Funny Awards That Make People Think
The Ig Nobel Prizes parody the traditional Nobel Prizes. The organization awards them every year in early October. This date usually coincides with the announcement of the real Nobel Prizes.
These awards celebrate achievements that first make people laugh and then make them think. Most importantly, all Ig Nobel Prizes recognize real accomplishments. Only a few exceptions occurred in the early 1990s due to press release errors.
What Are the Ig Nobel Prizes?
The Ig Nobel Prizes focus on unusual research. At first, the studies may seem ridiculous. However, they often reveal important ideas about science and human behavior.
Each year, ten Ig Nobel Prizes are awarded in different categories. As a result, the event has gained worldwide recognition.
Famous Ig Nobel Prize Winners
Below are some well-known Ig Nobel Prize winners from 1993 to the present day.
Literature Prize (1993)
The 1993 Ig Nobel Prize in Literature went to E. Topol, R. Califf, F. Van de Werf, P. W. Armstrong, and 972 co-authors. They published a medical research paper with one hundred times more authors than pages.
The authors came from many countries. These included Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, and the United States.
Chemistry Prize (2000)
Researchers won the 2000 Ig Nobel Prize in Chemistry from the University of Pisa and the University of California, San Diego. Their study showed that romantic love may be biochemically similar to severe obsessive-compulsive disorder. This conclusion surprised both scientists and the public.
Chemistry Prize (2004)
In 2004, The Coca-Cola Company of Great Britain received the Ig Nobel Prize in Chemistry. The award recognized the company for using advanced technology to convert water from the River Thames into bottled water called Dasani. Later, the company removed the product from the market for safety reasons.
Peace Prize (2006)
The 2006 Ig Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to H. Stapleton from Wales. He invented an electromechanical teenager repellent. The device emits a high-pitched sound that teenagers can hear, but adults usually cannot. Later, developers used the same technology to create ringtones that teachers could not hear.
Literature Prize (2009)
Ireland’s police service received the 2009 Ig Nobel Prize in Literature. Officers issued more than 50 traffic tickets to a person named “Prawo Jazdy”. After an investigation, authorities discovered that “Prawo Jazdy” means “driving license” in Polish.
Why the Ig Nobel Prizes Matter
Although humorous, the Ig Nobel Prizes promote curiosity and critical thinking. In fact, many award-winning studies later inspire serious scientific discussion.