The research group of Professor Ryo Kobayashi and Associate Professor Kentaro Ito in the Department of Mathematical and Life Sciences, Graduate School of Science, won the Ig Nobel Prize, which is awarded to the most humorous scientific research, and also the Transport Planning Prize for their research on slime mold.

For Professor Kobayashi, this is the second award since 2008.

This research group created a three-dimensional map of the Kanto-Region of Japan in a container, put food on the areas corresponding with major cities, cultivated "Genuine Slime Mold" (something similar to an amoeba), and observed how it found the shortest possible route between two points by transforming its body. Using this slime mold, it is possible to optimize the present network of railways. The results of this research were published in the scientific journal Science.

The unique and humorous experiment results and the theoretical considerations of this slime mold model engaged the hearts and minds of the selection committee.

Inquiries about this article : Public Relations Group, Hiroshima University

Tel. : 082-424-6131