Brilliant Young Scientist Luis von Ahn Earns $500,000 MacArthur Foundation "Genius Grant" At age 27, Luis von Ahn is this year's youngest MacArthur fellow. Jiménez Moreta, 33, is the co-founder and executive director of the immigrant advocacy organization United We Dream, and the youngest individual to receive the prestigious award this year. Although he has not yet earmarked any of the grant money he will be receiving, he will use some to return to Mexico and Guatemala. Since then, he has published two other papers and presented several more at conferences of Pre-Columbian scholars and is expecting to finish his first book, on Mayan hieroglyphics, by the end of the year. The youngest MacArthur fellow is thirty-year-old John Dabiri. In recognition of his early work in physics and computing, Wolfram became in 1981 the youngest recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship. "I was dumbfounded," Stuart recalls, "The call came from out of the blue.". The MacArthur Fellows Program, also known as the MacArthur Fellowship and commonly but unofficially known as the "Genius Grant", is a prize awarded annually by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation typically to between 20 and 30 individuals, working in any field, who have shown "extraordinary originality and dedication in their creative pursuits and a marked capacity for self-direction" and are citizens or residents of the United States. He is widely recognized for his breakthroughs in deciphering Maya hieroglyphs and interpreting Maya art and iconography, starting at an early age. He currently teaches at the University of Texas at Austinand h… "I didn't understand them at all at first, but I taught myself to.". THE MACARTHUR FOUNDATION announced its 2019 MacArthur Fellows on Sept. 25. Stuart is one of 22 scholars selected this year by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. The MacArthur Fellows Program, also known as the MacArthur Fellowship and commonly but unofficially known as the "Genius Grant", is a prize awarded annually by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation typically to between 20 and 30 individuals, working in any field, who have shown "extraordinary originality and dedication in their creative pursuits and a marked capacity for self-direction" and are citizens or residents of the United States. Courtesy Wolfram Research If a no-strings-attached gift of $500,000 sounds appealing, you may wish to nominate yourself for a MacArthur Fellowship. The MacArthur Fellows program has been associated with the word “genius” almost since its inception, ... At 21, he was the youngest member of that MacArthur class. The 26 “geniuses” include Rowland, 30, and landscape architect Walter Hood, founder and principal of Hood Design Studio in Oakland, Calif. The committee reviews all nominees and recommends recipients to the president and board of directors. In school, young MacArthur was passionate about football, basketball, baseball, and track, and was offered multiple college sports scholarships. MacArthur Fellow Jim Collins described this experience in an editorial column of The New York Times. Want to keep up with breaking news? Since 1981, 942 people have been named MacArthur Fellows,[3] ranging in age from 18 to 82. Of the 24 extraordinary people who the MacArthur Foundation just named as 2017 Fellows (commonly referred to as “Genius Grant” winners), one is a photographer. As of 2000, the amount of the grant was made uniform for recipients of any age. Saez is no newcomer to scholarly recognition. Ghez is among 25 new recipients of the annual "genius" fellowship, each of whom will receive $500,000 in unrestricted support over the next five years. (Note: The MacArthur Foundation is among NPR's financial supporters.) Acquired by Harvard in 1940, Dumbarton Oaks is a research center devoted to the study of Byzantine and Medieval Humanities, Pre-Columbian Art, and Landscape Architecture. VideoDr. For example, it was through this method that I found out that the youngest female Macarthur Fellow, Lateefah Simon (who won the award at age 26 in 2003), earned a bachelor’s degree in public policy from Mills College in California in 2017. Also, he will definitely attend college within the next few years, and says that the fine quality of Harvard's Anthropology Department may draw him to Cambridge. They are: Sara L. Lightfoot, professor of Education at the Graduate School of Education; Matthew Meselson, Cabot Professor of the Natural Sciences; David R. Nelson, professor of Physics; and Judith N. Shklar, Cowles Professor of Government. His work has studied all aspects of the ancient Maya civilization. The MacArthur Fellowship is a prestigious fellow programme presented by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation that seeks to support creatives in the US across a plethora of backgrounds. Each MacArthur Fellow receives a $625,000 stipend, with no strings attached