Meet the 2024 MacArthur ‘genius grant’ winners

The 2024 MacArthur Fellows, commonly referred to as "genius grant" recipients, have been unveiled, spotlighting an extraordinary group of innovators whose groundbreaking work spans a wide range of fields. Awarded annually, this prestigious fellowship provides a no-strings-attached grant of $800,000 over five years, allowing recipients the freedom to further pursue their creative endeavors without financial constraints.

This year’s honorees include an eclectic mix of artists, scientists, writers, and activists, all of whom have demonstrated exceptional originality and dedication to their respective disciplines. Among the 2024 fellows are individuals pushing boundaries in the arts, rethinking approaches in social justice, and advancing cutting-edge research in fields like neuroscience and climate change.

The MacArthur Foundation selects fellows based not only on their past accomplishments but also on their potential to make transformative contributions to society. The award is designed to fuel their next chapter of creativity, offering them the opportunity to delve deeper into their work without the pressure of specific outcomes. As always, the announcement has sparked excitement across academic, artistic, and activist communities, celebrating these visionaries who are helping to shape the future.

This year's group reflects a continued commitment to diversity and innovation, with fellows representing a wide array of backgrounds and experiences. The 2024 cohort stands as a testament to the limitless possibilities of human ingenuity, and their impact is expected to reverberate across generations.

Ruha Benjamin, 46, writer

Justin Vivian Bond, 61, performer

Jericho Brown, 48, poet

Tony Cokes, 68, media artist

Nicola Dell, 42, computer scientist

Johnny Gandelsman, 46, violinist

Sterlin Harjo, 44, filmmaker

Juan Felipe Herrera, 75, writer

Ling Ma, 41, writer

Jennifer Morgan, 58, historian

Martha Muñoz, 39, evolutionary biologist

Shailaja Paik, 50, historian

Joseph Parker, 44, evolutionary biologist

Ebony Patterson, 43, multimedia artist

Shamel Pitts, 39, dancer and choreographer

Wendy Red Star, 43, artist

Jason Reynolds, 40, writer

Dorothy Roberts, 68, legal scholar

Keivan Stassun, 52, astronomer

Benjamin Van Mooy, 52, oceanographer

Alice Wong, 50, activist