25 Receive $500,000 'Genius' Fellowships

John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation announced the 25 recipients of the $500,000 "genius awards." Candidates in every conceivable field are eligible, though the largest cluster of awards this year went to scientists (13), with those in the arts (8) a close second. As always, there are a few idiosyncratic careers in the mix, including that of an engineer and architectural historian who studies and preserves ancient bridges and other structures. The foundation's president, Jonathan F. Fanton, said the description that best characterizes this year's class of winners was "people working on the very edge of discovery and people at the edge of a new synthesis." The recipients, who must be citizens or residents of the United States, join 756 who have been named fellows since 1981. Each gets $100,000 a year for five years, with no strings attached.