On October 1, the 2024 winners of the MacArthur Fellowships, prestigious annual awards also known as “genius grants,” were announced. The 22 recipients include a children’s book author, an astronomer, a violinist, a legal scholar, and a dancer and choreographer.
What are the fellowships?
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is an organization that funds creative solutions to urgent global challenges. It was established in 1970 by John (1897–1978), an insurance and business executive, and his wife, Catherine (1908–1981), who worked with him. In 1981, the foundation began awarding MacArthur Fellowships, which recognize people who have made important contributions in a variety of fields. The award comes with a grant of $800,000, which the organization says is not a reward for past accomplishments but an investment in a…
