MacArthur Fellows Dialogue in NY
Updated: 7 minutes ago
Live discussion panel at the New York Hall of Science. John D. and Katherine T. MacArthur Foundation "Genius Grant" Recipients & National Girls Collaborative Project student moderators.
Why do some species evolve faster than others?
What can ancient societies teach us about adapting to climate change?
How can technology be designed to better protect and support vulnerable communities?
These questions lie at the heart of research conducted by MacArthur "Genius Grant" recipients Martha Muñoz, Kristina Douglass, and Nicola Dell.**
This past weekend, Alyssa Huang (AspireED / NGCP YAB) moderated a live panel discussion with MacArthur Fellows Drs. Muñoz, Douglass, and Dell at the New York Hall of Science. Alyssa's co-moderators were fellow NGCP Youth Advisory Board members Rashi G. and Angelina L.
The event brought together high school girls in the New York City area and was sponsored by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation in partnership with the National Girls Collaborative Project. During the 60-minute live panel discussion (also livestreamed on YouTube) the MacArthur Fellows shared stories about their personal and professional challenges with representing and belonging. They credited hard work, determination, a willingness to take risks, and supportive mentors with helping them build successful careers.
After the live panel discussion, Dr. Muñoz and Dr. Douglass hosted hands-on workshops focused on their research interests and were assisted by NGCP Youth Board members Alyssa and Rashi. The New York high school girls in attendance were challenged to use their knowledge of biology to create lizards that could adapt to various environments and to think of ways societies can adapt to climate change.
"The girls in the workshops had so many great ideas and made me realize we have a bright future," said Alyssa. "The most important lesson I learned from the MacArthur Fellows is that for females and underrepresented minorities, it's important to find fertile soil. In other words, find ways to put yourself in environments where you can be supported."
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**Brief Biographies of the three featured MacArthur Fellows:
Dr. Martha Muñoz is a 2024 MacArthur "Genius Grant" Recipient, evolutionary biologist and Associate Professor at Yale. Her research investigates why some species evolve rapidly while others remain unchanged for years. Dr. Muñoz's groundbreaking findings show that animals can influence their own evolutionary trajectories through their behavior and adaptations.
Dr. Kristina Douglass is a 2025 MacArthur "Genius Grant" Recipient, archeologist, and Associate Professor of Climate at Columbia University. She researches how ancient societies adapt to environmental changes, particularly in Madagascar. Combining archeology, climate science, and conservation biology, she collaborates with Indigenous communities to understand human-environment interactions and applies lessons learned from the past to address modern challenges in climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and environmental sustainability.
Dr. Nicola Dell is a 2024 MacArthur "Genius Grant" Recipient, computer scientist, and Associate Professor at Cornell Tech. Her research focus on preventing technology-facilitated domestic abuse, improving working conditions for home healthcare workers, and expanding access to digital tools in low-resource communities. She co-founded Clinic to End Tech Abuse, which helps survivors protect their digital privacy and security.