as to how it is spent. Subscribe to our email newsletter. The E. Morris Cox Professorship that he holds was previously held by Daniel McFadden, one of UC Berkeley’s Nobel Prize-winning economists. The fellowship, known colloquially as the “genius grant,” awards each fellow $625,000 over five years for professional pursuits. Gene Luen Yang is a graphic novelist and cartoonist whose work for young adults demonstrates the potential of comics to broaden our understanding of diverse cultures and people. The foundation has bestowed over $22 million to scholars exhibiting "creativity," to free them from financial worries. When Stephen Wolfram received a MacArthur grant in 1981, he was the youngest to do so. "After I became interested in Pre-Columbian artifacts at a distance, I started to read technical journals on the subject," Stuart says. Among his top prizes is the 2009 John Bates Clark Medal for the most promising young American economist under the age of 40. John Fullerton MacArthur Jr. was born in 1939 to Baptist preacher and evangelist Jack MacArthur and Irene Dockendorf in Los Angeles, California. Two weeks ago the telephone interrupted 18-year-old David Stuart, who was in his office deciphering pre-Columbian Mayan hieroglyphics. [4] The award has been called "one of the most significant awards that is truly 'no strings attached'". This figure was increased from $500,000 in 2013 with the release of a review[2] of the MacArthur Fellows Program. I felt that the selection committee at the MacArthur Foundation had the same sense as we did here at Dumbarton Oaks.". Vanderbilt University - … [5], The program does not accept applications. getty. An expert in Mayan Archaeology, Stuart has been a Junior Fellow in Pre-Columbian Studies at Dumbarton Oaks, Harvard's research library and collection in Washington, D.C., since he graduated from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School last spring. In 1981, the first year of the program, the youngest fellows received $120,000 (over five years), while the oldest was given $300,000. Harvard's Youngest MacArthur Fellow By Jennifer A. Kingson March 3, 1984 Two weeks ago the telephone interrupted 18-year-old David Stuart, who … Currently, Professor Angeliki E. Laiou of the History Department, and Professor Ihor Sevcenko of the Classics Department, hold these posts. Most new Fellows first learn of their nomination and award upon receiving a congratulatory phone call. Isaiah Andrews , … Among his top prizes is the 2009 John Bates Clark Medal for the most promising young American economist under the age of 40. The fellowship program, which is also known as the "genius grant," distributes $625,000 to each fellow over five years. Credit: The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation under a … Cristina Jiménez Moreta was one of the 24 people who received one of the MacArthur Foundation ‘s “genius grants” Wednesday. He also had a doctorate in physics and was on the faculty at the California Institute of Technology. Formerly a private estate, the building housed the first meeting of the United Nations in 1944. Stuart is also the youngest fellow ever to be affiliated with Dumbarton Oaks. Margaret A Ost Follow Background Actor at Central Casting The youngest MacArthur Foundation Fellow was 18 when he won in 1984 and is still the youngest recipient to date. Andrea Ghez, a UCLA professor of physics and astronomy, has been selected as a 2008 MacArthur Fellow, the MacArthur Foundation announced today. The MacArthur Foundation is offering MacArthur Fellows Program to celebrate and inspire the creative potential of individuals through no-strings-attached fellowships. And he's trying to … "Stuart is an outstanding young scholar in his field," says Giles Constable '50, Dumbarton Oaks director. Luis von Ahn thinks big. Since it began in 1981, more than 1,000 people have benefitted from the programme and this year, another 26 fellows have been added to their ranks. [6], Cecilia Conrad is the managing director leading the MacArthur Fellows Program. This year, there are four other Harvard-affiliated recipients of MacArthur grants. When the Confederate soldier shot at him, the bullet’s speed slowed after plowing thro… The writer N. K. Jemisin and the playwright Larissa FastHorse are among the fellows recognized for their “exceptional creativity” with a no-strings-attached grant … The E. Morris Cox Professorship that he holds was previously held by Daniel McFadden, … Saez is no newcomer to scholarly recognition. His research is … BERKELEY – When the MacArthur Foundation called out of the blue last week, Lu Chen assumed it was for references on a colleague being considered for the famous MacArthur Foundation "genius" awards. Members of the media seeking comment or to interview a MacArthur Fellow or staff person should call 312.917.3690 or email Kristen Mack, Managing Director, Communications. Data Availability and Limitations