The Autism Society of Alaska will bring scientist, author and inventor Temple Grandin to Alaska for two free community presentations — one at the University of Alaska Fairbanks on animal behavior and the other at the Friends Church on autism. Grandin will also deliver the keynote speech at ASA's state conference in Fairbanks.

There will also be two free showings of the 2010 HBO movie "Temple Grandin," which chronicles her personal and professional journey. Actor Claire Danes stars as Grandin.

Grandin will share her experiences with autism and animal science at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 28, in the Davis Concert Hall on the Fairbanks campus. She will discuss how animals think, act and feel.  She will explore animal pain, fear, aggression, love, friendship, communication, learning and genius. A book signing will follow from 4:15 to 4:45 p.m. Books available to purchase will include "Animals in Translation," "Thinking in Pictures," and "Animals Make Us Human." No registration is required. Learn more at www.uaf.edu/vmed. The UAF Department of Veterinary Medicine is hosting this free event.

On Monday Feb. 29, Grandin will sign books from 5 to 6 p.m. and then make a free presentation on autism from 6:10 to 7:45 p.m. at the Friends Community Church, 1485 30th Avenue. She will talk not only about her personal and professional journey but also about autism issues — the ones parents, teachers, and individuals on the spectrum face every day. She will talk about how and why people with autism think differently and how sensory sensitivities affect everyday living. Online registration is preferred for Grandin's event, but not required. Go to http://www.asagoldenheart.org/temple-grandin.

ASA is hosting Grandin's appearance as part of its statewide conference at Pioneer Park on Feb. 29. Separate registration for the full ASA conference is at http://www.asagoldenheart.org/apps/webstore/.

The first free showing of "Temple Grandin" will be at the Arctic Java cafe in the Wood Center on the Fairbanks campus from 6–8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18. The second showing of the movie will be at the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center in downtown Fairbanks  from 6:30–8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24.

Grandin is a professor of animal sciences at Colorado State University, with which UAF has formed a partnership to offer a veterinary medicine degree program. Grandin was diagnosed with autism as a child. Using her unusual ability to think in pictures, she has led groundbreaking research on how animals process their experiences and surroundings and is an outspoken animal welfare advocate. Grandin’s designs for corrals that reduce stress in cattle being led to slaughter revolutionized the livestock industry and are now used by half of the U.S. cattle industry.

In 2010, Time magazine named Grandin one of the world's 100 most influential people, a hero for her work as an animal and autism advocate. Grandin also is a consultant to major food manufacturers on humane slaughter practices and animal behavior.

ADDITIONAL CONTACTS: Talk on autism and the ASA conference: Brandy Raby, president, Autism Society of Alaska, 1-877-374-4421, autism907@gmail.com.
Talk on animal behavior: Dr. Lisa Lunn, Associate Professor of Veterinary Medicine, 907-474-1928, uaf-vet-med@alaska.edu

ONLINE:
www.uaf.edu/vmed
www.asagoldenheart.org