The Ig Nobel Prize
Introduction
If you didn’t already know, I’m a bit of a self-improvement junkie. I love listening to podcasts, watching TED Talks, and reading inspirational literature—anything I think can help me become a better person for myself and those around me. As you can assume, many of these presentations sound like informational essays, where most professionals speaking are very serious about their craft. But lately, I’ve been getting into some sillier podcasts/audiobooks with the same effect (cited below) that many students and academics often ignore. With this being said, I would like to introduce the “Ig Nobel Prize.”
Body
Listening to one of these podcasts, I discovered this funky award, defined as “research that makes people laugh, then think” by the founding company “Annals of Improbable Research.” Held in Harvard University’s Sanders Theatre, the ceremony is characterized by laureates with top hats and trophies that look like coffee cups, ketchup bottles, and rubber ducks, respectively. It’s all incredibly silly, but the unconventional studies recognized by the prize (done sometimes by winners of the regular Nobel Prize) make the pursuit of knowledge much more enjoyable.
In my demanding environment of a competitive high school with numerous intelligent students, many friends I have are constantly stressed by taking their studies too seriously, even though they enjoy learning. Initiatives like this, especially in pressure-filled settings like Harvard, make science and other research much more lighthearted. Additionally, it makes the pursuit of thought-provoking research seem much less daunting, leading to a broader understanding and appreciation of scientific exploration.
Conclusion
In 2010, the Ig Nobel prize was awarded to a team of researchers that discovered the fastest method to relieving nighttime leg muscle cramps: just wiggle them. The studies highlighted by Improbable Research prompted further research that led to practical applications that wouldn’t have been possible without a bit of fun. For instance, this once-simplistic study inspired research on the mechanisms of muscle cramps, validating the theory and finding an easy way to solve this widespread issue.
So, the next time you get stressed, maybe you should try wiggling. It might not fix anything if you don’t have a muscle cramp, but at least it’ll make you smile.
“Anything Goes with Emma Chamberlain” (silly, yet thought-provoking, podcast)
“Improbable Research - About the Igs”
“The Ig Nobel Prize: Celebrating Science with Humor”
“The Subtle Art of Not Giving a #@%!” (silly, yet thought-provoking, audiobook)