The Ig Nobels are coming!

The Ig Nobels are coming!

The Ig Nobels are coming!

One of the highlights of the annual science entertainment calendar is making a return to Imperial College in March, with an evening comprising of an oddly eclectic mix of science, really bad poetry and a small girl walking up to people and repeatedly saying “Please Stop, I’m Bored” when a speaker has droned on for too long.

If somehow you haven’t come across the Ig Nobels, then they are awarded each year for genuine scientific studies that “first make you laugh and then think”. Quite often, the topic is made even funnier by the pompous title granted to it in the formal write up.

Although the Ig Nobel awards were handed out at MIT late last year, they also travel around the globe putting on shows with various Ig Nobel award winners explaining what on earth motivated their study into the seemingly bizarre topic they were honoured for.

This year they return once again to Imperial College in Kensington on Friday 15th March 2011 at 6pm.

Click here for my review of the show in 2009

You can also watch the 2009 show over at YouTube.

This year’s show features:

Marc Abrahams (host);

Ian Day;

Ray Goldstein (calculating the balance of forces that shape and move the hair in a human ponytail);

James Harkin (QI elf);

Volker Sommers;

Richard Stephens (confirming the widely held belief that swearing relieves pain);

Buck and Arlene Weimer (airtight underwear with a replaceable charcoal filter that removes bad-smelling gases before they escape)

Also featuring a special appearance by Sid Rodrigues, who will sit on the stage, motionless, doing nothing for 90 minutes.

To reserve up to two free tickets – go here and type the necessary into some little boxes.

If you can’t make the March event, they will be back for a second tour in April at the Institute of Engineering and Technology – booking not open yet for that date.