The most fascinating MacArthur 'Genius Grant' fellows who just won $625,000 to save the world

The MacArthur 'Genius Grant' is an annual grant of $625,000 given with no strings attached, paid over five years.

It's not just for anyone - the MacArthur fellows are people the John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation determines "have shown extraordinary originality and dedication in their creative pursuits and a marked capacity for self-direction."

The grant winners range from landscape architects reviving cities, to community leaders taking on poverty in urban communities, to conceptual artists revealing the extent of modern day surveillance.

Below, find nine of the most fascinating people and projects that won this year's grants, and see the full list of recipients at the MacArthur Foundation website.