• TheTraditionalIgNobel“Goodbye,Goodbye”Speech• DisappearanceoftheAudience

* scattered throughout the evening** but maybe in some different order

Paper AirplanesIntheinterestsofsafetyandrecycling,therewillbetwo(2)specialpaper-aeronauticmoments tonight:oneattheceremony’sbeginning,theother at the midpoint.

Please hold your paper airplanes in readiness. Then fly them only – and profusely, to the point of deluge – during those two special moments. Please AIM FOR SAFETY!

Anauthorityfigurewillmakeitveryclear wheneachofthosemomentsarrives.

Roy Glauber, Ig Nobel paper airplane sweeper and Nobel laureate (Physics, 2005).


This Year’s ThemeThethemeofthisyear’sceremonyisLIFE. The theme appliestovariousgoings-on,thoughnotnecessarily(andnotnecessarilynot)toanyoftheparticularachievementsbeinghonoredwithanIgNobelPrize.

Live WebcastTonightwewillbejoinedfromafar,inspiritandelectro-mechanically,byteeminghordeswatchingviatheInternet.TheIgNobelPrizeCeremonyhasbeenwebcastannually,beginningin1995—oneoftheveryfirsteventsofanykind,ever,tobewebcast.VeryspecialthankstoThe Harvard Extension School and to CS-50forhelpingmakethisyear’swebcasthappen. Videohighlightsofmanypastceremoniesareonlineat www.improbable.com.

Celebrity BacteriaThethemeofthe2010ceremonywasBacteria.Severaltrillioncelebritybacteriawereseatedinorontheaudience.Manyofthem are still here. See if you can spot them.

Pre-Ceremony: mini-Concerts(One in the lobby, then another the theatre)

Beforetheceremony,watchfortwospecialmini-concerts.At5:00, inthelobby,theBoston Squeezebox Ensemble (BSE) willplaya LifelikeConcert,insinuatingstrangelyfamiliartunesintoyourconsciousness.

At5:40,inthetheatre,MajordomoGaryDryfooswillassembleonstage,theretodelightyoubysingingsongsfrompreviousIgNobelmini-operas,whilstthingshappenaround,above,andbehindhim.


The Ig Informal Lectures!SATURDAY afternoon, Sept 19, 2015, 1:00 pm

MIT Building 10, Room 25077 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge

A Saturday Treat…

Attonight’sIgNobelPrizeCeremony,eachwinnerisallowedjustONEMINUTEtodeliveranacceptancespeech.Butofcourseyou’llwanttohearmorejuicydetails,andaskthemquestions,andso….Youareinvitedtocomeenjoyalazy,livelyhalf-afternoonofbrief(FIVEMINUTES each,plusquestions&answers),high-spiritedtalksbythe 2015 Ig Nobel Prize winners.

Produced by the Annals of Improbable ResearchincooperationwithThe MIT Press Bookstore

(mitpress.mit.edu/bookstore)

FREE! (But seating is limited,

so get there early)


The story:It’sthedaybeforethegreatestcompetitioneverheld—acompetitiontochoosewhichONEofthemillionsofspeciesoflifeisTHEBESTLIFE.Thecompetitionwillbetelevisedlive,everywhere,andthepublicisgoingnuts,eagertopayhugepricestowatch.Allthespeciesoflife—everysinglespecies,millionsofthem!—aregoing tobetogether,INONEROOM,forthecompetition.Byspecial arrangementwithSandersTheatre,allthesespecieswillassemblehere,inthetheater,duringAct2oftheopera.Ifyouhaveanaisleseat,pleasemindyourfeet.AlsobyspecialarrangementwithSandersTheatre, allthelawyerswhowilldealwiththeconsequencesofAct2will assemblehereinthetheaterduringAct3.Ifyouhavefeet,pleasemindyourfeet.(SpecialthankstoMariaFerrante,ThomasMichel,JeffHermes,andHowardZaharoff,formusico-legalisticinsights andsuggestions.)

“The Best Life”World Premiere mini-opera in three (3) acts

www.BovaBakeryBoston.net


The Words: Marc Abahamswrotethestoryandlyrics.ThisishistwentiethIgNobeloperalibretto.

