Scientist Recipients Of MacArthur Fellowships An Eclectic Collection

As the school year commences, returning scientists are again applying for grants, awards, and other financial support to pursue their various disciplines. But six academic scientists among the 24 recipients of this year's John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Fellowships--popularly known as the "genius awards"--are in an extremely fortunate position: Their explorations for the next five years will extend as far as their imaginations will take them. "When the director called me up to co

Written byNeeraja Sankaran

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"When the director called me up to congratulate me, she said, `If you want to quit science to write a novel, feel free!'" recalls fellow Michael A. Marletta, 44, a medicinal chemist at the University of Michigan.

TESTING LIMITS: Medicinal chemist and MacArthur fellow Michael Marletta says the foundation "tends to look at people who are pushing at the very edge of their field."

The other MacArthur fellowship recipients are:

The foundation aims to recognize people whose achievements in the arts, humanities, sciences, social sciences, and public affairs show the promise of even greater accomplishments in the future. "It is an act of faith--both in creativity as well as in particular people," stresses Stimpson. "We believe that they have amazing things yet to do."

MacArthur fellowships cannot be applied for; rather, candidates are drawn from a pool of initial nominations by an anonymous group of 100 people. These nominees are ...

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