Temple Grandin, a world leader in understanding livestock behavior and designing livestock handling facilities, is the Heuermann Lecturer at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 15, in the Hardin Hall auditorium on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's East Campus.
Her topic is "Improving Animal Welfare and Communication with the Public." A short reception follows the lecture.
Born autistic, at age 2 Grandin had no speech and showed all signs of severe autism. While doctors advised institutionalization, Grandin's mother disagreed. Through many hours of speech therapy and intensive teaching, Grandin learned speech.
She also over time learned that she thinks in pictures, while many people do not. She says it is the ability to think in pictures that helps her help animals and their handlers using low-stress, behavior-based livestock handling techniques and facilities she has developed.
Lecture Series Hosts Livestock Handling Expert Temple Grandin
An animal sciences professor at Colorado State University, Grandin has had a major impact on the meat and livestock industries worldwide through design of animal handling facilities, industry consulting, research, media exposure for the livestock industry concerning animal care, and various means of outreach.
It is important the public know about the many improvements made in handling animals, Grandin said, adding, "in my communication with the public, I have found that many people are curious and just want to know. The industry needs to do a better job of communicating."
She has published several hundred industry publications, book chapters and technical papers on animal handling, plus 63 refereed journal articles and 10 books. Her book, "Animals in Translation," was a New York Times bestseller, while "Livestock Handling and Transport" is in its third edition.