www.macfound.org

Support At a Glance • The aim of the MacArthur Foundation’s grantmaking in science is for Science the creation of new knowledge or empirical evidence that can be used to inform public policy decisions.

• Over the past 30 years, the Foundation has awarded approximately $400 million in grants in support of science —11 percent of the Foundation’s total grantmaking.

• Since 1983, MacArthur has supported 24 research networks with grants totaling $297 million. Research areas have ranged from the effects of aging to the impact of neuroscience on the law.

• MacArthur Fellowships have been awarded to 350 individuals in the physical, biological, computational, and medical sciences. Five of these Fellows have gone on to receive Nobel Prizes.

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Research Networks health and parasite biology. In supporting Foundation has a long tradition of support research in human development and 1 for the sciences. Since its inception in MacArthur research networks are a mental health, the central goal is to 1978, the Foundation has awarded mechanism for bringing diverse promote intellectual collaboration, approximately $400 million in grants for perspectives, knowledge, expertise, interdisciplinary approaches, and science — about 11 percent of MacArthur’s and strategies to bear on the research methods of investigation on significant total grantmaking of $4 billion. of complex problems. The network research questions in the field of study. methodology typically combines From 1983 to 2003, MacArthur The aim of MacArthur’s grantmaking in knowledge from the life sciences with supported two research networks science is the creation of new knowledge the social and behavioral sciences to focused on the biology of parasitic or empirical evidence that can be used address issues related to health, well- disease and the biology of parasitic to inform public policy decisions. The being, and behavior of individuals in vectors, respectively. The network on Foundation’s support for science is based society. The research frequently results parasitic disease included support for on a framework that combines scientific in the creation of new knowledge that establishing a field of academic research work with the increasing importance of can be used to inform public policy or on the molecular biology of parasitism; the network on parasitic vectors was interdisciplinary research. Over the years, applied in clinical settings. MacArthur has supported science through based on the conviction that intensive grants for research networks, individuals, application of modern cellular and and institutions through program areas Since 1983, the Foundation has supported molecular biology, genetics, and including conservation and sustainable 24 networks with grants totaling about immunology would accelerate progress development, international peace and $297 million. Two major organizing in understanding and combating parasitic security, and special initiatives. principles for research networks have disease. The latter made major been human development and mental contributions to the field of research,

1 For the purposes of this review, science grants are defined as those that support work utilizing the physical, biological, medical, and behavioral sciences as distinct from the social sciences. 2 The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

such as developing genetic methods for Programmatic Grants the belief that democracies in general, interrupting the transmission of vector- and development in particular, cannot borne disease. MacArthur’s support for science seeks to flourish without strong intellectual and build and strengthen research and science scientific communities. Since then, grants institutions, enhance public policymaking, totaling $41 million have been awarded to In 2007, the Foundation launched the and assess the effectiveness of strategies improve infrastructure at universities Law and Neuroscience Project, which will in Foundation program areas, such as throughout Africa for scientific research allow scientists, philosophers, judges, conservation and sustainable development and training universities. This includes a and others on the front lines of criminal and international peace and security. grant to the African Virtual University in justice to harness the positive potential of Nairobi, Kenya to provide Sub-Saharan recent developments in neuroscience. The Foundation’s grantmaking in the field countries with sufficient bandwidth to of conservation totals about $350 million; transmit university education in topics about 10 percent of those funds support such as science and engineering. science to help determine the effectiveness MacArthur’s work also includes helping Grants to Individuals of initiatives to counter threats to biodiversity and other conservation work. establish and support several science- based institutions to strengthen the The Foundation has awarded grants to Similarly, grantmaking in arms control and infrastructure for policymaking nationally individuals in support of science through disarmament has focused on developing and internationally. Since 1982, the the MacArthur Fellowship and various the capacity to advise policy makers with Foundation has contributed $38 million to other programs and initiatives. Since the independent and rigorous scientific and World Resources Institute to establish an first class of MacArthur Fellows was technical analysis on nuclear, biological, independent policy research center to awarded in 1981, the program has and chemical weapons. bridge the gap between the scientific provided $111 million to about 350 world and policymakers on complex individuals involved in the physical, The $50 million initiative on Science, environmental issues. biological, computational, and medical Technology, and Security, under the sciences. Five MacArthur Fellows, Foundation’s international peace and

