Dr. Roger Malina, professor of arts and technology and of physics at The University of Texas at Dallas, has been appointed to the International Astronautical Federation Committee for the Cultural Utilisation of Space (ITACCUS).
Malina, who holds dual appointments in the schools of Arts, Technology, and Emerging Communication (ATEC) and Natural Sciences and Mathematics, is the co-founder and faculty advisor of the ATEC ArtsSciLab, a transdisciplinary research lab that involves art, science, technology and education.
ITACCUS champions innovative utilization of space data, systems and applications by organizations in the cultural sectors of society, including arts and humanities.
“I’m energized. I hope this committee can really have an impact with decision-makers. The social implications of space activities are as important as the technical and scientific implications,” said Malina, who also holds the Arts and Technology Distinguished Chair.
He pointed to a recent paper he wrote with Kathryn Hays MS’19 and Cristobal Kubli Perusquia MS’20, in which they used space as an example of how creativity and cognition can help humans survive in extreme environments.
Malina is a former director of both the Astronomy Observatory of Marseilles Provence (OAMP) and the Marseille Astrophysics Laboratory in France, and is a member of the OAMP’s observational cosmology group, which investigates the nature of dark matter and dark energy. He also is executive editor of the journal Leonardo from MIT Press.
EPPS Students Win Sumners Scholarships
Three University of Texas at Dallas students, all studying in the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences (EPPS), have been awarded Sumners Scholarships.
Economics junior Stephanie Buitrago, public policy major Eve Gersh and political science junior Samantha Mussell were selected to receive the $30,000 awards from the Sumners Foundation, which recognizes students who demonstrate academic excellence, a sense of civic responsibility and the potential for leadership.
Dr. Jennifer Holmes, EPPS dean and professor of political science, public policy and political economy, said the recipients “exemplify commitment to American democracy, our shared civic values and working together for the betterment of our community.”
Buitrago, who is in UT Dallas’ Collegium V Honors College, said one of her goals is to earn a PhD in economics and to build bridges between communities. At UTD, she said she has worked to make a positive impact, particularly through her research internship at the Institute for Urban Policy Research (IUPR).
“I want to find ways to effectively work together to create solutions to problems,” she said. “And within our own cities, address important community issues such as poverty and mental illness.”
Gersh believes that her experience as a student leader, her environmental work for the city of Plano, Texas, and her sustainability activism — including serving as an Eco Rep — helped her stand out among the applicants.
“This scholarship will not only help pay for my education, but it will also bring me into a community of like-minded individuals and professionals in the field of public policy,” she said. “As a leader in public policy, I will help to further our democracy by bridging the gap between communities and businesses in ways that benefit both while protecting the environment.”
Mussell, who is a legislative and research intern with the U.S. Government Accountability Office and has interned on campus at the IUPR, hopes to further democracy by informing policy through a career in academia.
“I hope to eventually earn my PhD,” she said. “After I graduate, I aim to work as a professor at a university where I can teach and conduct research on policy and government.”
Sumners Foundation Chairman Jerry Reis said Sumners Scholars make significant political and policy contributions to their communities, state and country. Forty-three students were awarded scholarships this year.
“We are pleased to support students working to improve the political system, address issues through public policy, educate others about civic responsibility, and be active, productive members of society,” he said.
Accolades is an occasional News Center feature that highlights recent accomplishments of The University of Texas at Dallas community. To submit items for consideration, contact your school’s communications manager.