Sir William Weipers Memorial Lecture
Sir William Weipers Memorial Lecture
School of Veterinary Medicine
Date: Friday 25 October 2019
Time: 18:00 - 19:00
Venue: McCall Lecture Theatre, Garscube Campus
Category: Public lectures, Social events, Alumni events
Speaker: Professor Alan Wilson
Website: www.gla.ac.uk/schools/vet
Document: Weipers Lecture 2019 - Title and summary
Professor Wilson’s research focuses on the anatomical, mechanical and physiological limits to locomotor performance in species ranging from humans and racehorses to cheetahs and wildebeest. He has pioneered novel GPS and motion tracking technologies for studying wild animals in their natural environment. Most of his current research is based in Botswana where he is involved in all aspects of the research program from capture and collaring of wild animals through to flying aerial surveys. Alan’s work has featured in a number of BBC wildlife documentaries, including ‘The Secret Life of the Cat’ and ‘Big Cats’.
Alan will describe the specialised anatomy of athletic animals with particular reference to muscle and tendon and discuss the factors that define speed, acceleration and manoeuvring performance. He will present data and insights gained from studies of a range of African predators and their prey using GPS and inertial sensors developed by his team for the purpose. Topics will include how athletic a prey animal needs to be to evade capture by a cheetah or lion, the tactics the prey should use to maximise its chance of survival and the remarkable anatomy and physiology that enable a wildebeest to cover 80 km over five days in 40-degree heat without drinking.
The Sir William Weipers Memorial Lecture series was instigated in 1976 in recognition of the role that Sir William Weipers played in the establishment and development of veterinary medicine at the University of Glasgow. We are delighted to welcome Alan Wilson back to Garscube to deliver this year’s lecture entitled ‘From sprinting cheetah to walking wildebeest: studies of locomotion and physiology in Africa’.
The lecture will be followed by an informal drinks reception in the Mary Stewart Building at the conclusion of Professor Wilson’s presentation.
This event is free but advance booking is required through this Eventbrite link.