Joseph Taylor (astronomy), Barbara security program, brings scientific McClintock (molecular biology and expertise to public policy discussions Special Initiatives in Science genetics), and , about arms control through helping Douglas Osheroff, and increase the pool of scholars in this field. From time-to-time, a convergence among have gone on to receive Nobel Prizes. And the Jefferson Science Fellows science, technology, and opportunity Two MacArthur Fellows in mathematics, Program, which allows scientists to work allows the Foundation to play a role in Michael Freedman and Terrence Tao, with senior U.S. diplomats, is a key helping bring about a positive change to received Fields Medals. element of MacArthur’s investment in a particular issue. The MacArthur strengthening the links between scientists Foundation looks for these opportunities The Foundation supports scientific work and policy makers. where relatively modest amounts of through special initiatives as well. For funding can be leveraged to create a large example, coinciding with the collapse of The Foundation’s commitment to science benefit. Following are recent examples: the former Soviet Union, MacArthur also includes support for infrastructure developed grants to help support ’s and the development of new science scientific intelligentsia working in the institutions, including universities, policy Digital Media and Learning peace and security area and to retain the institutes, science museums, zoological $50 million, 2005-ongoing connections between scientists and parks, and botanical gardens. For example, The five-year, $50 million digital media researchers in the former Soviet Union MacArthur has contributed $30 million to and learning initiative seeks to help and their counterparts abroad. From the Basic Research and Higher Education determine how digital technologies are 1994 to 2004, MacArthur awarded a Program, which seeks to transform and changing the way young people learn, total of $4.1 million, most of it in small reinvigorate the training of young Russian play, socialize, and participate in civic life. amounts, to these scientists to research scientists by strengthening the basic Answers to these and other questions and publish the results of their work in research capabilities of Russian are critical to developing educational and arms control and environmental universities. And in 2000, the Foundation other social institutions that can meet degradation, and to deliver scientific embarked on a program to support the needs of this and future generations. papers at international meetings. leading Nigerian universities guided by The initiative is both marshaling what is The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation 3