of This Study The MacArthur Fellowship is an annual grant program which recognizes a broad spectrum of high-achieving individuals in fields such as science, medicine, literature, journalism, music, art, filmmaking, economics, mathematics and entrepreneurship. The current prize is $625,000 paid over five years in quarterly installments. The caller, a representative of the MacArthur Foundation, told the Silver Spring, Md, native that he had won a five year, "no strings attached," $128,000 grant. Undergraduates Celebrate Second Consecutive Virtual Housing Day, Dean of Students Office Discusses Housing Day, Anti-Racism Goals, Renowned Cardiologist and Nobel Peace Prize Winner Bernard Lown Dies at 99, Native American Nonprofit Accuses Harvard of Violating Federal Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, U.S. Reps Assess Biden’s Progress on Immigration at HKS Event. He is one of 42 fellows at the library this year. He is the youngest person ever to receive a MacArthur Fellowship, at age 18. Yang has produced full-length graphic novels, short stories, and serial comics, many of which explore present-day and historical events through a contemporary Chinese American lens. David Stuart (Ph.D. 1995), now a professor of art history at the University of Texas at Austin, is the youngest person in history to win a MacArthur Fellowship at the age of 18. [1], According to the foundation's website, "the fellowship is not a reward for past accomplishment, but rather an investment in a person's originality, insight, and potential". Three young faculty members named MacArthur "genius" fellows By Robert Sanders, Media Relations | 20 September 2005. Late in 1981 Wolfram then set out on an ambitious new direction in science aimed at understanding the origins of complexity in nature. At 31, Chris Thile is special in an already special circle: the mandolinist who first won awards as part of the Grammy-winning trio Nickel Creek is this year’s youngest MacArthur genius. Stuart, the youngest person ever to receive a prestigious MacArthur grant, began studying the ancient scripts on frequent trips to Mexico and Guatemala with his family since he was three years old. UC Berkeley Press Release. [7], prize awarded annually by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, For the award in the fields of ecology, see, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, "Review Affirms Impact and Inspiration of MacArthur Fellows Program – MacArthur Foundation", "Five myths about the MacArthur 'genius grants, "Meet the December-1981 MacArthur Fellows", "Meet the February-1983 MacArthur Fellows", "Meet the November-1984 MacArthur Fellows", "Kartik Chandran | Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science", "Display Person – Department of Near Eastern Studies", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=MacArthur_Fellows_Program&oldid=1013297290, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 20 March 2021, at 20:33. Stuart describes his ascent to the MacArthur as "a gradual process," because his interest in archaeology "always seemed like just sort of a hobby." He is a biophysicist who studies the special movement of jellyfish. "I was not terribly surprised to hear about his award. 3.2. Here are this year's MacArthur Fellows, with links to our own coverage where applicable. CHICAGO: The MacArthur Foundation has announced its 2020 class of MacArthur Fellows, honoring the creativity and originality of 21 Americans. During the American Civil War (1861-1865), his father, Arthur MacArthur, had a gun pointed at him while fighting on the battlefield. October 6, 2020 Stanford quantum physicist and sociologist awarded MacArthur ‘genius’ grants. Douglas MacArthur was one package of love letters away from not existing. He is also a professor of landscape architecture at the University of California, Berkeley, where he was formerly chair of the department. Stay Informed Sign up for periodic news updates and event invitations. Harvard maintains two joint faculty appointments with Dumbarton Oaks. The MacArthur Foundation said they named her a fellow for "redefining children's and young adult literature to encompass more complex issues and … Download. David S. Stuart (born 1965) is an archaeologist and epigrapher specializing in the study of ancient Mesoamerica, the area now called Mexico and Central America. After learning to decipher, Stuart published his first paper, entitled "Some Thoughts on Certain Occurrences of the T565 Glyph Element at Palenque" when he was 14. Anonymous and confidential nominations are invited by the foundation and reviewed by an anonymous and confidential selection committee of about a dozen people. The MacArthur Fellowship is a five-year grant to individuals who show exceptional creativity in their work and … Phil S. Baran outside The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, CA. 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