People, papers and presentations

Patricia Reiff, a professor of physics and astronomy and associate director for public outreach at the Rice Space Institute, accompanied the first team of American high school students to compete in the 24th International Astronomy Olympiad in Romania in October. The team included two high school students from Houston and two from Washington state, and was coached by Rice master of science teaching student Franklyn Pacheco. Reiff served as a team sponsor and on the jury. Teams from 20 nations participated in this year’s event, sponsored by the Euro-Asian Astronomical Society.