Congratulations to Catherine Talbot on Her Ig Nobel Prize!

Sep 25, 2026. Congratulations to Dr. Catherine Talbot, an associate professor in Florida Tech’s School of Psychology, on sharing the 2026 Ig Nobel Prize in biomechanics with Matilda Brindle and Stuart West of the University of Oxford. The official announcement from Improbable Research recognizes the team’s work on defining kissing across species.

Their study, “A comparative approach to the evolution of kissing”, published in Evolution and Human Behavior, investigates the evolutionary history of kissing. By establishing a definition that can be applied across species, the researchers examined how this familiar behavior fits into the broader story of animal social interactions.

The organizers of the Ig Nobel Prizes describe the awards as recognizing achievements that “first make people LAUGH then make them THINK.” The prizes offer a playful setting for sharing research with audiences beyond a scientist’s own field.

As fellow members of the Florida Tech community, we are proud to celebrate this recognition of Dr. Talbot and her co-authors. Their achievement is a welcome reminder of the value of curiosity and the breadth of research taking place across our university.

Read more in Florida Tech’s coverage of the award.

Congratulations to Dr. Talbot and the entire team!