January 22, 2007

U.S. Consul General Hosts Reception for Visiting Rice University Delegation

 

Consul General Michael S. Owen hosted a reception in honor of a visiting Rice University delegation on Monday, January 22.  The delegation, headed by Rice University President Professor David Leebron, is in India to meet with Indian leaders and educators in its quest to develop educational cooperation initiatives with Indian universities, institutes, and research centers.  One focus of the trip is the establishment of a Rice University Center for Asian Studies, which will have a special concentration on China and India.

Preceded by a visit to New Delhi, where the delegation met with Indian President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the delegation headed to Bangalore after its January 22-23 stay in Mumbai where the delegation had meetings with a number of institutions, including IIT and the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.

Located in Houston, Rice University is a major U.S. research university, known internationally for its research in nanotechnology.  Two Rice professors, Robert Curl and the late Rick Smalley, received the Nobel Prize in 1996 for their research in this field.

Consul General Owen welcomes the interest of Rice and other American universities in developing educational ties to institutes in India.  With over 80,000 Indians studying in the United States, India sends more students to U.S. universities than any other country.  Educational partnerships such as the ones Rice are pursuing will only deepen and strengthen cooperation and scholarship, thereby promoting improved academics and international exchange, between educational institutions in the two countries.

The Consul General himself is a Rice graduate.  He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in economics and civil engineering in 1973.