Congratulations to David Montgomery, UC Press author and 2008 MacArthur Fellow!
Montgomery is a geomorphologist and the author of Dirt: The Erosion of Civilizations, which recently won the Washington State Book Award in General Nonfiction from the
Washington Center for the Book, at the Seattle Public Library. In Dirt, Montgomery tells the story of our most important and underrated resource—the very ground we walk on. He examines soil’s critical role in the rise and collapse of societies throughout history, and warns about the potentially catastrophic consequences of our own civilization’s unsustainable use of soil.
The MacArthur Foundation selects its fellows for their exceptional talent, creativity, past achievements, and potential for future contributions. There are no restrictions on age or profession (a fiction writer, a violinist, a geriatrician, and a structural engineer are among this year’s Fellows), and recipients can spend the $500,000 award any way they choose.