The Music:Thetuneswerecomposed,inadvance,byGiuseppe Verdi and Arthur Sullivan, neitherofwhomisabletojoinusthisevening.

Tonight’s performance:

Opera director: Maria Ferrante

Assistant director: Robin Abrahams

Costumer: Catherine Quick Spingler

The soloists: Maria Ferrante(soprano), Scott Taylor (baritone),andDaniel Rosenberg (chemist).

The All-Species Chorus: DelphineGabbay(choruswrangler), KelseyCalhoun,ErikaHutchinson,CliaGoodwin,SylviaRosenberg,JuliaLunetta,VickiBloom,Ros(Rosalind)Reid,NatashaRosenberg,AbbySchiff,VijayaSundaram,KateEppers,LizOppenheim,WarrenSenders,TedSharpe,DanielRosenberg,PaulGoodwin,RobHart, NickCarstoiu,etal.Thechorusrankswillbeswelled,inAct3oftheopera,bythe Nobel laureates.

The orchestra: The singers are backedbyanall-star,two-personbiomedicalorchestra,“TheForcesofNature:

Piano: Patrick Yacono(HarvardMedicalSchool[HMS] biomedical researcher)

Accordion: Thomas Michel (HMSProfessorofMedicine)

Follow along on screen and in print. Libretto starts on page 16.

Please check out the website for our

Food Truck schedule

Redbones coming soon

to Malden


Authority-Like FiguresAs always, IgBill had incomplete information at press time. You may not be able to tell the players even with this scorecard.

(NOTE:**indicatesnameismisspelled)

Producer/Director:MarcAbrahamsCo-Producer and Stage Manager:DavidKesslerIg Nobel Facilitator: KatherineGriffinOpera Arranger/Orchestrator/Stage Director:MariaFerranteOpera Assistant Director:RobinAbrahamsAssistant Stage Manager: LindaBrennanMaster Stagehand: Rob SandersStagehand:ArthurKautzTechnical Assistant: DougFauntProduction Assistants:RogerKautz,KarenKautzExternal brain: MelissaFranklinOpera Costumer: CatherineQuickSpinglerOpera Rehearsal Pianist: Yulia YunDirector of Improbable Engineering:QuentinSmithWriters:MarcAbrahams,AliceShirrellKaswell,andfriendsIg House Band:NicholasCarstoiuandtheIgLeavesBoston Squeezebox Ensemble:Dr.ThomasMichelLurking Presences:RobinAbrahams,StanleyEigenLighting & Technology:HollyGettings,HunterHeinlenProps and Scenery:EricWorkmanHouse Sound: DavidNickerson, BayStateSoundSound Recording: MilesSmith,Frank“Barefoot”CunninghamSlide Show: JackDietz,GeriSullivanPrize & Props Creation:EricWorkmanSponsorships Coordinator:HeidiClarkProvisionary Logisticians: GusRancatoreandCorkyWhiteHRSFA Coordinator:NamelessPersonHRSPS Coordinators: Person Unnamed


Grand Panjandrum of the Delegations:LouiseSaccoVideography:SevenGenerationsVideo,BrucePetschek,BrianGalford,DonSchechter,JonShedler,TrevorChamberlain,CodySignoreLead Diplomats:SusanKany,DanyAdamsCorps d’Esprit Diplomatique:GusRancatore,CorkyWhite, JudithFagin,PersisThorndike,etal.Liaison to the Ig Glorious Persons: GeorgiaLyman Green Room Oracles:MariaEliseeva,HeidiClarkPress Wranglers:CarolMorton,TomUlrich,NeilGussman, JenKelly, et al.Photographers:AlexeyEliseev,DavidHolzman,MikeBenvenisteIg Informal Lectures (Saturday) Coordinator:JohnJenkinsIg Nobel Webmaster: JuliaLunettaArtwork & Logos:GeriSullivan,LoisMaloneIgBill Design and Layout:GeriSullivanMaster of E-Bookery:LaurenMauerTrew

