"Improving Animal Welfare and Communication with the Public" will be the topic when Temple Grandin speaks Tuesday, Jan. 15.

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Born autistic, Grandin is now an animal sciences professor at Colorado State University and a world leader in understanding animal behavior and designing livestock handling facilities.

Grandin has had a major impact on meat and livestock industries worldwide through research, development and outreach on the use of low-stress, behavior-based livestock handling techniques and design of animal handling facilities.

Half the cattle in the U.S. and Canada are handled in equipment grandin has designed for meat plants.

She has also developed animal welfare guidelines and consulted with McDonalds, Wendy's International, Burger King and other companies.

Grandin has written numerous articles and 10 books, including "Livestock Handling and Transport" and "Thinking in Pictures."

Grandin is a past member of the board of directors of the Autism Society of America and the recipient of numerous awards. In 2010, Time magazine named her one of the "100 Most Influential People in the World."

Heuermann Lectures in the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at UNL are made possible by a gift from B. Keith and Norma Heuermann of Phillips, long-time university supporters with a strong commitment to Nebraska's production agriculture, natural resources, rural areas and people.

Her 7 p.m. lecture in the Hardin Hall auditorium on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln East Campus, 33rd and Holdrege is free. A short reception follows the lecture.