Who are the 2023 MacArthur ‘genius grant’ fellows?

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation has unveiled the 2023 class of fellows, often recognized as recipients of the esteemed “genius grant.” These individuals have been chosen for their exceptional accomplishments, their potential for future contributions, and their ability to leverage the fellowship to further their innovative work.

Each of the 20 fellows will receive an $800,000 grant over five years, providing them with the freedom to pursue their passions and initiatives. Unlike many awards, MacArthur fellows do not apply for the grant. Instead, they are nominated through a rigorous, years-long process that involves input from their communities and peers.

Nominations are kept confidential, and nominees are only informed if they are selected for the award. This ensures that the process remains objective and focused on recognizing outstanding talent. The MacArthur Foundation follows three fundamental criteria when selecting fellows:

• Exceptional Creativity: Fellows are recognized for their exceptional creative contributions to their respective fields.
• Promise for Future Advances: Their track record of significant accomplishments points towards future breakthroughs and innovations.
• Fellowship’s Facilitating Role: The MacArthur fellowship is seen as a catalyst for their continued creative work.

One unique aspect of the MacArthur Fellowship is the “no strings attached” approach to the grant. Recipients are free to utilize the $800,000 stipend in any way they choose. The grant is provided in quarterly installments over five years, offering flexibility and autonomy to the fellows.

The 2023 class of MacArthur fellows reflects the Foundation’s commitment to diversity. The majority of this year’s recipients are people of color, including seven Black or African American individuals, five Latinos, three Indigenous or Native Americans, and two Asians. This diversity highlights the broad range of talents and experiences represented among the fellows.

Let’s delve into the accomplishments and areas of expertise of some of the 2023 MacArthur Fellows:

1. E. Tendayi Achiume: A legal scholar from Los Angeles, Achiume explores global migration history, advocating for a reimagining of international movement regulations.
2. Andrea Armstrong: Based in New Orleans, Armstrong is a legal scholar with a focus on incarceration. She has developed a methodology for documenting deaths in prisons and jails.
3. Rina Foygel Barber: Hailing from Chicago, Barber is a statistician who has crafted tools to test machine learning predictions on extensive and intricate datasets.
4. Ian Bassin: A Washington-based lawyer and democracy advocate, Bassin played a role in designing changes to federal election laws.
5. Courtney Bryan: A composer and pianist in New Orleans, Bryan blends jazz, classical, sacred music, and contemporary voices to create works centered on African American experiences.
6. Jason D. Buenrostro: A cellular and molecular biologist from Cambridge, Buenrostro has developed innovative methods to understand gene expression.
7. María Magdalena Campos-Pons: A multidisciplinary artist originally from Cuba, Campos-Pons explores themes such as motherhood, migration, memory, and the slave trade.
8. Raven Chacon: A composer and artist from Red Hook, New York, Chacon’s performances and art shed light on the legacies of European colonization in the United States.
9. Diana Greene Foster: A demographer and reproductive health researcher in San Francisco, Foster’s work investigates the impact of access to contraception and abortion care on women’s lives.
10. Lucy Hutyra: An environmental ecologist from Boston, Hutyra’s research focuses on the movement of carbon in urban environments, aiding climate mitigation strategies.

The MacArthur Foundation’s commitment to recognizing individual creativity has fostered a legacy of innovation and progress. These fellowships have the power to transform careers, enabling recipients to continue pushing the boundaries of their respective fields. The Foundation’s belief in investing in originality, insight, and potential underscores the significance of these awards.