Citizens of the Next Century List

2018 Citizens of the Next Century List addition, Lucy Liu. Image credit: Genevieve719 via Flickr, cropped and used under CC 2.0.

See also: Miss Next Century | Next Century Citizenship | PISA List | Queen of The Smart Set

Launched in 2010, our Citizens of the Next Century List recognizes individuals that we feel are way ahead of their time. Our Next Century Citizens are people that are passionate about the science, design, and culture shaping our future and that are actively working to create a better future today, an inclusive future that improves the quality of life for everyone.

We add new individuals to the list each December. Our hope in establishing the Citizens of the Next Century List is that it will inspire everyone, from movies stars and mechanics to ministers and the soccer Mom next door, to become more interested, literate, and involved in the science, design, and culture shaping our future. The year in which each individual was added is provided in parentheses. Think we've missed someone? Let us know by sending an email to StudioF/at/future-ish/dot/com.

2023 Additions
Coming soon

2022 Additions

Tolga Atkas | Wildlife Biologist, Filmmaker
Danielle Bellen | Wildlife Biologist
Yunchul Kim | Artist, Composer
Divya Persaud | Plantary Scientist, Artist
Theanne Schiros | Textile Scientist

Full Citizens of the Next Century List


A
Constance Adams | Space Architect (2011)
Alejandro Acevedo-Gutiérrez | Marine Biologist (2012)
Claudia Aguirre | Neuroscientist (2014)
Qanta Ahmed | Sleep Researcher, Physician (2012)
Stephon Alexander | Theoretical Physicist (2011)
Taiaiake Alfred | Professor (2011)
Pradiip Alvarez | Social Entrepreneur (2016)
Haunani Apoliona | Elder, Musician, Activist (2011)
Pablo Arias | Scientist, Illustrator (2012)
Rachel Armstrong | Architect, Materials Scientist (2014)
Tolga Atkas | Wildlife Biologist, Filmmaker (2022)

B
Anne Balsamo | Technology & Culture Researcher (2012)
Napua Barrows | Teacher & Limu (seaweed) Expert (2014)
Danielle Bellen | Wildlife Biologist (2022)
Janine Benyus | Educator, Environmentalist (2011)
Debbie Berebichez | Physicit, Financial Analyst (2011)
Mayim Bialik | Actor, Neuroscientist (2011)
LeManuel Bitsóí | Genetics Researcher, Consultant (2012)
Bjork | Musician (2011)
Adrienne Block | Geologist (2011)
Liz Bonnin | Biochemist (2013)
Bono | Musician, Humanitarian (2011)
Alexandrea Bowman | Geologist (2011)
Cynthia Breazeal | Robotics Designer (2011)
Rovenia Brock | Nutritionist (2013)
Mia Brownell | Painter, Instructor (2012)
Dragos Bucurenci | Environmentalist & Journalist (2014)
Raychelle Burks | Chemist, Lecturer (2012)

C
Gregory Cajete | Education Researcher (2012)
Emily Calandrelli | Science Communicator (2017)
Alyssa Campanella | Model, Actress, Miss USA 2011 (2012)
Anthony Carrino | Designer & TV Personality (2014)
Majora Carter | Urban Revitalization Specialist (2016)
Charles, Prince of Whales | Monarch & Humanitarian (2012)
Melanie Cheung | Neuroscientist (2011)
Nicholas Christakis | Sociologist, Physician(2014)
Katrina Claw | Genome Scientist (2017)
David Close | Fisheries Biologist (2016)
Hunter Cole | Artist, Geneticist (20121)
Kara Cooney | Egyptologist (2011)
Phillippe Cousteau | Explorer, Advocate (2011)

D
Cathy Davidson | Digital Innovation Researcher (2012)
Joe Davis | Molecular Biologist, Artist (2012)
Rana Dajani | Molecular Biologist, Reading Advocate (2012)
Lali DeRosier | Biologist, Teacher
Crystal Dilworth | Science Communicator (2014)
Tiffany Dufu | Social Entrepreneur (2013)

E
Abigail Echo-Hawk | Native Health Researcher (2012)
Hasan Elahi | Multimedia Artist (2011)
Ayana Elizabeth | Marine Biologist (2011)
Diana Eng | Fashion Designer
Manalani English | Radiation Technologist (2014)

F
Azza Abdel Hamid Faiad | Industrial Designer (2013)
Mónica Feliú-Mójer | Science Communicator (2014)
Andre Fenton | Neurobiologist (2011)
Javier Fernández-Han | Inventor (2014)
Ernesto Fernandez Polcuch | Science Diplomat (2016)
Sia Figiel | Poet, Writer, Painter, Diabetes Activist (2012)
Danielle Forward | Product Designer (2019)
Xyla Foxlin | Mechanical Engineer & Artist (2017)
John Francis | Conservationist, Activist (2011)
Alexander Fry | Astronomer (2012)

G
Vanessa Galaviz | Environmental Health Scientist (2014)
Samantha Garvey | Optometric Technician (2013)
Jim Gates | Theoretical Physicist (2012)
Louis Gong | Artist, Educator (2018)
Temple Grandin | Animal Scientist, Autism Advocate (2012)
Brian Greene | Theoretical Physicist
Dina Griffin | Architect (2013)
Marga Gual Soler | Science Ambassador (2014)

H
Andrea Hadjikyriacou | Molecular Biologist (2016)
Salman Hameed | Astronomer & Social Scientist (2014)
Samuel Hammer | Lichen Scientists, Artist (2012)
Martin Hanczyc | Chemical Physicist (2014)
André Heinz | Sustainability Advocate (2011)
John Herrington | Chickasaw Astronaut (2012)
Maria Hinojosa | Journalist & News Producer (2014)
Maja Hoffman | Art Collector & Patron (2018)
Walter Hood | Landscape Architect (2014)
Matthew Hubble | Fashion Designer (2016)
Jørn Hurum | Paleontologist (2011)
Rau Hoskins | Architect (2016)
Matthew Hubble | Fashion Designer (2016)