Toscanini’s Ice Cream is proud to support the Ig Nobel Awards

Because the Best Minds Need the Best Ice Cream

899 Main Street, Cambridge, MA

Toscanini’s Ice Cream

twitter: @tosci


PeopleMaster of CeremoniesMarcAbrahams,editor,Annals of Improbable Research (AIR)

Nobel Laureatesmost of the following:DudleyHerschbach(Chemistry1986)CarolGreider(PhysiologyorMedicine,2009)FrankWilczek(Physics,2004)JackSzostak(PhysiologyorMedicine,2009)EricMaskin(Economics,2007)RichRoberts(PhysiologyorMedicine,1993)RoyGlauber(Physics,2005)JeromeFriedman(Physics,1990)and perhaps some others

Welcome Welcome Speakers:JeanBerkoGleason,BillHoston24/7 Lecturers:SaraLewis,FrankWilczek,DeborahAnderson,JackSzostak,JessicaGallMyrick Opera Soloists: MariaFerrante,ScottTaylor,DanielRosenbergOpera Orchestra: PatrickYacono,Dr.ThomasMichelOpera Narrator: Karen HopkinOpera Non-Soloists:TheAll-SpeciesChorus,abettedinAct3by theNobellaureatesPre-Ceremony Life-Like Concert: BostonSqueezeboxEnsemble (Dr.ThomasMichel,ColinFerguson,PatrickYacono,TedSharpe,BettyWidersky,MariéAbe,etal.)Mic Monkey:EdgarB.HerwickIIINSA Courtesy Cam:RichardBaguleyParade and Opera Announcer: Karen HopkinHuman Spotlights:JimBredt,KatrinaRosenbergHuman Curtain Rods:EmilyCoombs,RoderickDraperHuman Aerodrome: EricWorkmanReferee:Mr.JohnBarrettLuxuriant Flowing Hair Club for Scientists (LFHCfS) Woman-of-the-Year:AnneMaddenV-Chip Monitor:NotedNewYorkAttorneyWilliamJ.Maloney


New York Attorney William J. Maloney: HimselfMajordomo:GaryDryfoosMinordomos:JuliaLunetta,PeacoTodd,BenBiggs,SylviaRosenberg,ElizaKosoy,ChrisDeter,NatashaRosenberg,PoojaUsgaonkarPerforming Chemists:JoostBonsen,DanielRosenberg,etal.Performing Props Master:EricWorkmanStage Presence: TabathaBohmbach,SharadaSundaram-SendersMiss Sweetie Poo:JasperMilsteinOfficial Sweeper:JuliaKautzHecklers:You,theaudienceGoodbye Goodbye Speakers: JeanBerkoGleason,BillHoston

Special Thanks to…SidandSelmaAbrahams,JackieBaum,BobBartosch,TinaBowen, TheBritishScienceAssociation,Brown/Rudnick,ThadChoelemtiarana,MarkDionne,TatianaDivens,EricEngel,JesseEppers,Melissa FranklinandtheHarvardPhysicsDepartment,MartinGardner,HollyGettings,JasonGovostes,JeffHermes,Holleb&Coff,TomLehrer,MaggieLettvin,IlyaLuvish,LoisMalone,Milo,KeesMoeliker,Regular Noetzli,**TheFlyingPetscheks,RuthPolleys,HarrietProvine,GusandMimiRancatoreandToscanini’sIceCream,TheFlyingRosenbergs,JonathanSalz,SandersTheatre,JimStoll,GeriSullivan,AlTeich, RayTraietti,JoeWrinnandHowardZaharoff.

Very special thanksalsotothelateAlanSymonds,whoformore thanadecadehelpedussolveourtechnicalproblems,andthelate BobDushman,whogallantlydefendedtheIgagainstamarauder.

**Namemisspelled.

Dr. Nakamats is one of several past Ig Nobel Prize winners here tonight. Dr. Nakamats has photographed every meal he has consumed during the past 44 years (and counting). This is a bittersweet moment — his doctors say Dr. Nakamats has a fatal form of cancer. Dr. Nakamats being Dr. Nakamats, he has written a special song. He will sing it for you, tonight.


