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Canisius presents lecture by Michael Tobias

by jmaloni

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Tue, Dec 23rd 2014 11:30 am

Acclaimed global ecologist, author and filmmaker

The Canisius College Institute for the Study of Animal Human Relations presents acclaimed filmmaker Michael Tobias, Ph.D., Friday and Saturday, Jan. 16-17, in the Science Hall Atrium. Both events are free and open to the public.

On Friday, from 7-8:30 p.m., Tobias will screen the rarely seen "director's cut" of his critically acclaimed PBS feature documentary "Mad Cowboy" (2006). The film tells the story of Howard Lyman, a fourth-generation cattle farmer who turned vegan. He believes the chemicals and herbicides used in his farming poisoned his land and may have been responsible for his brother's death at age 32. The tumor on Lyman's spine may have been the result of those same chemicals. Following a miraculous surgery, Lyman abandoned farming to assume his role as a lobbyist in the animal rights and vegan movements.

On Saturday, from 7:30-9 p.m., Tobias will give a lecture titled, "The Many Challenges of Coexistence." He will present images and footage gathered from his more than 100 ecological films, which date back more three decades over a tumultuous environmental history. In addition, Tobias will share his views on some of the most salient conundrums impacting humanity's habitat, species, populations and individuals.

Tobias is president and CEO of the Dancing Star Foundation, a nonprofit public benefit corporation focused on international biodiversity conservation, global environmental education and animal protection. He is the author of more than 45 books (both fiction and nonfiction) as well as several edited anthologies. Tobias has written, directed, produced, executive produced or co-executive produced more than 100 films - TV series, documentaries and dramas - mostly pertaining to environmental, cultural or scientific issues.

Tobias previously served as an assistant professor of environmental studies and adjunct assistant professor of English and the humanities at Dartmouth College, an associate professor of humanities at California State University Northridge, and the Garrey Carruthers Chair of Honors and Distinguished Visiting Professor at the University of New Mexico at Albuquerque. He is currently an adjunct professor of anthrozoology at Canisius.

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