A University of Minnesota professor received the "genius" grant Tuesday for her research and breeding of honeybees.
Marla Spivak, who was hired at the U in 1993, was given a $500,000 MacArthur "genius" grant for her development of "hygienic behavior".
Parasites, diseases and pesticides have been killing off an alarming amount of honeybees, according to the Pioneer Press. A third of the U.S. food supply is dependent on pollination from honeybees.
Spivak, along with 22 other researchers, artists and innovators will receive $100,000 a year for 5 years with no strings attached, the Star Tribune reported.
