People, papers and presentations

Adria Baker, associate vice provost for international education and executive director of the Office of International Students and Scholars, presented “Comprehensive Internationalization: An Action Agenda” at the Region III NAFSA bioregional conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Oct. 17.

Zheng Liu, research scientist in mechanical engineering and materials science, was named a 2012 World Technology Award for Energy finalist at the World Technology Awards ceremony Oct. 22 in New York City. Zheng, a postdoctoral researcher in the laboratory of Pulickel Ajayan, has co-authored a number of studies on graphene research and was the lead co-author of a June study in Nature Communications about a nanoscale coaxial cable that could be used to build next-generation energy-storage systems. The World Technology Awards are presented annually by the World Technology Network in association with TIME, Fortune, CNN, Science magazine and Technology Review. As an award finalist, Liu becomes a fellow in the World Technology Network, an exclusive community of innovative individuals, companies and organizations in science, technology and related fields from more than 60 countries.

Cory Owen, program manager and senior international adviser in the Office of International Students and Scholars, received the Region III NAFSA: Association of International Educators Award Oct. 16 at a bioregional conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico. This award recognizes extraordinary service to the field of international education. Owen also was a panelist on a session titled “Views From Two Sides of the Fulbright International Education Administrator Program: The Host Institution and the Fulbright Grantee,” and a presenter at the J-1 Visa Beginners Workshop.

Rice University experts feature prominently in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science’s Oct. 30 special feature Chemical Physics of Protein Folding. The special feature includes an introduction co-authored by Peter Wolynes, the Bullard-Welch Foundation Professor of Science, professor of chemistry and senior scientist at Rice’s Center for Theoretical Biological Physics (CTBP), and 17 research articles, including one co-authored by CTBP Co-director José Onuchic, the Harry C. and Olga K. Wiess Professor of Physics and Astronomy and professor of chemistry, and Jeffrey Noel, postdoctoral research associate in physics and astronomy. The journal’s cover image was created by Rice graduate student Nick Schafer and colleagues.