already known about the field and Science Chicago Selected Grants seeding innovation for continued growth. $2 million, 2007-2009 in Support of Science More information is available at Chicago’s Science Chicago is showcasing Research Networks www.digitallearning.macfound.org or at the City’s scientific community, highlighting spotlight.macfound.org. the quality of the science work in Chicago UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA and its importance to the local economy. BARBARA Postpartum Hemorrhage Initiative The initiative, led by the Museum of Science Santa Barbara, CA $13 million, 2003-ongoing and Industry, seeks to raise awareness of $10,000,000 in support of an Initiative the role of science in everyday life, and of MacArthur is investing $11 million to on Neuroscience and the Law (over the challenges facing the nation as it reduce significantly maternal deaths due three years). to postpartum hemorrhage in India and strives to remain competitive in scientific and technological fields. The Science Nigeria. The centerpiece of this new effort UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA Chicago is also designed to help promote is distribution of the anti-shock garment, Philadelphia, PA understanding of and appreciation for the a low-cost neoprene suit that helps $5,200,000 in support of the Research evidence-based scientific process, and stabilize women who are bleeding during Network on Transitions to Adulthood help young people see the fun and childbirth until they can be transported to and Public Policy (over four years). a health facility. Pathfinder International, excitement in science. MacArthur spurred the idea of the Science Chicago and the lead grantee, is introducing a package UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA provided planning and operational of low-tech interventions to several Charlottesville, VA support. More information is available at hundred health facilities in seven states in $4,550,000 in support of the Research chicagoscienceinthecity.org. India and eight states in Nigeria — two Network on Mandated Community countries that comprise one-third of all Treatment (over four years). maternal deaths globally and are the The Science Commons and focus of MacArthur’s international the Public Library of Science JUDGE BAKER CHILDREN’S CENTER grantmaking. $1 Million, 2007-ongoing Boston, MA In 2007, the Foundation’s General Program $3,900,000 in support of the Research Encyclopedia of Life recommended two grants to advance Network on Youth Mental Health Care $10 million, 2007-ongoing science by addressing some of the legal, (over three years). The Foundation provided a $10 million technical, and financial barriers to CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL BOSTON grant toward the $50 million startup cost scientific collaboration and innovation Boston, MA for the Encyclopedia of Life, an ambitious through the creation and implementation $900,000 to establish the Institute of effort to describe and catalog all known of easy-to-use tools. Developed by the Child Development in Romania (over life on earth in one database accessible Creative Commons, the Science Commons three years). on the Web. This international project tool focuses on licensing policies for brings together leading scientific sharing biological materials, scholarly UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA institutions, including the Smithsonian, publishing, and improving the accessibility SCHOOL OF LAW Harvard, the Field Museum, the Marine of scientific data. The other initiative, Charlottesville, VA Biological Laboratory at Woods Hole, developed by the Public Library of $750,000 in supplemental support the Missouri Botanical Garden, and Science will attempt to provide the public of the Research Network on Mandated the Biodiversity Heritage Library. The and experts with prompt, accurate, and Community Treatment benefit-cost Encyclopedia can help track biodiversity thorough scientific scholarship in an open projects (over two years). as climate change and human activity put access environment. species under pressure. In addition, it can BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY add great value to the work of the Waltham, MA scientist, the student, the conservationist, $616,262 in support of the National the policy maker, and the passionate Scientific Council on the Developing amateur. More information is available at Child (over three years). www.eol.org. 4 The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY INTER-AMERICAN INSTITUTE $600,000 to support biodiversity MAILMAN SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH FOR GLOBAL CHANGE RESEARCH conservation in the Annamite Mountains New York, NY Sao Paulo, Brazil in Lao PDR and Cambodia through $250,000 in support of planning a $450,000 in support of assessing management planning, biodiversity Research Network on an Aging Society. climate change impacts on biodiversity surveys and monitoring (over three years). in the Andes. HARVARD UNIVERSITY $500,000 in support of the consolidation SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR of an integrated strategy for conservation Boston, MA CONSERVATION OF NATURE and sustainable natural resource use in $133,738 in support of the National AND NATURAL RESOURCES Madagascar’s Antongil Bay Landscape Scientific Council on the Developing Gland, Switzerland (over three years). Child (over three years). $200,000 to assess the conservation status of freshwater fishes and mollusks, OFFICE RWANDAIS DU TOURISME and ecologically important aquatic ET DES PARCS NATIONAUX insects in the Eastern Himalayan Kigali, Rwanda Conservation and Sustainable biodiversity hotspot. $500,000 in support of the establishment Development of a conservation training center (over NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF RWANDA three years). ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY GLOBAL INSTITUTE OF SUSTAINABILITY Butare, Rwanda NATURE CONSERVANCY, Tempe, AZ $420,000 to strengthen capacity to ASIA/PACIFIC REGION $4,172,147 in support of an offer graduate education in conservation Honolulu, HI interdisciplinary research initiative on science to students from Rwanda and $500,000 to develop practical methods advancing conservation in a social neighboring countries in the Albertine Rift for applying resilience principles to coral context (over three years). (over three years). reef conservation and sharing the science and methodology of coral resilience ROYAL GOVERNMENT OF BHUTAN, BIRDLIFE INTERNATIONAL through training programs in areas of MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE Cambridge, United Kingdom high coral reef importance around the Thimphu, Bhutan $350,000 to assess climate change world (over three years). $1,500,000 to establish the Ugyen impacts on the conservation of birds Wangchuck School of Forestry and in Asia (over two years). Environmental Studies (over three years). WORLD WILDLIFE FUND Russia Initiative CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON Washington, DC DEPARTMENT OF GLOBAL ECOLOGY $700,000 to assist the Royal Government IRINA KONSTANTINOVNA KRAVCHENKO Stanford, CA of Bhutan in strengthening the corridor $15,500 to deliver the paper “Oxidation of $2,250,000 in support of the Center for system that connects the protected Atmospheric Methane in Grey Earth Science, Technology and Security Policy, areas of Bhutan into a single continuous Forest Soils of Russia and Its Regulation which functions as a clearinghouse for landscape (over three years). through the Composition of Microbial information between policymakers and Communities” (over 18 months). scientific experts (over three years). $575,000 to improve the forest allocation and management process in southern BORIS ALEKSANDROVICH REVICH $160,000 in support of expanding local Lao PDR and to build long-term capacity $16,600 to deliver the paper capability to map by satellite forest in forest management and planning in the “Dioxin Pollution as a Risk Factor for disturbances in the Peruvian rainforest. Lower Mekong focal area (over three years). Breast Cancer.” $1,770,000 in support of the development and testing of new WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY LEV ALEKSANDROVICH FEDOROV Bronx, NY technology that will allow forest canopy $11,200 to deliver the paper $650,000 in support of an integrated species composition to be sensed “The Consequences of Chemical strategy for conservation and sustainable remotely (over two years). Weapons Production for the natural resource use in Antongil Bay, Environment in Russia.” Madagascar (over three years). The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation 5

