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 physicists David Gross, about arms control through helping Douglas Osheroff, and Frank Wilczek 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 Russia’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