Most of us think we know cats—graceful, aloof, impossibly agile. But when those cats are wild and weighing hundreds of pounds, their behavior and survival instincts are a world apart from the pets we’re familiar with.
In the inaugural Landesman Lecture, acclaimed wildlife ecophysiologist Dr. Terrie M. Williams will take audiences deep into the minds and bodies of these extraordinary animals, revealing what decades of research have taught us about their hunting strategies, their biology, and their place in our shared environment.
The Landesman Lecture Series is made possible by the generosity of Edward and Miriam Landesman— UC Santa Cruz faculty retirees whose philanthropic gift supports this lecture—the event invites the UCSC community to explore the wild side of science.
“We hope that the lecture will bring together UCSC students and faculty, as well as community members of all ages,” Edward said. “We hope that students will be inspired to pursue studies in science or math, and if not, they would appreciate the role of science and mathematics in society.”
The Edward and Miriam Landesman Lecture series integrates mathematical and scientific research with excellence in teaching. Both the Landesmans and Dr. Williams underscore the importance of increasing accessibility to the sciences, and lectures like this one do just that.
“More than ever, science and scientists need to move from the halls of academia and into the lives of the general public of all ages,” Williams said. “As a wildlife biologist, I have witnessed both the remarkable beauty and the devastating struggles of wild animals trying to survive in an ever changing world. Bringing these stories and the science behind them to the public is our only hope for conserving nature.”
The Landesmans are excited that the first-ever Landesman Lecture will feature Dr. Williams as the inaugural speaker.
“We're delighted that she was chosen as the lead speaker for our lecture series,” Miriam said. “Her research is extremely important and she conveys it in a highly engaging manner. She exemplifies what we want from speakers in the lecture series, to represent excellence in both research and teaching.”
Dr. Williams hopes attendees will leave the lecture with a better appreciation of how big cats are uniquely, elegantly built biologically, and how their minds work when searching for prey. She says that ideally, this understanding will prevent future human-cat conflicts. Dr Williams reminds attendees:
“Never turn your back on a cat.”
How to Live with a Calculating Cat: The Feast of Kings
Thursday, April 17
In Person Reception: 6 p.m.
Lecture: 6:30 p.m.
UC Santa Cruz Coastal Biology Building, Seminar Room