Arms Control and Disarmament UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR Infrastructure DISARMAMENT AFFAIRS PRINCETON UNIVERSITY New York, NY U.S. CIVILIAN RESEARCH AND WOODROW WILSON SCHOOL OF $2,000,000 to provide bridge funding to DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION PUBLIC AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS retain expertise and institutional memory Arlington, VA Princeton, NJ from the United Nations Monitoring, $9,841,078 in support of the Program $2,176,390 in support of research, Verification and Inspection Commission on Basic Research and Higher Education training and collaboration with independent (over 18 months). in Russia (over five years). analysts worldwide on issues at the intersection of science, technology and CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN security (over five years). DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERING AND Ibadan, Nigeria PUBLIC POLICY $4,000,000 in support of strengthening $2,120,604 in support of an independent Pittsburgh, PA the human capital, institutional facilities, International Panel on Fissile Materials $1,939,223 in support of research and and governance system of the University (over five years). analysis on homeland and international (over three years). security problems of a scientific and HARVARD UNIVERSITY technical nature (over five years). BAYERO UNIVERSITY BELFER CENTER FOR SCIENCE AND Kano, Nigeria INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS $3,100,000 in support of staff Cambridge, MA PEACE STUDIES PROGRAM development and the refurbishing $2,145,000 in support of the Managing Ithaca, NY and upgrading of University facilities the Atom Project (over five years). $1,860,000 in support of training and (over three years). research on security issues with a KING’S COLLEGE LONDON scientific and technical dimension UNIVERSITY OF PORT HARCOURT DEPARTMENT OF WAR STUDIES (over five years). Port Harcourt, Nigeria London, United Kingdom $2,500,000 in support of institutional $1,000,000 to support an interdisciplinary GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH strengthening (over three years). program of research and training to CORPORATION strengthen scientific advice on international Atlanta, GA AFRICAN VIRTUAL UNIVERSITY security policy (over two years). $1,840,000 in support of a program to Nairobi, Kenya train a new generation of scientists and $900,000 in support of supplying UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND FOUNDATION engineers in technical research and discounted bandwidth to a consortium of Adelphi, MD policy analysis of security issues (over universities in Africa (over three years). $2,100,000 in support of the Advanced five years). Methods of Cooperative Security Project UNIVERSITY OF ANTANANARIVO (over five years). MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE FACULTY OF SCIENCES OF TECHNOLOGY Antananarivo, Madagascar PROGRAM IN SCIENCE, $820,000 in support of the advancement CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY of conservation biology within the Faculty SECURITY AND COOPERATION Cambridge, MA of Science (over three years). Stanford, CA $1,200,000 in support of technical $2,034,231 in support of research, research and track two dialogues by the CENTER FOR RUSSIAN training and collaboration with Science, Technology, and Global Security ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY independent analysts worldwide on Working Group (over three years). Moscow, Russia issues at the intersection of science, $450,000 in support of new mechanisms technology and security (over five years). NAUTILUS INSTITUTE for developing and implementing Russia’s San Francisco, CA environmental policy (over three years). $1,050,000 in support of an East Asian network of scientists undertaking collaborative research on international security issues (over three years). 6 The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY FRONTLINE KIKIM MEDIA Atlanta, GA Boston, MA Menlo Park, CA $1,840,000 to train a new generation $4,578,612 in support of the FRONTLINE $250,000 in support of a documentary of scientists and engineers in technical and the FRONTLINE/World series, and film “Still Life: The Pursuit of Parkinson’s.” analysis and of security issues (over the expansion of the series’ digital and $200,000 in support of a documentary five years.) online capabilities (over five years). film, “Ending AIDS: The Search for a Vaccine.” NAUTILUS INSTITUTE HARVARD LAW SCHOOL San Francisco, CA BERKMAN CENTER FOR INTERNET JHPIEGO $1,050,000 to continue the development AND SOCIETY Baltimore, MD of a network of scientific and technical Cambridge, MA $185,000 in support of a project to experts on nuclear weapons and nuclear $3,000,000 in support of the Open Net develop the training capacity of Federation energy challenges in Asia. Initiative (over four years). of Obstetrics and Gynecological Societies of India to prepare general practitioners to CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY FEDERATION OF AMERICAN Pittsburgh, PA SCIENTISTS FUND provide quality emergency obstetric care $1,939,000 in support of research and Washington, DC in rural areas of India (over two years). analysis on homeland and international $2,500,000 in support of general ONE WORLD INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION security problems of a scientific and operations. London, United Kingdom technical nature (over five years.) BENETECH $70,000 in support of a planning process Palo Alto, CA to determine the most appropriate $800,000 in support of using science approach to implementing the Mobile4Good Building Science Institutions and technology to promote human rights project in Nigeria, which uses mobile (over three years). phone technology to promote healthy ENERGY FOUNDATION outcomes. San Francisco, CA AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE $11,941,748 in support of general ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY operations (over three years). Washington, DC Chicago, IL $760,000 in support of the application $2,000,000 in support of Science Chicago. WORLD RESOURCES INSTITUTE of geospatial technologies to human Washington, DC rights (over three years). $1,500,000 to support expanded Digital Media, Learning and communications technology capacity PUBLIC LIBRARY OF SCIENCE Education (over three years). San Francisco, CA $500,000 in support of the open access UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE publishing initiatives (over two years). Irvine, CA $2,350,000 to operate, publicize, and Special Initiatives in Science CREATIVE COMMONS San Francisco, CA support the winners of an open-call competition at HASTAC to build the PATHFINDER INTERNATIONAL $500,000 in support of Science Commons field of Digital Media and Learning Watertown, MA (over two years). (over 18 months). $10,700,000 to implement a package of interventions for reducing maternal GYNUITY HEALTH PROJECTS MONTEREY INSTITUTE FOR TECHNOLOGY mortality and morbidity due to postpartum New York, NY AND EDUCATION hemorrhage in India and Nigeria (over $400,000 in support of a pilot test Monterey, CA four years). of the SpringFusor pump for providing $2,140,000 in support of building the magnesium sulfate to treat pregnant emerging field of Digital Media and Learning SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION women with pre-eclampsia and through a new journal, conferences, and NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL eclampsia (over two years). gatherings (over five years). HISTORY Washington, DC $10,000,000 in support of coordination of the Encyclopedia of Life (over two years). The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation 7

