The most prestigious MacArthur award has no age
limit, and all Lighters are eligible for it. If I remember correctly, S.T. Yau received
the Fields award before the MacArthur Award ( big headline at UCSD at that time), making
the MacArthur even more selective, No?
My understanding from mathematicians is that they do their best work before 30. If one
does not make it by this tender age, it is going to be tough to make it after that. No
wonder, the Fields award only go the young guys. Unlike mathematicians, researchers in
physical sciences take decades of hard work to be recognized. I think Li ( of the Yang and
Li fame) was in his early 40s when he received his award. He was one of the youngest to
receive the Nobel prize. Getting awards has a snowballing effect. People try to pile
things on someone who has made it, so what is new? It is interesting that Richard Feymann
refused to accept the membership of the National Academy of Science. George C. Scott and
Brando refused to pick up the Academy award. There was probably nothing new in the
behavior of Feymann and Brando either (This is one of the stories I heard about Feynamm,
hope it is true).
The following is a brief history of the MacArhur Foundation and what sort of people they
want to select for awards:
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is a private, independent grantmaking
institution dedicated to helping groups and individuals foster lasting improvement in the
human condition.
The Foundation makes grants through two major integrated programs - Human and Community
Development and Global Security and Sustainability - and two special programs.
The Foundation's two special programs are the General Program, which undertakes special
initiatives and supports projects that promote excellence and diversity in the media, and
the MacArthur Fellows Program, which awards fellowships to exceptionally creative
individuals, regardless of field of endeavor.
The Foundation seeks to create and sustain itself as an institution that is diverse
throughout all levels of professional responsibility and with respect to many criteria of
difference, including gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, belief, sexual orientation,
physical ability, educational background, and professional experience. ( I don't think
thet exclude anyone as far as I can tell --SSL )
The Foundation was created in 1978 by John D. MacArthur (1897-1978), who developed and
owned Bankers Life and Casualty Company and other businesses, as well as considerable
property in Florida and New York. His wife Catherine (1909-1981) held positions in many of
these companies and served as a director of the Foundation. One of the nation's ten
largest foundations, MacArthur today has assets of $4 billion and makes grants totaling
more than $150 million annually.
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