Equine behavior expert Andrew McLean, PhD, BSc, Dipl. Ed, has been named the King Visiting Scholar for 2016 in the University of Arkansas (U of A) Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food, and Life Sciences’ Department of Animal Science and will visit with students and others on April 28.

McLean is developer and manager of the Australian Equine Behaviour Centre, a horse training and behavior modification center. He has won the Eureka Prize, the highest Australian science award; lectured at the University of Tasmania for 11 years on subjects ranging from animal behavior to genetics to Tasmanian fauna; and show-jumped at the Grand Prix level, held a racehorse owner-trainer’s license, and raced bareback in Australia and New Zealand.

McLean is visiting with U of A students throughout the day on April 28, including an 11 a.m. lecture for students, faculty, and staff in Hembree Auditorium in the Agricultural, Food, and Life Sciences Building. His hour-long presentation will focus on an introduction to learning theory and how it can improve our interactions with animals.

A free public lecture is scheduled at 6 p.m. in the Pauline Whitaker Animal Science Center. McLean’s two-hour presentation will be on how understanding learning theory and biomechanics optimizes training and improves horse welfare