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Published online 24 September 2008 | Nature 455, 455-458 (2008) | doi:10.1038/455455a
News Feature
Science prizes: Best in class
What is it like to be labelled a genius? Kendall Powell follows the paths of four MacArthur Fellows — and finds they lead to rutting elephant bulls, climate-change champions, hybrid sunflowers and robotic hands.
In what is perhaps the most secretive talent contest ever, the MacArthur Foundation recognizes and rewards people who demonstrate exceptional creativity. Just this week, the foundation awarded 25 disbelieving recipients in the arts, humanities and sciences with its illustrious MacArthur Fellowships or, as the media has labelled them, 'genius grants'.
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I'm happy for the recipients of these grants, but detest the process. You know that adage "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step"? These MacArthur grants don't recognize that first step: you aren't allowed to nominate yourself; they only listen to people who "second the motion." And for many, it's the first step that needs such help to get to the second step. There's nothing in human biology which restricts worthy potential to people who are fortunate enough to have the wherewithal to reach the point where others will nominate them, to be eligible for a grant which will enable them to continue.