A doctor of animal science and expert on animal behavior, Temple Grandin (born January 29, 1947) has designed groundbreaking systems for humane livestock handling that have radically reduced the amount of pain, anxiety, and fear that cattle and pigs experience in the factory farming system. Autistic herself and one of the most vocal champions of classifying the autistic mind as “different, not less,” Grandin has created a therapeutic device known as a “hug machine,” designed for calming children on the autism spectrum through deep-pressure stimulation. She describes herself as a visual thinker for whom words come as a second language and whose astounding visual memory and attention to detail have allowed her to design the very innovations for which she is so lauded. At the heart of both her animal welfare and neurodiversity advocacy lies a brave and indiscriminate celebration of the inner lives of creatures, whatever their biological category or neurological default. The title of Grandin’s most recent book, Animals Make Us Human, which synthesizes more than 30 years of research and hands-on experience, concisely yet poetically captures the essence of her work: A profound respect for all living beings and tireless advocacy of mutual respect. Learn more: Brain Pickings (https://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2011/01/19/temple-grandin-hbo/) What do Buddhist artist Agnes Martin, Hollywood inventor Hedy Lamarr, and French-Cuban author Anaïs Nin have in common? Their names may not conjure popular recognition, and yet, for Lisa Congdon and Maria Popova, these women represent a particular breed of cultural trailblazer: female, under-appreciated, badass. They are “Reconstructionists,” as the writer-illustrator duo call them – and for the next year, they’ll be celebrated on a blog of the same name. Every Monday for 12 months, The Reconstructionists will debut a hand-painted illustration and short essay highlighting a woman from fields such as art, science, and literature. The subject needn’t be famous, but she will, as Popova, the creator of Brain Pickings, puts it, “have changed the way we define ourselves as a culture." We spoke with Popova, and illustrator Congdon, about the inspiration.... [http://storyboard.tumblr.com/post/41698890843/the-reconstructionists-celebrating-badass-women]