{"id":105316,"date":"2024-05-20T04:43:33","date_gmt":"2024-05-20T08:43:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/improbable.com\/?page_id=105316"},"modified":"2024-05-20T04:43:34","modified_gmt":"2024-05-20T08:43:34","slug":"2012-ceremony","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/improbable.com\/ig\/archive\/2012-ceremony\/","title":{"rendered":"The 22nd First Annual Ig Nobel Prizes:"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div style=\"height:39px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"epyt-video-wrapper\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\"  id=\"_ytid_61364\"  width=\"512\" height=\"288\"  data-origwidth=\"512\" data-origheight=\"288\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xAnVNXaa5oA?enablejsapi=1&#038;autoplay=0&#038;cc_load_policy=0&#038;cc_lang_pref=&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;loop=0&#038;rel=0&#038;fs=1&#038;playsinline=0&#038;autohide=2&#038;theme=dark&#038;color=red&#038;controls=1&#038;disablekb=0&#038;\" class=\"__youtube_prefs__  epyt-is-override  no-lazyload\" title=\"YouTube player\"  allow=\"fullscreen; accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen data-no-lazy=\"1\" data-skipgform_ajax_framebjll=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">All speeches will be kept delightfully brief, thanks in part to eight-year-old Miss Sweetie Poo. This short video shows highlights of various Miss Sweetie Poos at previous ceremonies.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#about-the-ceremony\"><strong>THE CEREMONY<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0(September 20)\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.improbable.com\/ig\/winners\/#ig2012\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>The winners<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#webcast\"><strong>Live Webcast<\/strong><\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#watchingparties\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#watchingparties\"><strong>Webcast Watching Parties<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Download the&nbsp;<a href=\"#ceremonyposter\"><strong>Spiffy Poster<\/strong><\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"#igbill\"><strong>IgBill<\/strong><\/a> (booklet)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#supporters\"><strong>Supporters<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#ceremonydetails\"><strong>Ceremony Details<\/strong><\/a> (including the Opera)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"#whoswho\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#whoswho\">Who&#8217;s Who<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#comingtosanders\"><strong>If you are coming to Sanders Theatre&#8230;<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#informallectures\"><strong>IG INFORMAL LECTURES<\/strong><\/a>&nbsp;(September 14)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/ig\/archive.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Previous years<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.improbable.com\/contact\/#press\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Info for the press<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"about-the-ceremony\">The 2012 Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Thursday, September 20 at 7:30 pm*<br><a href=\"http:\/\/www.fas.harvard.edu\/~memhall\/sanders.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sanders Theater<\/a>, Harvard University<br><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">*Pre-ceremony concert \u2014and the webcast \u2014begin at\u00a0<strong>7:10 pm (US Eastern Time)<\/strong><br>\u00a0 The ceremony proper begins at\u00a0<strong>7:30 pm<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:11px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:11px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The 22nd First Annual Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony introduced ten new\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.improbable.com\/ig\/what-are.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ig Nobel Prize<\/a>\u00a0winners. Each has done something that makes people\u00a0<strong>laugh<\/strong>\u00a0then\u00a0<strong>think<\/strong>. The winners traveled to the ceremony, at their own expense, from several continents. The Prizes were handed to them by a group of genuine, genuinely bemused Nobel Laureates, in Harvard&#8217;s historic, largest theater filled with 1100 improbable persons, everything webcast live. The ceremony included many other delights \u2014see\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.improbable.com\/ig\/2013\/#ceremonydetails\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">details<\/a>\u00a0below. (And For the latest Ig Nobel news, see\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.improbable.com\/category\/ig-nobel\/\">the blog<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Live Webcast<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"webcast\">The ceremony was webcast live, here&#8217;s the full recording:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"epyt-video-wrapper\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\"  id=\"_ytid_85175\"  width=\"512\" height=\"288\"  data-origwidth=\"512\" data-origheight=\"288\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/R_XH9IaDFtU?enablejsapi=1&#038;autoplay=0&#038;cc_load_policy=0&#038;cc_lang_pref=&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;loop=0&#038;rel=0&#038;fs=1&#038;playsinline=0&#038;autohide=2&#038;theme=dark&#038;color=red&#038;controls=1&#038;disablekb=0&#038;\" class=\"__youtube_prefs__  epyt-is-override  no-lazyload\" title=\"YouTube player\"  allow=\"fullscreen; accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen data-no-lazy=\"1\" data-skipgform_ajax_framebjll=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"watchingparties\"><strong>Webcast Watching Parties<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition to the many individual Ig Nobel webcast watching parties that happen around the world, there are a few larger, official ones. If you would like to organize such a party we would like to\u00a0hear about it\u00a0and help you publicize it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:auto 19%\"><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This year, there were broadcast watching parties in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.espgg.org\/Soiree-IgNobel.