'Civilization': the Role of the 'Genius Grants'

The money and prestige that comes with a MacArthur Fellowship has made a big difference to many recipients, but the awards do not necessarily lead to many path-breaking achievements, says Civilization magazine (October-November) in a cover article.

The no-strings-attached awards, often called "genius grants," have been given for 17 years by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. The magazine speculates that while the prizes were originally