Lyon College to Launch Faculty Colloquium Series with Cat Communication Presentation

Lyon College will kick off its 2025-26 Faculty Colloquium series with a presentation exploring the secret language of cats and the science behind their facial expressions on Friday, Aug. 29, at 4 p.m. in Nucor Auditorium in the Lyon Business and Economics Building, 2300 Highland Rd.

The free event is open to the public.

Dr. Britt Florkiewicz, assistant professor of psychology, will open the series with “The Purr-fect Face: Understanding Cat Facial Signals,” a presentation highlighting how cats use facial movements to convey social intentions, emotions and goals, as well as the challenges humans face in interpreting them.

Dr. Florkiewicz, a primatologist, has published extensively on the communicative potential of animal facial signals, with work spanning both primates and domestic cats. Her research has also incorporated machine learning to analyze social interactions and predict outcomes based on animal signaling.

The upcoming presentation will also spotlight Lyon College’s Animal Behavior and Cognition (ABC) Lab, where students work alongside faculty in pioneering behavioral research.

“Our understanding of cat-to-cat facial expressions originates from the hard work and dedication of undergraduate students in the Animal Behavior and Cognition Lab, who are the authors of multiple scientific, peer-reviewed articles,” said Dr. Florkiewicz. “This talk is not just a celebration of the complexities of cat communication, but also a celebration of our students. Their work will span a lifetime and showcase what Lyon College students are capable of achieving.”

The Lyon College Faculty Colloquium series is a long-standing tradition that showcases the scholarship of faculty members across disciplines. The series is open to the campus and community and offers students and community members an opportunity to engage with cutting-edge research from Lyon College professors.