Kaveeshan Thurairajah, a PhD student at the University of Waterloo, may not be a Nobel Prize winner, but he has achieved an Ig Nobel Prize.
The Ig Nobels are a whimsical take on the prestigious Nobel Prizes, honoring the most peculiar and innovative research in academia.
This year, Thurairajah and his team received the Ig Nobel Physics Prize for their work on developing a “splash-free urinal,” both in theory and practice.
Recalling the moment when his supervisor, fluid physicist Zhao Pan, shared the news with him, Thurairajah expressed his excitement and joy.
“When he asked me if I would be happy or offended if we won the Ig Nobels, I replied that I would be delighted. He then revealed that we had indeed won and celebrated by drinking wine from espresso cups in his office,” Thurairajah shared with As It Happens host Nil Köksal.
‘Anatomically accurate pee machine’
The team of scientists designed and tested various urinal prototypes in their quest for the perfect, splash-free model, such as the slim Nautilus and the angular Cornocopia.
“The Nautilus design stood out as the ideal choice due to its reduced splash and ease of cleaning compared to the Cornucopia design,” Thurairajah explained.
Attending the awards ceremony in Zurich, adorned in bright yellow raincoats, Thurairajah and his team were prepared for recognition from their fellow eccentric scientists.
He clarified that no actual urine was involved in their experiments.
“Testing with real urine would be unhygienic and unscientific, as my urine flow rate varies. Therefore, we created an anatomically accurate machine to simulate the process,” he stated.
Although embracing the humor of the situation, Thurairajah emphasized the practical importance of their urinal research.
“Enhancing the appeal of bathrooms and public spaces is beneficial for society,” he remarked.
The team’s findings were <a href="https://academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/article/4/