The 24/7 LecturesEach24/7Lecturewillbedeliveredbyoneoftheworld’sgreatthinkers.Eachlecturehastwoparts:

A complete technical descriptionin 24 SECONDS

A clear, accurate summary that anyone can understand

in SEVEN WORDS

Thetimelimitandwordlimitwillbestrictly enforced by Mr. John Barrett,theIgNobelReferee.

Thisyear’s24/7lecturers:• Sara Lewis(ProfessorofEvolutionaryandBehavioralEcology, TuftsUniversity) TOPIC:FIREFLYSEX

• Frank Wilczek (NobelLaureate,Physics,2004) Topic:BEAUTY

• Deborah Anderson(IgNobelPrizeWinner,Chemistry,2008) TOPIC:REPRODUCTION

• Jack Szostak(NobelLaureate,PhysiologyorMedicine,2009) TOPIC:LIFE

• Jessica Gall Myrick(AssistantProfessor,IndianaUniversity MediaSchool) TOPIC:INTERNETCATVIDEOS

…andperhapsoneortwoothers.

[email protected]

Visit our galleries in Somerville, Dedham, or Brookline or click

MuseumOfBadArt.org

See more bad art in the book

The Museum of Bad Art: Masterworks


This is Improbable and This is Improbable Tooby Marc Abrahams

Harvard-Radcliffe Science Fiction AssociationNarratively Proud Intergalactic Co-Sponsorsof the Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony Since 1996

Harvard-Radcliffe Society of Physics StudentsTheoretically Proud Experimental Co-Sponsors

of the Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony Since 2000

NPR Broadcast OnthedayafterThanksgiving,listentothetraditionalIgNobelBroadcastonNationalPublicRadio(NPR)’sScience Fridaywith IraFlatow.Manyofthepreviousyear’sIgbroadcastsareat www.ScienceFriday.com.Youcanseevideohighlightsofseveral past ceremonies at www.improbable.com.

“Marc Abrahams is a perfectly calibrated filtration system into which all of science is poured and out of which comes pure, giddy goofball delight. This book is a delicious, addictive treat.”

—Mary Roach, author of Stiff and Packing for Mars

Built to

be read

aloud!


Lyrics to the mini-opera “The Best Life”

CHARACTERS:NarratorChorusofthePUBLIC(inAct1)ThetwomainORGANIZERSofthecompetitionChorusoftheLAWYERS(inAct3)TheJUDGE

ACT 1

[MUSIC: Triumphal march from Aida.]

THEPUBLIC:MuchbiggerthantheSuperBowl!BiggerthanTheWorldCup!Notevenporncomesclose!Demandforthis,fromev’rycountry,isgiddilygrandiose!

ORGANIZERS: Ev’ryspecieswillcompete!PUBLIC: SHOWUS!ORGS: Ev’ryspeciesmadeofmeat!PUBLIC: SHOWUS!ORGS: Ev’ryplant—includingwheat!PUBLIC: SHOWUS!

ORGS:Evenev’rypolychete!Ev’rylittleworm…Ev’rylittlegerm…Ev’rygianttree…Ev’rychimpanzee…Ev’rythingwithtoes…Ev’rythingthatgrowsormetamorphoses,then decomposes or mitoses —thatreproduces,slinksoroozes,eatsorphotosynthesizes…Alloflife!

Whatwillbethequal-ity/distinguishingthespeciesthat’sthebest?Aswollenshape—tumesced?Protrudinglimbs—orcompletelycompressed?Thesmoothest—orthehairiest?Wellcamouflaged?Maybefluoresced?Reindeerorrabbit?Mayberhododendron?Orrobin,ormayberinderpest?

Yes,lifeHassuchvarietyAndsuchcontr’iety…Thatwemusttakecare—Musttakecare,SpecialcareTobefa-ir.BefairTotheplanaria!andthemalaria!Letusnotbesmirchanyperch,anybirch,oranybear!

Letususeoversight,soev’ryarea—suchasBulgaria—willnotbemadetofeeltheslightestslight.


Prepare!Partisanswilldeclare:foreignbacteriaareinferi-a.Theywillmoan/thattheirown/shouldn’tcompare!

AndsomepeoplegetsnarkierwithSOMEmonarchia—plantsandarchea!Archea?Archea!Don’tforgetthem.

