Temple Grandin, renowned designer of humane livestock facilities and associate professor of animal science at Colorado State University, has been chosen as Cornell University's 2005-06 Frank H.T. Rhodes Class of '56 Professor. She will make her first visit to campus in February 2006.

Grandin is one of the few experts on animal welfare who is categorically respected, from those affiliated with the animal rights movement to government and corporate officials in industry and agriculture. Grandin, who is autistic, lectures regularly on the disability and is the subject of "Anthropologist on Mars," originally an article and later the title of a book by Oliver Sacks, an A.D. White Professor at Large at Cornell.

Grandin

"Her presence on the Cornell campus will give students, faculty and staff in many different disciplines the opportunity to learn from her unique perspective and also, hopefully, to learn how to treat animals better," said Joe Regenstein, professor of food science and Grandin's faculty host. "We are truly honored that she has made this time available from her busy schedule."

By way of a primer on Grandin, Regenstein mentioned her most recent book, "Animals in Translation," saying that it "reflects her career of studying animal behavior across numerous disciplines along with her practical insights from constantly being in the field and working with animal agriculture." He also recommended "Thinking in Pictures," in which Grandin describes the relationship between being an animal welfare expert and an autistic person.

The livestock facilities she has designed are located in the United States, Canada, Europe, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand and other countries. In North America, Grandin's center-track restrainer system is used to handle almost half of the cattle in meatpacking plants. Systems she designed for cattle are used worldwide, and her writings on the "flight zone" and other principles of grazing animal behavior have helped many livestock owners and ranchers to reduce stress on their animals during handling.

She also has developed an objective scoring system for assessing handling of cattle and pigs at meat plants, now in use by many large corporations, to improve animal welfare. Her other areas of research include: cattle temperament, environmental enrichment for pigs, reducing injuries, bull fertility, training procedures and effective stunning methods for cattle and pigs at meat plants.

Grandin's work with calming frightened animals also led her to the invention of "The Hug Box" for humans -- a device that applies deep pressure to the body and serves to destress people. The device is now used in many clinics to assist in treating the physical tension and anxiety that afflicts many people with autism.

Grandin obtained her B.A. degree at Franklin Pierce College and her M.S. degree in animal science at Arizona State University. She received her Ph.D. in animal science from the University of Illinois in 1989.

She has appeared on television such shows as "20/20," "48 Hours," "CNN Larry King Live," "PrimeTime Live," the "Today Show" and many shows in other countries. She has been featured in People Magazine, The New York Times, Forbes, U.S. News and World Report, Time magazine, The New York Times Book Review and Discover magazine. Interviews with Grandin have been broadcast on National Public Radio. She has also authored over 300 articles in both scientific journals and livestock periodicals on animal handling, welfare and facility design.

Rhodes Class of '56 Professorships are awarded for a period of one to five years, and appointees are considered full members of the Cornell faculty.

During each year of their appointment, Rhodes professors generally visit the campus for one to two weeks. The program is overseen by the West Campus Council. For more information about the Rhodes Class of '56 Professorship, contact Michael Busch at (607) 255-3062.