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Yes, we know they're technically called "MacArthur Fellows." We also know that the MacArthur foundation 

 that the term "genius" has stuck around for so long. (The term is "both too narrow and too broad," they say.) But when we're talking about people researching pediatric brain cancer treatments or championing voting rights for incarcerated citizens or crafting mind-expanding documentaries, the term fits well enough as any other.

This year's list of recipients includes art historian and curator Nicole Fleetwood, whose museum exhibition “

” collected artwork made by incarcerated people while in prison. It also includes landscape ecologist Lisa Schulte Moore, who's been working with farmers towards more sustainable agricultural systems. And it also awarded Daniel Alarcón, writer and producer of the NPR-distributed podcast, 

"As we emerge from the shadows of the past two years, this class of 25 Fellows helps us reimagine what's possible," said MacArthur Fellows managing director Cecilia Conrad in a statement. "They demonstrate that creativity has no boundaries." 

Each fellow receives $625,000 that they are free to spend however they see fit. The full list of winners is below.

Hanif Abdurraqib, 38, music critic, essayist and poet

"Forging a distinctive style of cultural and artistic criticism through the lens of popular music and autobiography."

Daniel Alarcón, 44, writer and radio producer

"Chronicling the social and cultural ties that connect 

"Investigating the role that legacies of discrimination and resulting mistrust play in perpetuating 

Trevor Bedford, 39, computational virologist

"Developing tools for real-time tracking of virus evolution and the spread of 

Reginald Dwayne Betts, 40, poet and lawyer

"Promoting the humanity and rights of individuals who are or have been incarcerated."

 with people of color in portraits that invite reciprocal recognition of our shared humanity."

"Bearing witness to the effects of military violence and U.S. imperialism on the civilians of the Korean Peninsula."

Ibrahim Cissé, 38, cellular biophysicist

"Developing microscopy tools to investigate the subcellular processes underlying genetic regulation and misfunction."

Nicole Fleetwood, 48, art historian and curator

"Elucidating the cultural and aesthetic significance of visual art created by incarcerated people."

Cristina Ibarra, 49, documentary filmmaker

"Crafting nuanced narratives about borderland communities, often from the

perspective of Chicana and Latina youth."

Ibram X. Kendi, 39, American historian and cultural critic

for repair in a variety of initiatives and platforms."

Daniel Lind-Ramos, 68, sculptor and painter

"Transforming everyday objects into assemblages that speak to the global connections inherent in Afro-Caribbean and diaspora legacies."

Monica Muñoz Martinez, 37, public historian

 along the U.S.-Mexico border and their reverberations in the present.

"Working to restore voting rights to formerly incarcerated citizens and remove barriers to their full 

Joshua Miele, 52, adaptive technology designer

 to enable blind and visually impaired people to access

everyday technologies and digital information."

Michelle Monje, 45, neurologist and neuro-oncologist

"Advancing understanding of pediatric brain cancers and the effects of

cancer treatments with an eye toward improved therapies for patients."

"Highlighting the ways digital technologies and internet architectures magnify racism, sexism, and harmful stereotypes."

"Deconstructing the physical processes that create landforms on Earth and other planetary bodies."

Alex Rivera, 48, filmmaker and media artist

"Exploring issues around migration to the United States and exploitative labor

Lisa Schulte Moore, 50, landscape ecologist

"Implementing locally relevant approaches to improve soil and water quality and strengthen the resilience of row crop agriculture."

Jesse Shapiro, 41, applied microeconomist

"Devising new frameworks of analysis to advance understanding of media bias, ideological polarization, and the efficacy of public policy interventions."

Jacqueline Stewart, 51, cinema studies scholar and curator

"Ensuring that the contributions of overlooked Black filmmakers and

communities of spectators have a place in the public imagination."

"Analyzing the political and economic forces 

 and the role of social movements in transforming society."

"Investigating how bacterial pathogens overcome the immune system and identifying potential therapies."

Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, 70, choreographer and dancer

"Using the power of dance and artistic expression to elevate the voices of

Black women and promote civic engagement."  

Arts and Culture

Science

Social Issues

Andrew Limbong

Author

Yes, we know they're technically called "MacArthur Fellows." But for this group of artists, scientists and scholars, the term fits well enough as any other.

This year's MacArthur 'Genius Grants' were just announced — here's the full winner list

Go Deeper.

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