Ig Nobel Prizes Swap US for Europe Amidst Visa Woes
The esteemed Ig Nobel Prizes, a celebrated annual event that honours scientific research designed to amuse first and then provoke thought, is set to embark on a new chapter. For the first time in its history, the ceremony will be held outside the United States, relocating to Europe. This significant shift, announced by the organisers, is primarily driven by mounting concerns regarding the logistical challenges attendees face in securing the necessary visas to enter the US.
The 36th iteration of this unique awards ceremony, traditionally held in the US a few weeks prior to the prestigious Nobel Prizes, will now take place in Zurich, Switzerland. Marc Abrahams, the long-standing master of ceremonies and editor of the digital publication Annals of Improbable Research, explained the rationale behind the move. In a statement, he conveyed that “During the past year, it has become unsafe for our guests to visit the country.” He further elaborated, expressing that the organising committee “cannot in good conscience ask the new winners, or the international journalists who cover the event, to travel to the USA this year.” This decision arrives at a time of intensified immigration scrutiny within the United States, which has seen a particular focus on the deportation of undocumented migrants and individuals holding student or visitor exchange visas.
For an impressive 35 years, winners of the Ig Nobel Prizes have consistently travelled to the United States to accept their unconventional accolades. These ceremonies have become a beloved tradition, often marked by the whimsical scattering of paper airplanes, symbolising the lighthearted yet thought-provoking nature of the research being celebrated.
The awards themselves shine a spotlight on scientific endeavours that are not only unusual but also remarkably imaginative. To illustrate the calibre of recipients, last year’s honourees included a team of Japanese researchers who undertook the meticulous task of investigating whether painting zebra-like stripes on cows could effectively deter flies from biting them.
Another fascinating group, comprising scientists from both Africa and Europe, delved into the dietary habits of lizards, specifically exploring the intriguing question of what types of pizza these reptiles might find palatable.
A Diverse Array of Improbable Discoveries
The Ig Nobel Prizes recognise achievements across ten distinct categories, and last year’s ceremony was no exception to this diverse showcasing of scientific curiosity. Among the notable recipients was a European team whose research illuminated how, in certain circumstances, consuming alcohol could actually enhance an individual’s proficiency in speaking a foreign language. Alongside this linguistic exploration, a dedicated researcher was honoured for a lifetime commitment to the painstaking study of fingernail growth.
It is worth noting that a significant portion of last year’s laureates, specifically four out of the ten winners, chose not to travel to Boston for the ceremony. Historically, the event has been hosted at esteemed institutions within Boston, such as Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Boston University.
Zurich Welcomes the Ig Nobel Spirit
This year’s event marks a collaborative effort between the Ig Nobel organisation and institutions within the ETH Domain, which is part of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, in partnership with the University of Zurich. Marc Abrahams expressed his enthusiasm for this new venue, remarking, “Switzerland has nurtured many unexpected good things — Albert Einstein’s physics, the world economy, and the cuckoo clock leap to mind — and is again helping the world appreciate improbable people and ideas.”
Milo Puhan, an epidemiologist at the University of Zurich and a recipient of a Swiss Ig Nobel Prize in 2017 for his research demonstrating that playing the didgeridoo can alleviate snoring and sleep apnea, shared his positive sentiment regarding the relocation. Puhan highlighted the crucial role of the Ig Nobel Prizes in making research visible, stating, “The Ig Nobel Prize makes research visible, and does so with a wink.”
Abrahams has confirmed that Zurich is slated to host the ceremony every other year. In the intervening years, other European cities will take turns as hosts. At present, there are no concrete plans for the Ig Nobel Prize ceremony to return to the United States.
