BALTIMORE--MICA and the Department of Health, Behavior and Society at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health invite the community to The Art of Public Health, The Science of Design, a free lunchtime seminar series that takes place every Thursday between March 26 and May 14 at Hopkins' Hampton House Auditorium. Topics include promoting healthy food choices, eliminating lead hazards in Baltimore, and trends in healthcare design.

The free seminar series, which explores the intersecting potential between public health and art and design, takes place Thursdays from 12:15-1:15 p.m. at Hampton House Auditorium, 624 North Broadway in Baltimore.

March 26: Art, Design and Public Health: Potential for Research Collaborations

Speakers: Gunalan Nadarajan, vice provost for research at MICA; and Dr. M. Christopher Gibbons, associate director of Johns Hopkins Urban Health Institute

April 2: Baltimore Healthy Homes Initiative and Center for Design Practice

Speakers: Madeleine Shea, PhdD, BCHD Healthy Homes Program; and Mike Weikert '05, director of Center for Design Practice at MICA

April 9: Creative Approaches for Engaging in Community-Based Participatory Research

Speaker: Michael Yonas, DrPH, assistant professor of family medicine at University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

April 16: Trends in Healthcare Design

Speaker: MaryBeth Jelveh Shaw, principal of Shaw Jelveh Design, Inc.

April 23: Designing Materials for the Healthy Stores Programs

Speaker: Joel Gittelsohn, PhD, associate professor, International Health

April 30: Performance for HIV/AIDs Prevention

Speakers: Talk and performance by members of WombWork Productions, Inc., a comprehensive production company that preserves and re-empowers families and communities through creative art, dance, and theater expression.

May 7: Perspective from the Philanthropy Community: Opportunities and Challenges for Art, Design & Public Health Collaboration

Speakers: Diana Morris, director of Open Society Institute-Baltimore; and a representative of the Annie E. Casey Foundation

May 14: Art, Design and Public Health in the Community: East Baltimore Initiative

Speakers: MICA President Fred Lazarus; and Robert Blum, MD, PhD, director of Johns Hopkins Urban Health Institute

For more information, call 410-225-2300.

Founded in 1826, Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) is the oldest continuously degree-granting college of art and design in the nation. The College enrolls nearly 3,500 undergraduate, graduate and continuing studies students from all 50 states and 57 countries in fine arts, design, electronic media, art education, liberal arts, and professional studies degree and non-credit programs. Redefining art and design education, MICA is pioneering interdisciplinary approaches to innovation, research, and community and social engagement. Alumni and programming reach around the globe, even as MICA remains a cultural cornerstone in the Baltimore/Washington region, hosting hundreds of exhibitions and events annually by students, faculty and other established artists.