In May of 2010 we will be holding our annual meeting in the home of
the most famous prize on earth – the Nobel Prize. While we are in
Stockholm, we have every intention of doing honor to the rich Nobel
legacy of our field. As part of our closing ceremonies, on the
other hand, we will set the bar somewhat lower, in the pursuit of
the very best in entertainment. We will be emulating a slightly
lesser-known Nobel cousin, the Ig®
Nobel Prize. How hard are you willing to laugh at yourself
and your dear colleagues? Join us, and we’ll see.
Our prestigious(ish) Not-So-Nobel Prize will be awarded to whoever
of you submits the very worst idea in the history of MR.
Are you brave? Can you admit a mistake? Can you share your worst
idea with thousands of your closest collaborators and bitterest
rivals? Can you think of a brand new worst idea just for this
occasion? Can you laugh at yourself? Can we all laugh with you?
Here’s how it will work:
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You submit a
one-page abstract arguing eloquently for the worst idea ever.
(One important restriction: please submit arguments only for
your own worst ideas, or for the worst ideas of a consortium of
the willing. Even if you’d altruistically like the honor to go
to someone else, that person might not agree, and we don’t want
any fights breaking out on our dance floor.)
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A carefully selected
team of our esteemed members will select the top 10 submissions,
and the top 10 submitters will be asked to prepare a traditional
poster for special display at the annual meeting in Stockholm.
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All meeting
registrants will be asked to vote for their favorite worst
idea.
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The top (bottom?)
three creative geniuses identified in this vote will then be
asked to give a three-minute presentation before our surprise
panel of HIGHLY distinguished judges at the farewell party on
Thursday, 6 May 2010.
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With great fanfare,
our judges will select the 2010 winner of the world’s first
Not-So-Nobel Prize.
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