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Paris<\/strong><\/a>, in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/AtlantaScienceTavern\/events\/78286052\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Atlanta<\/strong><\/a>, and a\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.ignobelnight.nl\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">grand, middle-of-the-night event at a theater in\u00a0<strong>Leiden, The Netherlands<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0(logo at right).<\/p>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"240\" height=\"120\" src=\"https:\/\/improbable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/ignobel-night-logo.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-105297 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/improbable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/ignobel-night-logo.png 240w, https:\/\/improbable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/ignobel-night-logo-150x75.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 240px) 100vw, 240px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Downloadable Poster &amp; Program<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Download your very own PDF copies of the 2012 Ceremony&#8217;s\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/improbable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/2012-Ig-Nobel-poster.pdf\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/improbable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/2013-Ig-Nobel-poster.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Spiffy Poster<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/improbable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/IgBILL-2012_150dpi.pdf\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/improbable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/IgBILL2013.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">IgBill<\/a>\u00a0(program), identical to the ones we print for the ceremony. The poster in particular is a great way to increase Ig Nobel and universal awareness among friends, family, colleagues, neighbors, and complete strangers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\" id=\"ceremonyposter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1264\" height=\"1854\" data-id=\"105327\" src=\"https:\/\/improbable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/2012-poster-klr.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-105327\" srcset=\"https:\/\/improbable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/2012-poster-klr.png 1264w, https:\/\/improbable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/2012-poster-klr-170x250.png 170w, https:\/\/improbable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/2012-poster-klr-450x660.png 450w, https:\/\/improbable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/2012-poster-klr-102x150.png 102w, https:\/\/improbable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/2012-poster-klr-768x1126.png 768w, https:\/\/improbable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/2012-poster-klr-1047x1536.png 1047w, https:\/\/improbable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/2012-poster-klr-1200x1760.png 1200w, https:\/\/improbable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/2012-poster-klr-600x880.png 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1264px) 100vw, 1264px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\" id=\"igbill\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1063\" height=\"1650\" data-id=\"105328\" src=\"https:\/\/improbable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/2012-bill-klr.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-105328\" srcset=\"https:\/\/improbable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/2012-bill-klr.png 1063w, https:\/\/improbable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/2012-bill-klr-161x250.png 161w, https:\/\/improbable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/2012-bill-klr-450x698.png 450w, https:\/\/improbable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/2012-bill-klr-97x150.png 97w, https:\/\/improbable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/2012-bill-klr-768x1192.png 768w, https:\/\/improbable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/2012-bill-klr-990x1536.png 990w, https:\/\/improbable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/2012-bill-klr-600x931.png 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1063px) 100vw, 1063px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"supporters\"><strong>Supporters<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>FIGS\u00a0<em>(Friends of the Ig)<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 Generous supporters of the 2012 Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony, who are helping the world laugh then think:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-4 is-style-rectangular wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" data-id=\"105083\" src=\"https:\/\/improbable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/hues_cerebral.gif\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-105083\" srcset=\"https:\/\/improbable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/hues_cerebral.gif 150w, https:\/\/improbable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/hues_cerebral-100x100.gif?crop=1 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"99\" data-id=\"105333\" src=\"https:\/\/improbable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/loopedlogic.gif\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-105333\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"125\" height=\"27\" data-id=\"105334\" src=\"https:\/\/improbable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/optimalsystemslab.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-105334\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.tosci.