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Ig Nobels Awarded

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the the-nadir-of-achievement dept.

prostoalex writes "The definitive study on bellybutton lint, a dog-to-person translation device and an inquiry into what arouses ostriches were recognized at 2002 Ig Nobel awards. The telecast of the event in RealMedia format is available from Harvard University server, there's also an Associated Press story. Ig Nobel awards typically recognize the most dubious contributions to the world of science and research."

2 of 143 comments (clear)

  1. Not 'Dubious' at all. by pipetoawk · · Score: 5, Insightful
    I think the headline to the AP article doesn't do justice to the spirit of the awards. It seems the awards celebrate seemingly useless discoveries. Of course, no one can say definitively that any of these discoveries won't prove useful in the future. In fact, history is littered with useless discoveries that later prove very useful (Gregor Mendel and his theories of heredity come to mind). The scientists at these awards know that, and they also know that the general public doesn't know it. It's a chance for them to come together and commiserate.

    Contrast this to truly dubious science, like that practiced by that Schon guy at Bell Labs who said he could make any material a superconductor, and fudged all his data to prove it. Now that was dubious science.

    1. Re:Not 'Dubious' at all. by Alomex · · Score: 5, Insightful

      That is my one beef with the Ig prices. IMHO they should make a much stronger distinction between trully bogus science (Schon, Enron) and valid, --although fringe science-- whose techniques or goals are, let's say, non-standard.

      They are two different beasts and we do not gain by confusing them. Having said that, I enjoy the fun of the Igs as much as the next guy, and it makes for a good laugh.