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SCHOOL OF INFORMATION MANAGEMENT ANNENBERG CENTER FOR AND SYSTEMS COMMUNICATION Berkeley, CA Los Angeles, CA $1,954,000 in support of a multi-site $1,346,000 in support of a multi-site ethnographic study of how young people ethnographic study of how young people use digital media, and to what effect use digital media, and to what effect (over three years). (over three years).

INDIANA UNIVERSITY Bloomington, IN $1,839,000 to analyze and support efforts to expand the immersive learning environment for Quest Atlantis (over three years).

MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY COMPARATIVE MEDIA STUDIES Cambridge, MA $1,800,000 in support of the development and testing of a comprehensive media literacy curriculum and a national communications strategy to ensure widespread distribution (over three years).

ACADEMIC ADVANCED DISTRIBUTED LEARNING CO-LAB Madison, WI $1,800,000 in support of the development and testing of a comprehensive media literacy curriculum, research on the new curricula, the development of new approaches to assessment, and a national communications strategy to ensure widespread distribution of the product.

ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY Tempe, AZ $1,782,000 to develop approaches to educational assessment that acknowledge learning in a digital media context (over three years).

UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO CENTER FOR URBAN SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT Chicago, IL $1,600,000 in support and expansion of after school digital media programs (over three years). 8 The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

About the MacArthur Foundation The John D. and Catherine T. The MacArthur Foundation supports creative people and effective institutions MacArthur Foundation committed to building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. In addition to Jonathan F. Fanton selecting the MacArthur Fellows, we work to defend human rights, advance global President conservation and security, make cities better places, and understand how technology 140 South Dearborn Street, Suite 1200 is affecting children and society. More information is available at www.macfound.org. Chicago, Illinois 60603-5285 Phone: (312) 726-8000 Fax: (312) 920-6258 E-mail: [email protected] TDD: (312) 920-6285 www.macfound.org

February 2009