The MacArthur Fellowships for 2001 were announced on 24 October 2001, after delays due to the events of 11 September. Each of the 23 individuals will receive $500,000 over five years.
The foundation describes the basis for giving the awards as follows: "The MacArthur Fellows Program awards unrestricted fellowships to talented individuals who have shown extraordinary originality and dedication in their creative pursuits, and a marked capacity for self-direction. There are three criteria for selection of Fellows: exceptional creativity, promise for important future advances based on a track record of significant accomplishment, and potential for the fellowship to facilitate subsequent creative work." The Fellowships are often referred to as "genius grants"<1>, though the foundation dislikes that term.
The MacArthur Fellows for 2001 are:
Andrea Barrett
Christopher Chyba
Michael Dickinson
Rosanne Haggerty
Lene Hau
Dave Hickey
Stephen Hough
Kay Redfield Jamison
Sandra Lanham
Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle
Cynthia Moss
Dirk Obbink
Norman Pace
Suzan-Lori Parks
Brooks Pate
Xiao Qiang
Geraldine Seydoux
Bright Sheng
David Spergel
Jean Strouse
Julie Su
David Wilson
1. www.macfound.org