Assignment task: TEMPLE GRANDIN, Structural Designer
A very high-functioning person with Asperger syndrome, a disorder resembling autism, Temple Grandin (b. 1947) is professor of animal science at Colorado State University. She has revolutionized certain areas of structural design that have traditionally been problematic because of humans' difficulty in visualizing the underlying problems.
Dr. Grandin is the world's leading expert in the design of livestock-handling facilities. In designing the facilities, she is able to visualize herself as the animal going through one of her systems. In her imagination, she walks around and through the structure and flies over it in a helicopter. Applying her facility for spatial-temporal reasoning, she is able to anticipate and correct for possible problems. Her designs are revolutionary in that her structures interact with the animals in such a natural way that livestock can be effortlessly directed in a calm and humane manner.*
Grandin is also an advocate for people with autism. Following the December 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting by Adam Lanza, a young man with Asperger syndrome, Grandin wrote: "I was horrified by the shooting of all these young children. . . . I am worried about all the media attention about the shooter being Asperger. I am worried about the backlash against people with disabilities. People on the autism spectrum are much more likely to be the victims of either violence or bullying." **
Grandin was listed as one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the heros category in 2010. For more on the life, education, and spatial-temporal talents of Temple Grandin, see the HBO documentary Temple Grandin. She also appeared in the 2011 science channel documentary "Ingenious Minds."
Discussion Questions:
Discuss ways in which Dr. Grandin is using critical thinking skills in conjunction with her exceptional spatial-temporal reasoning ability to come up with solutions to problems in her profession.
Identifying your strengths is important in choosing a career. What type of reasoning are you strongest in, and how might this best be used in a career choice? If you're unsure of your strengths, visit the career development office on your campus.