Wonder what geniuses think about?

Johns Hopkins is launching a free speaker series today with seven recipients of MacArthur “genius” fellowships from Maryland, Virginia and Washington.

The first annual event, open to the public, will center on communication, specifically how the geniuses get peers, policymakers and the public to pay attention to their work and ideas. Organizers at Hopkins say they aim to inspire lively exchange and creative collaboration.

No reservations or tickets are required for the panel discussion, question-and-answer session and reception this evening from 4 p.m.-6 p.m. at the Anne and Mike Armstrong Medical Education Building of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1600 McElderry St. in Baltimore. Parking is available in the McElderry Street Garage. See a map.

On the panel, chaired by Atul Nakhasi, a first-year Johns Hopkins medical student, and moderated by Joann Rodgers, veteran science journalist and senior communications advisor at the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics:

+Marin Alsop, conductor, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (MacArthur Fellow ’05)
+Dr. Lisa Cooper, internist and epidemiologist, the Johns Hopkins University (MacArthur Fellow ’07)
+Ruth DeFries, environmental geographer, University of Maryland (MacArthur Fellow ‘07)
+Janine Jagger, epidemiologist, University of Virginia (MacArthur Fellow ’02)
+Liz Lerman, choreographer and founder, Dance Exchange (MacArthur Fellow ’02)
+Dr. Peter Pronovost, patient safety expert, the Johns Hopkins University (MacArthur Fellow ’08)
+Adam Reiss, astrophysicist, the Johns Hopkins University (MacArthur Fellow ’08)