South Middlesex Times

Three professors from Rutgers University-New Brunswick have been named Guggenheim fellows for their exceptional work in fields of creative arts and environmental sciences. The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation selected these three individuals as part of the 188 fellows chosen this year from a pool of 3,000 across 52 disciplines.

Among the distinguished scholars is climate scientist Robert Kopp, who has been dedicated to addressing sea-level rise and global climate change. Kopp, a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, emphasized the urgency of climate change, stating, "Climate change is real, it’s caused by humans, it’s happening now and it’s starting to have fairly significant impacts we can identify and measure." His upcoming project on sea-level change and climate adaptation will be supported by the Climate Change Fund.

Park McArthur, the Tepper Family Endowed Chair in Visual Arts at Mason Gross School of the Arts, will use her fellowship to complete projects in Austria and Germany, aiming to make her artwork accessible across various forms and traditions. McArthur's goal is to have her artworks exist as sound, text, and sculptures, emphasizing inclusivity and diverse artistic experiences.

Playwright Caridad Svich, a part-time Rutgers lecturer and instructor at Writers House, plans to research and write a series of six plays on the effects of neoliberalism with her Guggenheim Fellowship. Svich expressed her gratitude for the honor, stating, "The prestige of it is amazing and the resources the fellowship allows you, that happens very rarely, especially in the arts, that it’s an incredible gift."

Rutgers University–New Brunswick Chancellor Francine Conway commended the achievements of the three professors, stating, “By earning the Guggenheim Fellowship, these outstanding faculty members strengthen our Rutgers-New Brunswick community by giving students access to new horizons in scholarship and the creation of new knowledge. Their accomplishment uplifts us collectively and proves that we truly are stronger together.”

The Guggenheim Fellowship has a long history of supporting artists and scholars in various fields, allowing them to develop their craft under optimal conditions. Notable past fellows include Zora Neale Hurston and Robert Frank, who created significant works with the support of the fellowship. This year's cohort also includes novelist Emma Straub and former U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith.

The Guggenheim Fellowship recipients from Rutgers University-New Brunswick are set to embark on innovative projects that will contribute to their respective fields, further enriching the academic and creative landscape.