Norm Barker, Professor of Pathology and Art as Applied to Medicine at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, will discuss the “Hidden Beauty” exhibition at 5:30 p.m. in the Conversation Room, across from the Mitchell Gallery.
The scientific image no matter what discipline, medicine, chemistry, biology, oceanography, etc. is essential for the transfer of knowledge. We are a visual culture and observation is such an important part of the scientific method. As far back as the Ancient Egyptians more than 5000 years ago, documents have been unearthed describing empirical methods in medicine, astronomy and mathematics. The need for high quality visuals to explain or document complicated medical processes is more important than ever for teaching, scientific publications and funding. Whether it is a computer graphic, video segment, photograph, illustration, or Xray, all types of media are used to visualize science.
Looking at the art of the scientific image and the role it’s played in the advancement of science from the time of the Renaissance through the invention of photography will be explored.