The Ig Nobels honour research that makes you laugh… then think
The sun is out, the trees are in blossom, and the PubSci blog is bursting with wonderful things to do, starting with a fabulous event this coming Sunday evening (6th April).
One of my greatest delights in freshers week (usual activities notwithstanding) was discovering Annals of Improbable Research *[see note below] amongst the scientific journals in the university library. Packed full of bonkers, sometimes brilliant, and highly improbably research, I couldn’t tell what was genuine and what was pure satire. Every year, the Ig Nobel Prizes honour ten unlikely scientific achievements that make people laugh, then think.
On Sunday 6th April Marc Abrahams, founder of the Ig Nobel Prize ceremony and the Annals, will tell the story of the Igs at the Royal Institution in London’s Piccadilly. He’ll be joined by two Ig Nobel laureates talking about their brilliant, hilarious, thought-provoking research. Learn more about Marc, the igs and the Annals at www.improbable.com – but don’t forget to book for Sunday’s live show!
* Footnote: It was a great show, and I got to dress as a banana for…. well, reasons. After the show Marc told me he founded Annals of Improbable Research in 1995 (after I left university). I had in fact been beguiled by its precursor, the Journal of Irreproducible Results, which was founded way back in 1955. Marc edited the Journal from 1991 to 1994 when he left to found Annals and the glorious Ig Nobel Prize.
Looking back at March’s PubSci
Many thanks to all who came to March’s PubSci in which Dr Jenny Poulton posed the challenging question Can Cells Think before breaking down exactly how cellular cognition arises in their interactions with the environment. It was a fascinating and well attended event and we’re grateful to Jenny for her whistle-stop tour of cellular interactions. The final question, of course, is left hanging, and largely depends on how we define “thinking” as apposed to “problem-solving”.
Next PubSci: Wednesday 16th April
On Wednesday 16th April, PubSci is delighted to welcome author and historian of mathematics Dr. Snezana Lawrence to examine why mathematics is so fundamental to our daily lives and explore just where it comes from.
Snezana addresses these questions and more in her new book, A Little History of Mathematics, which traces the fascinating history of mathematics from ancient Egyptians and the Babylonian empire to Renaissance masters and the enigma codebreakers. This, her latest book is published on 8th April, and April’s PubSci will be the London Book launch. Copies will be on sale on the night at a discounted price.
If you want to know more, head over to PubSci’s Next Event page. Eventually that’ll feature May’s PubSci, of course, but not until after this event. However, don’t hang about: 80% of tickets have already gone. If you want to grab a ticket immediately, head straight to Eventbrite!
As usual, you can choose to make a contribution to PubSci’s costs via Eventbrite (minimum £1) or in cash on the night. Help PubSci keep science live. Hope to see you there!
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Art and Science Combine to create Culture
Finally, last night I attended the opening of Soundwaves of Science, a new exhibition exploring the science of Korean music.
Staged in collaboration with the National Science Museum of Korea, the exhibition bridges early and modern scientific perspectives to explore the instruments and sounds of Korea, embracing K-pop and traditional culture, it invites audiences to experience Korean music through the science of sound.
Soundwaves of Science: Exploring the Science of Korean Music, is at the Korean Cultural Centre from until 27 June 2025.
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Keep Up With Future Events
Dd you know PubSci has an online calendar where you can view future events?
Event titles and dates go in the calendar several months in advance, along with a brief outline of the talk. If you subscribe to our calendar, PubSci events will automatically appear in your own calendar.
We also publish a programme of PubSci events three times a year which you can view online or download for printing. Why not put a copy on your work fridge for everyone to see!
Posted by Richard Marshall, PubSci organiser and host.
PubSci: Sipping • Supping • Science
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About PubSci talks
PubSci meets upstairs at the Old King’s Head, near London Bridge tube. No specialist knowledge is required, just curiosity. Doors open at 6.30pm for a 7pm start. Talks run for ~45 minutes and are followed by a Q&A session. The Old King’s Head has a happy hour before 7pm, and the kitchen serves excellent pub grub.
We use Eventbrite booking to manage numbers. Follow us on Eventbrite to be notified when new tickets become available and reserve your place for February’s PubSci here! PubSci is a pay-what-you-can event – please consider making a donation with your reservation to help us cover our costs.
There is no charge for attending PubSci talks, but we have a cash whip-round to cover expenses on the night – consider it “Pay What You Can Afford”. As few of us carry cash these days, you can make a donation when registering for ticketed events with Eventbrite. Please help us continue putting on events. PubSci has no other source of funding.
We aim to keep PubSci accessible for all, although it is unsuitable for under 18s as we meet in the function room of a pub. Regrettably, there is no wheelchair access.
You can find all our links on our LinkTree.
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We meet on the third Wednesday of the month, upstairs at the Old King’s Head near London Bridge Underground (Borough High Street east side exit). Join us every month apart from December for a regular dose of Sipping, Supping & Science.
Address:
The Old King’s Head (upstairs room)
King’s Head Yard
45-49 Borough High Street
London SE1 1NA
PubSci 