Since the earliest days of humans walking the Earth, there has been an uneasy relationship between us and cats. The hunting prowess of 1 kg house cats makes them excellent partners in the removal of unwanted vermin. However, when that same hunting instinct is packaged in a 250 kg African lion, the situation can become dangerous for anything that moves across the "King of the Jungle's" territory. In this talk, we'll explore the underlying biology that drives the killer appetites of cats from local pumas to African lions in Kenya and South Africa. Are felids "couch potatoes" or "calculating predators" compared to dogs? The answer may surprise you.

In Person Reception: 6 p.m.

Lecture: 6:30 p.m.

Dr. Terrie M. Williams

is a renowned wildlife ecophysiologist at UC Santa Cruz, leading the Integrative Carnivore EcoPhysiology lab and the Marine Mammal Physiology Project. With over 40 years of research spanning polar regions, African savannahs, and the California coast, she studies survival physiology in species like sea otters, narwhals, and African lions. Dr. Williams develops specialized research instruments and is committed to increasing diversity in science. Her book The Odyssey of KP2 won the 2012 American Association for the Advancement of Science/Subaru Award for Science Book and Film Prize. The United States Geological Survey designated a research site in Antarctica, "Terrie Bluff," in her honor.

Landesman Lecture 

The Edward and Miriam Landesman Lecture series, integrating mathematical and scientific research with excellence in teaching.