University of Waterloo PhD candidate Kaveeshan Thurairajah may not have a Nobel Prize, but he does have an Ig Nobel Prize. The Ig Nobels, a light-hearted take on the prestigious Nobel Prizes, honor the most unconventional and imaginative research in academia.
Thurairajah and his team were awarded the Ig Nobel Physics Prize for their work on developing a splash-free urinal. Their research involved both theoretical and experimental approaches to create an efficient design. When Thurairajah’s supervisor, fluid physicist Zhao Pan, broke the news of their win, the team celebrated with wine from espresso cups in Pan’s office.
The scientists designed various urinal prototypes, such as the Nautilus and Cornucopia, to minimize splashing and ease of cleaning. According to Thurairajah, the Nautilus design proved to be the most effective in reducing splashes and maintenance.
Attending the awards ceremony in Zurich, Thurairajah and his team sported bright yellow raincoats, prepared for the eccentric accolades from their peers. Despite the unconventional nature of their research, Thurairajah clarified that no actual urine was involved in their testing process. They used a scientifically calibrated “anatomically accurate pee machine” to simulate human urination rates for their experiments.
While Thurairajah appreciates the humor in their work, he emphasizes the practical value of their urinal research in improving public restroom facilities. The study was published in the journal PNAS Nexus last year.
Other Canadian researchers were also recognized at the ceremony for their quirky studies, including University of Toronto scholars investigating unethical behavior and McGill University scientists pioneering 3D printing using mosquito proboscises. The Ig Nobel Awards, hosted by the magazine Annals of Improbable Research, moved to Europe after 35 years in the U.S. due to visa concerns, ensuring global scientific collaboration and inclusivity.
Thurairajah, along with his diverse team of researchers, believes in the importance of international collaboration in the scientific community and values the opportunity for researchers from around the world to come together for such unique recognitions.