Historian, computer scientist, neurobiologist among the recipients of the $500,000 grant
CHICAGO
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation named 25 new MacArthur Fellows for 2005. Each received a phone call from the Foundation informing them that they will be given $500,000 in “no strings attached” support over the next five years.
MacArthur Fellows are selected for their creativity, originality and potential. By providing resources without stipulations or reporting requirements, the MacArthur Foundation offers the opportunity for fellows to accelerate their current activities or take their work in new directions. The unusual level of independence afforded to the fellows underscores the spirit of freedom intrinsic to creative endeavors.
“The call can be life-changing, coming as it does out of the blue and offering highly creative women and men the gift of time and the unfettered opportunity to explore, create and contribute,” says Dr. Jonathan F. Fanton, president of the MacArthur Foundation.
Some of the academic recipients this year include:
– Dr. Terry Belanger, university professor and honorary curator of special collections, University of Virginia — rare book preservationist;
– Dr. Lu Chen, assistant professor of neurobiology, University of California/Berkeley — neuroscientist;
– Dr. Claire Gmachl, associate professor of electrical engineering, Princeton University — laser technologist;
– Dr. Sue Goldie, associate professor of health decision science, Harvard University School of Public Health — physician/ researcher;