Bekindalsotoviruses.Wearedesirous,es—peciallytogivethemagood—ANYgood—reasontolive.

Also:competitors,eventhepredators,willwanttosocialize—toeat,toflirt—butnotgethurt!

AndNOW!!!!!!GatherthemALLrighthere—allINASINGLEROOM.Letthefriendshipsbloom!Theycanschmooze,makesomenews!Nothingtofear!Ah,LIFE!

ACT 2

[MUSIC: “Parigi o Cara” from LaTraviata]

ORGS:Blowfishandbuffalo,andcrakesandcitronella,aspsandaspergillus,sheepandsalmonella,funnelspiders,waterstriders,ticksandtoxoplasma,nudibranchandnightshade,hippopotomi.Fireantsandfoxglove,daffodilsanddogfish,batsandbotulinum,eelsande.coli.Nematodesandnautilus,asparagusandaardarks,tickleweedandtapeworms,hollyhocksandhogs.Platypusandpeanutworms,andredwoodsandrubella,artichokesandanthrax,firefliesandfrogs.Barracuda,beeches,legionella,leeches,Midges,mitesandmongeese,Palmsandpubiclice.

I see some octopi eating some orioles.AretheySTILLhun-ger-y?AretheySTILLhun-ger-y!Thoseoctopiarehungryallthetime.Iseesomeocelotseatingthoseoctopi!I see some mallard ducks. I see some kitty cats. I see those mallard ducks

assault the cats.I see mosquitoes biting bonitoes—Oh,somanythingsareeatingotherthings,andotherotherthingsareeatingthem!Carpediem…Iseesomeeelstrytoswallowsomecockatiels.Iseegnusandgrizzlybearsdothingsthatnoonereallydarestotrytoputinwords.Isawsomenightingalesswallowedbyminkewhales!Howisthatpossible?Canthatbepossible?Oh,yes,it’spossible.Theygrabthetails.Yousawtheorchids?ScarfedbyTHATSTORK!ALLtheorchids!EatenbyTHATstork!That stork then tried to eat an entire tree.Atreeofcork.Corkkilledthatstork.Thatstorkwashungry.It’sonlynatural,it’sonlynatural.It’sonlynatural,it’sonlynatural.It’sjustawayof…it’sjustTHEwayofLIFE!


ACT 3 [finale]

[MUSIC: “Someday it May Happen” from TheMikado]

JUDGE:Disasteronthisscalegivesbirthtolawsuitsofallsorts.Andeagertoassist—yes,eagertoassist—Manylawyersbringcontumeliouscluttertoourcourts.Theyknowhowtopersist.Theyknowhowtopersist!Greatdisasterthatgrewstraightfromroundlystupid,stupidactsattainstremendoustraction,grippedbygrosslyglaringfacts.Thenumberandvarietyoflawsuitswillensurethoughplaintiffsallareperishing,thelawsuitswillendure.(Yes,evenlawsuitsthatcomewithadoublehelixtwist!)willneverbedismissed—they’llneverbedismissed.

LAWYERS:They’llneverbedismissed!They’llneverbedismissed!That’sbecausewedoinsist!Becausewedoinsist!

JUDGE:Thereiswrongfuldeath—mostobvious,asmanyhavebemoaned.That’sthefirstoneonthelist.It’ssuchaLENGTHYlist!!!

Thenthere’sinfringingpatentsonthelifeformssomeoneowned.That’salsoonthelist.It’ssuchaLENGTHYlist.We’vegotwantonrecklessconductleadingtothedeathofplantsofrarityandvalue,ownedbywealthydilettantes.Andthenthere’sincitingriots,andthere’smayhem,and—Isay!,Andthere’scopyrightinfringementonallsortsofDNA,Andtheovercrowdedpublicspace—tenmillionsinoneroom,Andbutcheringofmeatillegaltoconsume.

LAWYERS:They’llneverbedismissed!They’llneverbedismissed!That’sbecausewedoinsist!Becausewedoinsist!