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"125\" height=\"21\" data-id=\"105085\" src=\"https:\/\/improbable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/tosci.gif\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-105085\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"49\" data-id=\"105087\" src=\"https:\/\/improbable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/moba.gif\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-105087\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"16\" data-id=\"105335\" src=\"https:\/\/improbable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/particlezoo.gif\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-105335\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"125\" height=\"51\" data-id=\"105332\" src=\"https:\/\/improbable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/akamai.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-105332\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"ceremonydetails\"><strong>Ceremony Details<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The theme of this year&#8217;s ceremony (though not necessarily of the individual prizes) is:&nbsp;<strong>THE UNIVERSE<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition to&nbsp;<strong>the awarding of the 2012 Ig Nobel Prizes<\/strong>, the ceremony will include a variety of momentously inconsequential events. Among them:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Several<strong>\u00a0Nobel laureates<\/strong>\u00a0will physically hand the Ig Nobel Prizes to the new winners:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chem.harvard.edu\/herschbach\/dudley.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dudley Herschbach<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0(chemistry, 1986)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nobelprize.org\/nobel_prizes\/medicine\/laureates\/1993\/roberts-autobio.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Rich Roberts<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0(physiology or medicine, 1993)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20201117105953\/https:\/\/www.nobelprize.org\/nobel_prizes\/economics\/laureates\/2007\/maskin-speech.html\">Eric Maskin<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0(economics, 2007)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nobelprize.org\/nobel_prizes\/physics\/laureates\/2005\/glauber-autobio.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Roy Glauber<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0(physics, 2005)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>and perhaps others to be announced<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pre-Pre-ceremony concert (at 6:45 pm, in the lobby) by the\u00a0<strong>Boston Squeezebox Ensemble<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pre-ceremony mini-concert (at 7:10 pm, in the theater) by\u00a0<strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.keromin.com\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&#8220;KEROMIN&#8221;, the Amazing FROGS<\/a><\/strong>, making their American debut<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Two grand\u00a0<strong>Paper Airplane Deluges<\/strong>, one at ceremony&#8217;s beginning, the other at the midpoint<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Keynote Address<\/strong>\u00a0by\u00a0<strong><a href=\"http:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2011\/10\/nobel-origins\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Robert Kirshner<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The<strong>\u00a024\/7 Lectures<\/strong>, in which\u00a0<strong>several of the world&#8217;s top thinkers<\/strong>\u00a0will each explain her or his subject twice:<br><em>FIRST<\/em>: a complete technical description in TWENTY-FOUR (24) SECONDS<a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20201117105953\/https:\/\/www.improbable.com\/ig\/2012\/#limit\">*<\/a><br><em>AND THEN<\/em>: a clear summary that anyone can understand, in SEVEN (7) WORDS\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nobelprize.org\/nobel_prizes\/physics\/laureates\/2005\/glauber-autobio.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Roy Glauber<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0(Nobel laureate in physics, 2005): The Universe<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/sciencefromscientists.org\/people\/exec\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Erika Ebbel Angle<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0(<a href=\"http:\/\/sciencefromscientists.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Science from Scientists<\/a>\u00a0founder,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.pbs.org\/wgbh\/nova\/secretlife\/scientists\/erika-ebbel\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Miss Massachusetts<\/a>\u00a02004): Mass Spectrometry<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nobelprize.org\/nobel_prizes\/medicine\/laureates\/1993\/roberts-autobio.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Rich Roberts<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0(Nobel laureate in physiology or medicine, 1993): Arsenic-based Life<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/trmri.org\/Overview\/Board\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dr. Elena Bodnar<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0(Ig Nobel Prize winner in public health, 2009): Electro-muscular Incapacitation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>World premiere of a brand new mini-opera: &#8220;<strong>The Intelligent Designer and The Universe<\/strong>&#8221; starring\u00a0<strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.mariaferrante.com\/index.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Maria Ferrante<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0<strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.benandbrad.com\/bio.