University of Costa Rica delegation composed by: Dr. Henning Jensen Pennington, UCR Rector; Ing. Leonora de Lemos Medina, M.Sc., Director of Office of International Affairs and External Cooperation; Dr. Esteban Avendaño Soto, Director of Research Center on Science and Materials Engineering (CICIMA); Dr. Oscar Andrey Herrera Sancho, Professor of Physics and Researcher of CICIMA; and Dr. Alejandro Jenkins Villalobos, Professor of Physics and member of Costa Rica National Academy of Sciences.

Opening Meeting: Discussion of Key Objectives and Priorities from UCR and Rice

Attendees

Dr. Caroline Levander, Vice President for Global & Digital Strategy, Professor of English, Office of the President
Dr. Seiichi Matsuda, Dean of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies, Professor of Chemistry, Biochemistry & Cell Biology
Dr. Fred Higgs III, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Professor of Bioengineering, Director of Rice Center for Engineering Leadership (RCEL)
Dr. George Phillips, Jr., Associate Dean of Natural Sciences for Research, Professor of BioSciences, Associate Chair 
Dr. Adria Baker, Associate Vice Provost for International Education/Executive Director, Office of International Students and Scholars 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research Center Leaders: Highlights of Critical Centers / Discussion of Mutual Collaborative Opportunities

Attendees

Dr. Pedro Alvarez, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Professor of Chemistry, Director, NEWT Center, Professor of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering 
Dr. Alberto Pimpinelli, Executive Director, Smalley-Curl Institute 
Dr. Enrique Barrera, Professor of Materials Science & Nanoengineering, Chemistry 
Dr. Christopher Jermaine, Ken Kennedy Institute for Information Technology; Professor, Computer Science 
Dr. Huo Guo, Electron Microscopy Center (EMC), Assistant Research Professor, Materials Science & Nanoengineering 
Dr. Dominic Boyer, Director, CENHS (Center for Energy and Environmental Research in the Human Sciences), Professor, Department of Anthropology 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Visiting Multidisciplinary Centers / Collaboration with the Texas Medical Center (TMC)  Work of Tico Students and Supervisors at Rice

• Reyner Vargas (UCR exchange student) – Mentor: Dr. Zachary Ball 
  Institute of Biosciences & Bioengineering (IBB)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Esteban Dodero Rojas (UCR undergraduate visiting research student) – Mentor: Dr. Jose Onuchic
  Center for Theoretical & Biological Physics (CTBP)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• David Brenes (Tico doctoral student in Bioengineering) – Mentor: Dr. Richards-Kortum
  Rice 360: Institute for Global Health
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baker Institute for Public Policy briefing and short tour

Tour given by Dr. Mark Jones (Professor in Latin American Studies, Political Science)

Informal Breakfast: Chatting with Academic Leaders

Attendees

Dr. Marcia O’Malley, Advisor to the Provost, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical & Computer Engineering 
Dr. Gary Woods, Professor in the Practice in Computer Technology
Dr. Luis Duno-Gottberg, Chair of Latin American Studies, Spanish and Portuguese, Associate Professor, Magister, Baker College
Dr. Patricia Reiff, Professor (Past Chair) of the Department of Physics and Astronomy; Associate Director of the Rice Space Institute
Umbe Oliveira Cantu, Physics and Astronomy, Department Operations Administrator
Graduate students in Killian lab

 

Lunch with Costa Rica Interest Group

Attendees

Host: Dr. Adria Baker, Associate Vice Provost for International Education/Executive Director, Office of International Students and Scholars
Dr. Pol D. Spanos, Lewis B. Ryon Endowed Chair in Engineering, Professor in Mechanical and Civil Engineering, Professor of Materials Science and NanoEngineering 
Dr. Anthony Várilly-Alvarado, Associate Professor, Department of Mathematics 
Dr. Andrea Ballestero, Assistant Professor, Department of Anthropology
Dr. Scott E. Solomon, Associate Teaching Professor, BioSciences at Rice 
Dr. Carolina Quesada Cordero, Visiting Scholar at Rice Anthropology Department, University of Costa Rica
Dr. Jennifer Gigliotti-Labay, Senior Associate Dean, Glasscock School Continuing Studies 
Sandra Bloem-Curtis, Director, Compliance & Administration, OISS
Irene Mendez, Administrative Coordinator, OISS 
Esteban Dodero, UCR Visiting research undergraduate student
Reyner Vargas, UCR Exchange undergraduate student
Alice Gong, Rice undergraduate student
Dan Gorczynski, Rice graduate student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meet & Coffee with Rice University President and UCR Rector – Special guest: Honorable Herbert Daniel Espinoza Solano

Attendees

Host: David Leebron, President of Rice University 
Honorable Herbert Daniel Espinoza Solano, Consul General of Costa Rica in Houston 
Dr. Caroline Levander, Vice President for Global & Digital Strategy, Professor of English, Office of the President
Dr. Fred Higgs III, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Professor of Bioengineering, Director of Rice Center for Engineering Leadership (RCEL) 
Dr. Anthony Várilly-Alvarado, Associate Professor, Department of Mathematics 
Prof. Carlos Jimenez, Professor, School of Architecture 
Dr. Adria Baker, Associate Vice Provost for International Education, Executive Director, Office of International Students and Scholars 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Houston and Rice University extracurricular activities

UCR delegation had the opportunity to experience Houston culture from two different perspectives: Arts and Entertainment.

Rienzi Houston Museum of Fine Arts

Private tour for the UCR delegation showing the artistic and historic face of Houston.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo

Invitation by: Dr. Caroline Levander, Vice President for Global & Digital Strategy, Office of the President