[MUSIC: The Lord High Executioner song, from TheMikado]

LAWYERS:Proclaimtheblameofthesetwomiscreants—thispairofplotters—

sticky,smellyROTTERS!Proclaimtheblameofthesetwomiscreants—superlativelyslimy

species-SLAUGHTER-ers!Demand!Demand!Wedemandyouhanddownsentences!Demand!Demand!Wedemandyouhanddownsentencestothese

viscousmiscreants!


ORGS:Contemplatingwhatwe’vedone:Gatheringtogetherspecies.Itwasmeanttobejust…fun!LikecollectingReeses’Pieces.Crocodiles(!)couldchewthefat,—EvenTHEYhadfriendlyhabits!—Onetimewithapussycat,Laterwithsomesleepyrabbits.Therewaslotsofmakinglove,Withexoticpartnerpairings.Turtlemountingturtledove,Hippopotamiwithherrings.Therewassuch…INFECTIOUScharm!Gosh,thiswasagreatidea!Noonecouldhaveforeseenharm,’ceptmaybethegonorrhea.

JUDGE:There is nothing to admire.Allofthisissimplystark.ItwaslikeyousetafireInacrowdedNoah’sark.

JUDGE:Listen!Listen!Listenup!I’mgoingtosentenceyou!Listen!Listen!NowIsentenceyou,—SentenceYOU!—AndYOU!—NowIsentenceyoutoLIFE!

Li-ife!Li-ife!It’syourdeadlydoseofdestiny!Li-ife!Li-ife!You must not pretendthiswouldeverendwithanythingbutLIFE!

EVERYBODY:Li-ife!Li-ife!It’syourdeadlydoseofdestiny!Li-ife!Li-ife!You must not pretendthiswouldeverendwithanythingbutLIFE!

Say What?Improbable Research

Weekly Podcasts!

CBS is distributing the Improbable Research podcasts, both on the

new CBS Play.it web site, and on

iTunes and Spotify. And, of course at Improbable.com.


Very Iggy Special Thanksto

forgenerously supportingthe 25th First Annual

Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony


AlistofthenewIgNobelPrizewinnerswillbepostedat WWW.IMPROBABLE.COM

Last Year’s (2014) Ig Nobel Prize WinnersPHYSICS PRIZE[JAPAN]:KiyoshiMabuchi,KenseiTanaka,DaichiUchijimaandRinaSakai,formeasuringtheamountoffrictionbetweenashoeandabananaskin,andbetween abananaskinandthefloor,whenapersonstepsonabananaskinthat’sonthefloor.

NEUROSCIENCE PRIZE[CHINA,CANADA]:JiangangLiu,JunLi,LuFeng,LingLi, JieTian,andKangLee,fortryingtounderstandwhathappensinthebrainsofpeoplewhoseethefaceofJesusinapieceoftoast.

PSYCHOLOGY PRIZE[UK,FINLAND,AUSTRALIA,USA]:PeterK.Jonason,AmyJones,andMinnaLyons,foramassingevidencethatpeoplewhohabituallystayuplateare,onaverage,moreself-admiring,moremanipulative,andmorepsychopathicthanpeoplewhohabitually arise early in the morning.

PUBLIC HEALTH PRIZE[CZECHREPUBLIC,JAPAN,USA,INDIA]:JaroslavFlegr,JanHavlíčekandJitkaHanušova-Lindova,andtoDavidHanauer,NarenRamakrishnan,LisaSeyfried,forinvestigatingwhetheritismentallyhazardousforahumanbeingtoownacat.

BIOLOGY PRIZE[CZECHREPUBLIC,GERMANY,ZAMBIA]:VlastimilHart,PetraNováková,ErichPascalMalkemper,SabineBegall,VladimírHanzal,MilošJežek,TomášKušta,VeronikaNěmcová,JanaAdámková,KateřinaBenediktová,JaroslavČervenýandHynekBurda,forcarefullydocumentingthatwhendogsdefecateandurinate,theyprefertoaligntheirbodyaxiswithEarth’snorth-southgeomagneticfieldlines.

ART PRIZE[ITALY]:MarinadeTommaso,MicheleSardaro,andPaoloLivrea,for measuringtherelativepainpeoplesufferwhilelookingatanuglypainting,ratherthana prettypainting,whilebeingshot[inthehand]byapowerfullaserbeam.