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ben Sears<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0<strong>Roberta Gilbert<\/strong>, and\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=O1W_uKXynjI\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Daniel Rosenberg<\/a><\/strong>, with pianist\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/golan.med.harvard.edu\/members\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Patrick Yacono<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0and accordionist\u00a0<strong><a href=\"http:\/\/michel.bwh.harvard.edu\/lab-members\/about-thomas-michel\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Thomas Michel<\/a><\/strong>, MD, PhD. Conducted &amp; stage directed by\u00a0<strong>David Stockton<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Returning\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.improbable.com\/ig\/winners\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ig Nobel Prize winners<\/a><\/strong>:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/chicagomaroon.com\/2009\/10\/09\/uncommon-interview-with-elena-bodnar\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dr. Elena Bodnar<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0(invention of an\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Kxf3HK21BWI\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">emergency bra that can be quickly converted into a pair of protective face masks<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.seas.harvard.edu\/softmat\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mahadevan<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0(mathematico-physics analysis of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20201117105953\/https:\/\/prl.aps.org\/abstract\/PRL\/v90\/i7\/e074302\">how sheets get wrinkled<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Dr. Richard Gustafson<\/strong>\u00a0(<a href=\"https:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1016\/S0196-0644(05)82389-3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">failure of self-administered automobile-engine-supplied-electric-shock treatment<\/a>\u00a0for rattlesnake envenomation resulting from patient&#8217;s pet rattlesnake biting the patient on the lip)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Francis_M._Fesmire\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dr. Francis Fesmire<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0(<a href=\"https:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1016\/S0196-0644(88)80594-8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">digital rectal massage as a cure for intractable hiccups<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/Dept\/Content.aspx?DepartmentID=59&amp;PageID=13021\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dr. Deborah Anderson<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Vhd-B3LGV-E\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the effect of Coca-Cola on sperm motility<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Donald_Featherstone_(artist)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Don Featherstone<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mentalfloss.com\/blogs\/archives\/92435\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">creator of the plastic pink flamingo<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.cuttingedgeinnertainment.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dan Meyer<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0(<a href=\"http:\/\/www.bmj.com\/content\/333\/7582\/1285.abstract\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the medical effects of swordswallowing<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>and perhaps others<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ceremonial band music by\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.myspace.com\/chancecombo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Nicholas Carstoiu<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>The Ig Leaves<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Salutes to the\u00a0<strong>Audience Delegations<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The\u00a0<strong>Win-a-Date-With-a-Nobel-Laureate Contest<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Karen Hopkin<\/strong>, creator of the\u00a0<strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.s-t.com\/daily\/12-95\/12-04-95\/scistud.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Studmuffins of Science Calendar<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gala\u00a0<strong>Introduction of the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.improbable.com\/ig\/2012\/#delegations\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Audience Delegations<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>All speeches will be brief, and thus especially delightful, with assistance from\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20201117105953\/https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=xAnVNXaa5oA\">8-y<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=xAnVNXaa5oA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">e<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20201117105953\/https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=xAnVNXaa5oA\">ar-old\u00a0<strong>Miss Sweetie Poo<\/strong><\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Minordomos<\/strong>\u00a0will make most things run smoothly on stage.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The\u00a0<strong>V-Chip Monitor<\/strong>,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.rode-qualey.com\/Maloney\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Prominent New York Attorney William J. Maloney<\/strong><\/a>, will guard against offensive words, sounds, thoughts, or imaginings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Traditional<strong>\u00a0&#8220;Welcome, Welcome&#8221; Speech<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Traditional<strong>\u00a0&#8220;Goodbye, Goodbye&#8221; Speech<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Other wondrous things<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em><a><\/a>* Time limits to be enforced by&nbsp;<strong>Mr. John Barrett<\/strong>, the Ig Nobel Referee<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"whoswho\"><strong>Who&#8217;s Who<\/strong>: <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some of the&nbsp;ceremony organizers and participants:<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"450\" height=\"219\" src=\"https:\/\/improbable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/ig-faces-2012.gif\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-105337\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>If You Are Coming to Sanders Theatre&#8230;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>WHERE<\/strong>: If you are walking, driving,&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Harvard_(MBTA_station)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">T<\/a>-ing, biking, or running to Sanders Theatre, you may want some directions. Here are: (1)&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.fas.harvard.edu\/~memhall\/visitacs.