Acclaimed scientist and neurodiversity advocate Temple Grandin will headline an upcoming virtual seminar hosted by the Center for Research on Programmable Plant Systems (CROPPS) on October 8 at 1 p.m. ET.

Grandin, a professor of animal science at Colorado State University, has made significant contributions to agricultural innovation and sustainable practices. Her groundbreaking research has revolutionized livestock handling and influenced modern agricultural systems.

Registration for the seminar, “Creating Space for Different Minds in Research,” is now open.

In her talk, Grandin will explore the crucial role neurodivergent perspectives play in driving innovation, particularly in scientific research and agriculture. Drawing from her extensive career and personal experience with autism, Grandin will highlight how diverse thinking styles contribute to scientific discovery and problem-solving, especially in the field of programmable plant systems. Her talk will demonstrate how embracing neurodiversity can lead to groundbreaking advancements in these areas.

Grandin will emphasize the need to create space for different minds to actively contribute to research. Visual thinkers, for example, make up a much larger and more diverse segment of the population than previously understood. These range from “object visualizers,” like Grandin herself, who excel at design and practical problem-solving, to “visual-spatial” thinkers, who are adept at pattern recognition and systemic analysis. In a world increasingly tailored to verbal thinking, visual thinkers are often sidelined and underrepresented in research institutions. Grandin will offer new approaches to collaborating with a variety of thinkers to harness their unique talents, driving productivity and fostering innovation.

Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with Grandin through a Q&A session following her talk.

"We are honored to host Dr. Temple Grandin for this seminar," said Matthew Runyon, a Ph.D. student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and chair for the CROPPS Trainee Leadership Council. "Her pioneering work in agricultural innovation and her advocacy for neurodiversity have had a profound impact on the field, and we look forward to the valuable insights she will bring to our research community."

Grandin, one of the world’s most accomplished and renowned individuals with autism, is a leading voice in both autism advocacy and animal behavior. She has authored six books, including national bestsellers Thinking in Pictures and Animals in Translation. A former board member of the Autism Society of America, Grandin frequently lectures across the U.S., sharing her personal experiences with autism to inspire and educate parents and teachers. Her work has garnered widespread media attention, with features in The New York Times, People, National Public Radio, and 20/20. Grandin was also named one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people, and her life was portrayed in an HBO movie starring Claire Danes, which received seven Emmy Awards..

The event is open to the public, and participants can join the virtual seminar by registering online.

Matt Hayes is communications lead for Center for Research on Programmable Plant Systems (CROPPS) in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.