ECONOMICS PRIZE[ITALY]:ISTAT—theItaliangovernment’sNationalInstituteof Statistics,forproudlytakingtheleadinfulfillingtheEuropeanUnionmandateforeach countrytoincreasetheofficialsizeofitsnationaleconomybyincludingrevenuesfrom prostitution,illegaldrugsales,smuggling,andallotherunlawfulfinancialtransactions betweenwillingparticipants.

MEDICINE PRIZE[USA,INDIA]:IanHumphreys,SonalSaraiya,WalterBelenky andJamesDworkin,fortreating“uncontrollable”nosebleeds,usingthemethodofnasal- packing-with-strips-of-cured-pork.

ARCTIC SCIENCE PRIZE[NORWAY,GERMANY,USA,CANADA]:EigilReimers andSindreEftestøl,fortestinghowreindeerreacttoseeinghumanswhoaredisguisedas polar bears.

NUTRITION PRIZE[SPAIN]:RaquelRubio,AnnaJofré,BelénMartín,TeresaAymerich,andMargaritaGarriga,fortheirstudytitled“CharacterizationofLacticAcidBacteriaIsolatedfromInfantFaecesasPotentialProbioticStarterCulturesforFermentedSausages.”

ForacompletelistofallIgNobelPrizewinners(1991-now) seetheImprobableResearchwebsite

WWW.IMPROBABLE.COM


SANDERS THEATRE INFORMATION

Sanders Theatre is managed by MemorialHall/LowellHallComplexatHarvardUniversity 45QuincyStreet,Room027,Cambridge,MA02138 T617.496.4595|F617.495.2420|[email protected]

Forhistoryofthebuilding,visitwww.fas.harvard.edu/memhall

RESTROOMSarelocatedonthelowerlevel.

LATECOMERSwillbeseatedatthediscretionofmanagement.

PHOTOGRAPHY AND RECORDING of any kind is not permitted in Sanders Theatre. Equipmentmaybeconfiscated.

Lost and FoundCall617.496.4595orvisitMemorialHall027.HarvardUniversityisnotresponsibleforlostorstolenproperty.

PARKINGThere is no parking at Sanders Theatre.FreeparkingformosteventsisavailableatBroadwayGarage,cornerofBroadwayandFeltonStreet,fromonehourpre-performancetoonehourpost.Parkingforsomestudenteventswillbe at52OxfordStreetGarage.

Access for Patrons with Disabilities AccessibleseatingcanbearrangedthroughtheBoxOffice.SandersTheatreisequippedwith AssistiveListeningDevices,available30minutespriortoevents.

Accessible parking for events: There is no parking at Sanders Theatre itself. Patrons may be dropped off in the circle on the Kirkland Street side of Sanders Theatre near the accessible entrance. WeencouragepatronstoparkateithertheBroadwayGarageor52OxfordStreetLot.TheBroadwayGarageisfullyaccessibleandtherearecurbcutsatallcrosswalksbetweenthegarageandthe Sanders Theatre.

Ifnecessary,alimitednumberofaccessibleparkingspacesmaybeavailableinnearbylocationbyadvancearrangement.Itisextremelydifficulttohonorrequestsreceivedlessthan5businessdayspriortoanevent.Pleaseplanahead.

ToarrangeforanAccessibleParkingSpaceinanearbyparkinglot,contact:

1.HarvardUniversityParkingOfficeat495-3772AND/OR

2.UniversityDisabilityServicesat495-1859,Mon-Fri9am-5pm oremail:[email protected]

THE HARVARD BOX OFFICE

Advance Sales:HolyokeCenterArcade,HarvardSquare 1350MassachusettsAve.617.496.2222;TTY:617.495.1642

Calendarofevents,onlinesalesandcurrenthours:www.boxoffice.harvard.edu

Pre-PerformanceSales:SandersTheatre

Onperformancedays:Opensatnoonformatineesand5pmforeveningperformances. Closes30minutesaftercurtain.

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Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony - Improbable Research · Annals of Improbable Research (AIR) 25 The Twenty-Fifth 1 st Annual Ig® Nobel Prize Ceremony Thursday, September 17, 2015, 6:00 pm