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PHILADELPHIA, PA—23 September 2009—The Chemical Heritage Foundation (CHF) will host a live simulcast of the 2009 Ig Nobel Prize ceremony on 1 October, bringing the humorous side of science to guests at 315 Chestnut Street. The Ig Nobel Prizes honor scientific studies that first make people laugh and then make them think.
The prizes are intended to celebrate the unusual, honor the imaginative, and spur people’s interest in science, medicine, and technology. The unusual ceremony takes place in Harvard University’s Sanders Theatre, but for those who cannot make it to Cambridge, CHF will broadcast the ceremony live in its Franklin Rooms. A special pre-ceremony concert begins at 7:15 p.m., starring The Penny-Wise Guys, presenting cabaret songs about risk, reward, and Bernie Madoff. The award ceremony itself begins at 7:30 p.m. and will feature eight Nobel laureates presenting Ig Nobels in fields such as chemistry, biology, literature, and peace—but for studies that in the past have included ultrasonic velocity in cheddar cheese, clam happiness, a research paper with one hundred times as many authors as pages, and a dog-to-human translation device. The event is free and open to the public.
“The Ig Nobel Prizes celebrate the juxtaposition of seriousness and silliness in science,” says Thomas R. Tritton, president and CEO of the Chemical Heritage Foundation. “We are so pleased to be able to bring from Cambridge to Philadelphia an evening of high intellect and low humor.”
About the Chemical Heritage Foundation
The Chemical Heritage Foundation (CHF) fosters an understanding of chemistry’s impact on society. An independent nonprofit organization, we strive to inspire a passion for chemistry, highlight chemistry’s role in meeting current social challenges, and preserve the story of chemistry across centuries.
CHF maintains major collections of instruments, fine art, photographs, papers, and books. We host conferences and lectures, support research, offer fellowships, and produce educational materials. Our museum and public programs explore subjects ranging from alchemy to nanotechnology. |
