This Shouldn’t Work
A Multimedia Spectacle Where Improbable, Ig Nobel, Indecent and Questionable Ideas Are Examined Closely
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Speakers
Some questions begin as mistakes. Others refuse to remain so.
This unusual morning draws from the book Unruly: The Ig Nobel Prizes and the Science That Refuses to Behave to undress questions better left hidden. Questions like why don’t woodpeckers get headaches and who is behind this nonsense and at what point does a bad idea become an interesting one?
The Ig Nobel Prizes honour research that first makes people laugh, and then makes them think: studies that often begin with questions that seem trivial, absurd, or oddly specific, but reveal something deeper about how the world works. Unruly follows this peculiar corner of science through exclusive conversations with the researchers behind such work, tracing how ideas take shape when allowed to wander off course. It is less a catalogue of science than an exploration of the human instinct to pick up an unlikely thread and see where it leads.
Marc Abrahams, the Ig Nobel world, and the researchers behind it who ask questions most of us wouldn’t dare to take seriously, and in doing so, expand what our world can be.
This Shouldn’t Work moves through a reading from the book that may or may not be recyclable, a life-altering quiz, a staged “interview” that blurs reality, and a paper-plane contest with questionable ethics.
The author of the book will be present. There is a non-zero chance she will be wearing a shark costume. There may be digressions. Not everything will resolve. Some things may go slightly off course. Somewhere in the middle of all this, something in you shifts forever!
Speakers
Upasana Sarraju
Upasana is an Indian science writer who escaped a former life in biotechnology. She loves animals, humid weather, and comfortable sandals. She can poorly mimic many creatures, including squirrels and sea lions. For reasons unrelated, she has made numerous visits to the local police station.
Unruly is Upasana’s first book.
Berty Ashley
Berty Ashley was born and brought up in the ancient Tamil city of Madurai. From the day started to speak, he was known for his insatiable curiosity and inexpendable energy. An alumnus of Vikaasa school and The American College, he followed his dreams of becoming a scientist.
He is now a Molecular Geneticist at the Dystrophy Annihilation Research Trust (a.k.a DART). When he is not busy doing his research or write grants he can be usually seen at a concert or at a quiz. Berty is an avid lover of music who not only collects vinyl records but plays with 3 bands. He plays the guitar, keyboards and drums. He listens to everything from Hindustani to Heavy Metal.
Berty has been taking part and conducting quizzes since his school days. The love for trivia and funda made him develop his own characteristic quizzing style in which he infuses his trademark humour and pop-culture references.
He is the author of the popular Easy Like Sunday Morning quiz in The Hindu Sunday Magazine which is renowned for the work-out-ability factor. It is currently on a run of unbroken weekly quizzes for seven years. In early 2018 Rupa Publications published a collection of 42 of these quizzes under the name Quizzes for Quirky Minds which in 1 week became best-seller in its category on Amazon. The book not only contains the quizzes but also his own jokes, anecdotes from his life and some random information such as recipes! Berty and his partner Akhila Phadnis have gone on to co-author a series of 7 quiz books on various themes for Rupa Publications. Berty Ashley puts the ‘fun’ in ‘funda’.
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