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Improbable Research and the Ig Nobel prize

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Erwin-Schrödinger-Saal
Plenary /
German and English language

The Ig Nobel Prizes, awarded annually at a ceremony at Harvard University, honour research that first make people laugh, and then make them think. The awards celebrate the unusual, honour the imaginative, and spur people’s interest in science, medicine and technology.
Join founder and host of the Ig Nobel Prize ceremony Marc Abrahams for an in-depth look at some recent mind-popping Ig Nobel Prize winners. Hear Ig Nobel Prize-winner Kees Moeliker describe his Ig-winning study of homosexual necrophilia in ducks and also his recent search for an endangered species: the pubic louse.

Editor and co-founder, Annals of Improbable Research (AIR), Cambridge
Curator, Natuurhistorisch Museum Rotterdam; Chief, European Bureau of Improbable Research; Ig Nobel prize winner 2003, Rotterdam
Freie Journalistin, Wien Chair

Marc ABRAHAMS

Editor and co-founder, Annals of Improbable Research (AIR), Cambridge

 Graduated from Harvard College with a degree in applied mathematics.
 Spent several years developing optical character recognition computer systems (including a reading machine for the blind), and later founded Wisdom Simulators, Inc., a creator of educational software.
 He was the back-page humor columnist for the late, lamented computer magazine Byte.
 He wrote a monthly back-page humor column for the engineering magazine Design News.
 He has been commentator for ABC-TV's World News Now and on public radio.
 He is the father and master of ceremonies of the Ig Nobel Prize.
 In addition to editing the magazine, Marc writes a monthly newsletter called mini-AIR, a weekly column for the British newspaper The Guardian, and a daily blog.
1990-1994, he was the editor of the Journal of Irreproducible Results.
1994, after the magazine's publisher decided to abandon the magazine, the founders and entire editorial staff (1955-1994) of the Journal abandoned the publisher and immediately created AIR.
 He also frequently performs lectures that show both the funny side AND the importance of science, medicine, and technology.

B.Sc. Kees MOELIKER

Curator, Natuurhistorisch Museum Rotterdam; Chief, European Bureau of Improbable Research; Ig Nobel prize winner 2003, Rotterdam

1980-1984 Assistant butcher, Rotterdam
1985 Nature guide, Costa Rica
English teacher, Istanbul
1986-1989 Biology teacher, Rotterdam
1990 Lecturer in biology, Hogeschool Rotterdam
1989-1994 Education officer, Natuurhistorisch Museum Rotterdam
since 1995 Chief curator and head of communications, Natuurhistorisch Museum Rotterdam
since 2003 Editorial board, Annals of Improbable Research
since 2006 Chief, European Bureau of Improbable Research

Dr. Gisela HOPFMÜLLER-HLAVAC

Freie Journalistin, Wien

1984-2009 Ressort Innenpolitik in der Radio-Information, ORF - Österreichischer Rundfunk
1991-1997 Ressortleiterin, ORF - Österreichischer Rundfunk
1997-2002 Sendungsverantwortliche "Report", Moderation des politischen TV-Wochenmagazins des ORF "Report"
1999 Sendungsverantwortung für "Report International"
2001 Sendungsverantwortung für "Europa-Panorama"
2002-2005 Moderation von "Modern Times", des Zukunftsmagazins des ORF
2002-2009 Leiterin der Hauptabteilung "Bildung und Zeitgeschehen", ORF - Österreichischer Rundfunk
seit 2009 Freie Journalistin und Moderatorin

Technology Forum

show timetable
Genre : all

21.08.2008

08:00 - 10:30Technology brunch hosted by Tiroler ZukunftsstiftungSocial
11:00 - 11:20Opening by the European Forum AlpbachPlenary
11:20 - 12:00Plenary sessionPlenary
12:00 - 12:30Plenary sessionPlenary
13:00 - 13:45Ethics of sciencePlenary
13:45 - 14:30Stem cellsPlenary
15:00 - 16:00Politics and science – Advice through sciencePlenary
18:00 - 19:30BionicsPlenary
19:30 - 21:30Reception hosted by Alcatel-Lucent Austria AGSocial

22.08.2008

07:00 - 14:00Working Group 01: From basic research to economic valueBreakout
07:00 - 14:00Working Group 02: Research integrity in scienceBreakout
07:00 - 14:00Working Group 03: The myths of life sciences and their consequencesBreakout
07:00 - 14:00Working Group 04: Aviation and the environmentBreakout
07:00 - 14:00Working Group 05: Think Tanks in AustriaBreakout
07:00 - 14:00Working Group 06: Gender mainstreaming in science and development. Perceive realities and decide visionarilyBreakout
07:00 - 14:00Working Group 07: Success factor human resources – Regions in competitionBreakout
07:00 - 14:00Working Group 08: Climate change – The future of transportBreakout
07:00 - 14:00Working Group 09: The governance of applied research: responsibilities, independence and resourcesBreakout
07:00 - 14:00Working Group 10: Digital healthcareBreakout
07:00 - 16:00Junior Alpbach – Science and technology for young peopleBreakout
07:00 - 13:00Ö1 Children’s University Alpbach – Science and technology for kidsBreakout
08:00 - 14:00Working Group 11: Energy efficiency – Recognizing opportunities, utilizing potentialsBreakout
08:00 - 13:00Special Event: From the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe to the Regional Cooperation Council – A New Momentum for the Western Balkans’ Perspective in Higher Education and Research?Breakout
14:30 - 15:15The frontiers of science, part IPlenary
15:15 - 16:30Global competition for global talentsPlenary
18:00 - 19:30Information and communications infrastructures – The nerve centres of modern societiesPlenary

23.08.2008

08:00 - 08:30Science education for a science-driven societyPlenary
08:30 - 09:15The frontiers of science, part IIPlenary
09:15 - 09:45The future of the environment and agriculturePlenary
10:00 - 10:15Junior Alpbach and Ö1 Children’s University Alpbach 2008Plenary
10:15 - 11:15Improbable Research and the Ig Nobel prizePlenary
11:15 - 12:00Snack reception, hosted by AVL List GmbHSocial