Colorado State University animal science expert Temple Grandin discusses alternative cognitive processes, public education and its applications to science, technology and agriculture.

Grandin was featured at the TED2010 conference in Long Beach, Calif., a global confab designed to provoke conversation about innovative ideas.

Diagnosed with autism as a child, she talks about how her mind works — sharing her ability to “think in pictures,” which helps her solve problems that neurotypical brains might miss. She makes the case that the world needs people on the autism spectrum: visual thinkers, pattern thinkers, verbal thinkers, and all kinds of smart geeky kids.