BUFFALO, NY – The Canisius University Institute for the Study of Animal Human Relations (ISHAR) presents acclaimed filmmaker Michael Tobias, PhD, on Friday, January 16 and Saturday, January 17, 2015 in the Science Hall Atrium. Both events are free and open to the public.
On Friday From 7 p.m.-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 that the chemicals and herbicides used in his farming poisoned his land and may have been responsible for his brother’s death at 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 major role as a lobbyist in the animal rights and vegan movements.
On Saturday from 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., Tobias will give a lecture entitled, “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 which impact humanity’s habitat, species, populations and individuals.
Tobias is president and CEO of the Dancing Star Foundation, a non-profit 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 non-fiction) 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, most 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 University.
For more information, contact the Office of Public Relations at (716) 888-2790.
Canisius University is one of 28 Jesuit universities in the nation and the premier private university in Western New York.
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