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">a map and directions<\/a>; and (2) the secret of how to&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.fas.harvard.edu\/~memhall\/parking.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">pahk your cah near Hahvud Yahd<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>WHAT TO WEAR<\/strong>: We suggest you wear clothing. Clothing that is, like you,&nbsp;<strong><em>colorful<\/em><\/strong>. People like yourself (or in some cases, very unlike yourself) in distant places, watching the broadcast and seeing occasional glimpses of the Sanders Theatre audience, will thrill to the panoply of colors, styles, and improbable accoutrements. This is the night to unearth your old wedding gown, uniform, suit of armor, labcoat or longjohns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>WHAT TO BRING<\/strong>: Paper, paper, paper. Paper to make into paper airplanes. Additional paper to give to those around you who may have forgotten to bring their own paper, and who as a consequence of their own neglect are forlornly wishing they could join in the thrill and intellectual romance of making and throwing paper airplanes. SAFETY FIRST, please! Paper airplanes should only be thrown at the safety-equipment-laden individual onstage who is the Designated Paper Airplane Target. Paper airplanes may only be made of paper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>NOTE<\/strong>: There will be two (2) designated Paper Airplane Deluge periods, one at the very start of the ceremony, the other at the ceremony&#8217;s midpoint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Ig Informal Lectures<br>Saturday, Sep 22, 2012, 1:00 pm.<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/place\/Bldg+26,+Massachusetts+Institute+of+Technology,+Cambridge,+MA+02142\/@42.360886,-71.0910904,17z\/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x89e370a97cb33a11:0xdf3a9eb60f82502c?hl=en\">MIT, Building 26, Room 100<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>A half-afternoon of improbably funny, informative, informal, brief public lectures and demonstrations:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.improbable.com\/ig\/winners\/#ig2012\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>The new Ig Nobel Prize winners<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0will attempt to explain what they did, and why they did it<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Select past winners will tell us about some of their new adventures<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Special musical performance by\u00a0<strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.keromin.com\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&#8220;KEROMIN&#8221;, the Amazing FROGS<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Everyone will be available for you to talk with, both before and after the lectures<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"comingtosanders\">Special Thanks To&#8230;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">All Ig Nobel Prize activities are organized by the&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.improbable.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Annals of Improbable Research (AIR)<\/a>. The ceremony is co-sponsored by the&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.hrsfa.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Harvard-Radcliffe Science Fiction Association (HRSFA)<\/a>, and the&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.hcs.harvard.edu\/~physics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Harvard-Radcliffe Society of Physics Students (SPS)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p class=\"mb-2\">The 2012 Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony Thursday, September 20 at 7:30 pm*Sanders Theater, Harvard University *Pre-ceremony concert \u2014and the webcast \u2014begin at\u00a07:10 pm (US Eastern Time)\u00a0 The ceremony proper begins at\u00a07:30 pm The 22nd First Annual Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony introduced ten new\u00a0Ig Nobel Prize\u00a0winners. Each has done something that makes people\u00a0laugh\u00a0then\u00a0think. The winners traveled [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2681,"featured_media":0,"parent":30106,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-105316","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/PdBdmY-roE","amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/improbable.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/105316","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/improbable.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/improbable.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/improbable.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2681"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/improbable.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=105316"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/improbable.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/105316\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":105481,"href":"https:\/\/improbable.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/105316\/revisions\/105481"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/improbable.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/30106"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/improbable.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=105316"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}