‘Lots of researchers were doing very unusual things – I created an awards ceremony to celebrate them’
By 
Rebecca Trager2026-09-02T14:19:00
Marc Abrahams, founder of the Ig Nobel prizes, on how the annual parody science award show began and how it’s changing
The Ig Nobel prizes were created 35 years ago to playfully parody the Nobel prizes and celebrate research that ‘makes people laugh, then think’. The 36th edition will take place at a ceremony in Switzerland on 3 September that will be broadcast live online. It’s the first time the event will be held outside the US, having relocated due to concerns about attendees’ ability to travel safely to the country.