Asian American Geniuses
October 19, 2007
Among the 24 recently announced 2007 MacArthur fellows, we are proud to see a number of Asian Americans, in fields as disparate as dance, chemistry, spider silk biology and neurorobotics (involving the central nervous system and robot technology!).
The fellowships, known colloquially as the “genius grants,” are awarded for creativity, originality and potential for important future contributions to society and include a $500,000 “no strings attached” grant to grease the fellows’ creativity wheels.
Who would have guessed that after first arriving on America’s shores to work as railroad laborers, laundry workers and farmers, Asian Americans would be making inroads in such cutting-edge areas and considered among the most innovative and forward-thinking in the country?
Former MacArthur fellows include writers Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, Ved Mehta and Han Ong; composer Bright Sheng; sculptor Sarah Sze; translator Huynh Sanh Thông; ethnomusicologist Sam-Ang Sam; human rights activist Xiao Qiang; public health doctor Jim Kim, and Asian Pacific American Legal Center lawyers Stewart Kwoh and Julie Su.
Among this year’s crop is My Hang Huynh, a chemist at Los Alamos working on making explosives less toxic. Biologist Cheryl Hayashi studies the composition of spider silk and how we can emulate its structure in other materials. Yoky Matsuoka is a pioneer in the coordination of the central nervous system and robotic technology to aid people with physical disabilities. Choreographer Shen Wei combines Eastern and Western influences to create dramatic dance-theater.
As Vivien Hao reports in this issue, the Asian American MacArthur fellows are far from dutiful yes-men: they are risk takers committed to following their hearts wherever they lead, qualities that are sadly not typically associated with or fostered among Asian Americans.
We must encourage each other, and especially our youth, to pursue interests and dreams, no matter what field they may be in. You never know where that spark of curiosity will lead — that kid obsessed with spiders just may grow up to be a genius.
Comments
Got something to say?