People, papers and presentations

David Alexander, a professor of physics and astronomy and director of the Rice Space Institute, has been appointed to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization–Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems subcommittee on The Science of Space. The group will award its first medal for “contributions to the development of space” and work on the first edition of the Science of Space Encyclopedia, a free publication to be distributed throughout UNESCO’s member nations.

Basilios Poulos, professor emeritus of visual arts, is one of 26 artists participating in the major group exhibition “Focus on the ’70s and ’80s: Houston Foundations Part II” at Deborah Colton Gallery, 2445 North Blvd. On view through Nov. 4, the exhibition features “multimedia works by artists who contributed to (the) art scene in the ’70s and ’80s, which greatly influenced the Houston arts today,” according to the gallery’s news release. Poulos also will have a solo show titled “Landscape Journeys” at the William Reaves | Sarah Foltz Fine Art Gallery, 2143 Westheimer, on view through Oct. 7. He will present an artist talk at the gallery Sept. 23 from 2 to 4 p.m.

Former students, colleagues and friends will recognize the contributions of Nicolas Shumway, the Frances Moody Newman Professor of Humanities and professor of Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American studies, at the Sept. 22 symposium “The Invention of Nicolas Shumway: A Symposium and Celebration” at the University of Texas at Austin. The event will honor his legacy in the field of intellectual history of Latin America, his contributions to Argentine studies and his leadership of academic programs at Yale University, the University of Texas and Rice, where he is the former dean of the School of Humanities.