J
Bruce Jackson | DNA Scientist, Scuba Enthusiast (2012)
Erich Jarvis | Neurobiologist (2014)
Mae Jemison | Astronaut (2012)

K
Keawe’aimoku Kaholokula | Health Researcher (2012)
Paula Kahumbu | Wildlife Conservationist (2011)
Michio Kaku | Theoretical Physicist, TV Host (2011)
Kakani Katija | Bioengineer (2011)
Adrienne Keene | Native Education Researcher (2012)
Andrea Kerzner | Asset Manager, Humanitarian (2014)
Yunchul Kim | Artist & Composer (2022)
Sasha Kramer | Ecologist, Humanitarian (2012)

L
Danielle N. Lee | Biologist, Hip Hop Mavin (2012)
Judy Lee | Product Designer (2012)
Luke Lightening | Biotechnologist, Entrepreneur (2020)
Manuel Lima | Interactive Designer (2011)
Lucy Liu | Actor, Artist (2018)
Loni Love | Comedian (2013)
Oren Lyons | Faithkeeper, Scholar, Elder (2011)
Kellan Lutz | Actor (2011)
Robert Lynch | Anthropologist, Comedian (2012)

M
Juan Martinez | Environmentalist (2011)
Sam McCracken | Social Entrepreneur (2016)
Susmita Mohanty | Designer, Space Entrepreneur (2014)
Angela Merkel | Chancellor of Germany, Chemist (2011)
Paul D. Miller (aka DJ Spooky) | DJ, Artist, Musician (2012)
Isaac Mizrahi | Fashion Designer, TV Host (2012)
Jason Momoa | Actor, Director, Producer, Writer (2018)
Alicia Mosley Austin | Neuroscientist (2015)
Kaʻiulani Murphy | Navigator, Educator (2020)
Nathan Myhrvold | Inventor, Chef (2016)

N
Eliott Nahman | Architect & Information Scientist (2014)
Diane Nalini de Kerchkov | Physicist & Jazz Singer (2014)
Wallace Nichols | Marine Biologist and Activist (2012)
Trevor Noah | Comedian, TV Host (2019)

O
Summer Rayne Oakes | Model, Activist, TV host (2011)
Michelle Obama | US First Lady (2012)
Christina Ochoa | Actor & Science Communicator (2016)
Aaron O'Connell | Physicist (2012)
Fiorenzo Omenetto | Biophotonics Scientist (2012)
Francisca Nneka Okeke| Physicist (2020)
Neri Oxman | Designer, Material Ecologist (2011)
Feryal Özel | Astrophysicist (2012)

P
Brad Paisley | Musician (2012)
Nova Peris | Olympic Medialist (2013)
Divya Persaud | Plantary Scientist, Artist (2022)
Mario Pinto | Chemical Biologist (2012)

R
Lisa Randall | Theoretical Physicist (2011)
Rania Al Abdullah | Queen of Jordan, Humanitarian (2014)
Isha Renta | Meteorologist (2013)
Howard Rheingold | Teacher & Digital Media Expert (2014)
Paul Rucker | Musician, Composer, Artist (2014)
David de Rothschild | Explorer, Environmentalist (2011)
Georg Russegger | Communications Researcher (2012)
Cameron Russell | Model (2013)
Adam Rutherford | Science Communicator (2018)

S
Pardis Sabeti | Computational Geneticist (2014)
Omowunmi Sadik | Chemist & Inventor (2016)
Theanne Schiros Textile Scientist (2022)
Carl Schoonover | Neuroscientist (2012)
Barton Seaver | Chef (2011)
Çağan Hakkı Şekercioğlu | Ornithologist, Ecologist (2011)
Antonio Serrano | Biochemist (2014)
Lara Setrakian | Journalist (2016)
Sabine Seymour | Fashion Technologist (2012)
Noel Sharkey | Professor of AI and Robotics (2016)
Vandana Shiva | Physicist, Environmentalist (2011)
Cameron Sinclair | Architect, Humanitarian (2011)
Hayat Sindi | Science Entrepreneur (2011)
Michelle Simmons | Quantum Physicist (2018)
Christian Siriano | Fashion Designer (2017)
Igor Stagljar | Biochemist & Molecular Geneticist (2014)
David Suzuki | Zoologist, Environmentalist (2011)

T
Nina Tanden | Biomedical Engineer (2012)
Vienna Teng | Musician, Computer Scientist (2012)
Iva Tolić-Nørrelykke | Biophysicist (2014)
Haunani Kay Trask | Professor & Activist (2011)
Neil de Grasse Tyson | Astrophysicist (2011)

U
Tawan Udtamadilok | Ergonomist (2013)

V
Mana Vautier | Aerospace Engineer (2017)
Aris Venetikidis | Graphic Designer (2014)

W
Will.I.Am | Musician (2011)
Pharrell Williams | Musician, Designer (2014)
Sunita Williams | Astronaut (2014)
Caleph B. Wilson | Immunologist (2014)
E. O. Wilson | Naturalist (2011)
Nathan Wolfe | Virologist (2011)

X
Siyabulela Xuza | Engineer (2017)

Y
Tom Yang | Food Scientist (2012)
Olya Yarychkivska | PhD Student in Genetics (2014)
Corrinne Yu | Computer Programmer (2011)
Kongjian Yu | Landscape Architect (2012)

Next Century Citizens in History
Constance Adams | Space Architect (2011)
Claudia Alexander (2013)
Wangari Maathai | Environmentalist (2011)