Dateline Rice for April 20, 2012

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Obama oil margin plan could increase price swings
President Barack Obama’s bid to dampen the influence of oil speculators by having regulators set trading margins could backfire, potentially making prices even more volatile and leaving crude dominated only by those with the deepest pockets. Amy Myers Jaffe, the Wallace S. Wilson Fellow in Energy Studies at the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
Reuters (This article also appeared in the Chicago Tribune, the Hartford Courant, the Hampton Roads Daily Press, Yahoo.com, MSN.com, WHTC.com [Holland, Mich.], WSAU.com [Wausau, Wis.], WDBJ7.com [Roanoke, Va.], KDAL610.com [Duluth, Minn.], CTNow.com, HedgeWorld.com and WTAQ.com [Green Bay, Wis.].)
http://tinyurl.com/82a4zpn

Simple Babalung device could save babies in the developing world
An inexpensive, battery-powered neonatal monitor may save the lives of infants in the developing world. Wiess College seniors Andrea Ulrich and Rachel Gilbert; Lovett College senior Rachel Alexander; and Martel College seniors Bridget Ugoh and Jordan Schermerhorn are mentioned. A Rice-produced video is featured.
Gizmag.com
http://www.gizmag.com/babalung-apnea-monitor/22225/
A monitor at low cost for premies
La Monde (France)
https://news2.rice.edu/files/2012/04/LaMondeBabalung.pdf

Romney meets Falwell following
William Martin, the Harry and Hazel Chavanne Senior Fellow in Religion and Public Policy at the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, is quoted in an article about Mitt Romney’s presidential bid.
Bloomberg.com
http://tinyurl.com/cubxv33

Liberia President Sirleaf in the US for energy talks
Articles about Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s visit to Houston mentions that she will speak at Rice.
Africa Review
http://tinyurl.com/6u52a4y
President Sirleaf travels to Houston for talks with oil sector executives
AllAfrica.com
http://allafrica.com/stories/201204190831.html

Students offer college selection tips
Rice is mentioned in an article offering advice on selecting a college.
U.S. News & World Report
http://tinyurl.com/87uggfu

HOUSTON/TEXAS

‘100 Creatives 2012’: John Sparagana
John Sparagana, professor of visual and dramatic arts, has been named one of the Houston Press’ "100 Creatives 2012."
Houston Press
http://tinyurl.com/cxzfnxm

Free for all: Art without a price tag: ‘Stopped on Track,’ Lauren Conrad, and Shakespeare on the Green — A Midsummer’s Night Dream
"Cloud 9" and "Stopped on Track," two films by Andreas Dresen, will be screened at Rice April 21-22. Dresen will be on hand to introduce both films, with Q-and-A sessions to following the screenings. Christian Emden, associate professor of German studies, is quoted.
Houston Press
http://tinyurl.com/clrvp6x

Sugar Land resident named 2012 Truman Scholar
Martel College senior Benjamin Chou and Sid Richardson College senior Rahul Rekhi are among the 54 college students nationwide named 2012 Truman Scholars. Each Truman Scholarship provides up to $30,000 for graduate study. Caroline Quenemoen, director of fellowships and undergraduate research, is also quoted.
Sugar Land Sun
http://tinyurl.com/7tsyzkj

Ernest Bloch’s ‘Avodath HaKodesh’ in Houston
The United Nations Association International Choir will perform at Rice’s Stude Concert Hall May 19. Phillip Kloeckner, lecturer of music, will direct works on the program.
Jewish Herald-Voice
http://tinyurl.com/6mmdhxa

From the Bird’s Nest to Houston: China-confined Ai Weiwei gets his work shown off at Architecture Center
An article about an exhibition of works by artist Ai Weiwei mentions that Reto Geiser, the Wortham Assistant Professor of Architecture, will give a lecture about Ai’s architectural work May 24.
Culturemap.com
http://tinyurl.com/7mgrqdb

Texas A&M grads fare well in PayScale ROI survey
Rice placed 29th in a Bloomberg BusinessWeek ranking of the return on investment for U.S. colleges.
KBTX.com (Bryan/College Station, Texas) (This article also appeared in the Cypress Times.)
http://tinyurl.com/cobj38d

Rice University, IBM to build supercomputer
Rice University announced that it has acquired the state’s first Blue Gene supercomputer, allowing it to further investigate the molecular basis of disease.
UltimateWestU.com
http://tinyurl.com/bup8ysj

Texans name Cal McNair chief operating officer, promote Suzie Thomas
Alumnus D. Cal McNair ’95 has assumed the duties of chief operating officer for the Houston Texans.
Cypress Times
http://tinyurl.com/7mgdm82

School finance lawyer addresses chamber
Rice research is cited in an article about statements made by lawyer David Thompson at a Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce Education Division luncheon.
Fort Bend Star
http://tinyurl.com/bvn4u9e

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Nanosponge absorbs 100 times its weight in oil, is guided with magnets
By adding boron to carbon nanotubes, Rice scientists have created spongy, reusable blocks that absorb oil spilled in water. A Rice-produced video is featured. Daniel Hashim, a graduate student in mechanical engineering and materials science, is quoted in the WeekendLeader.com article. Pulickel Ajayan, the Benjamin M. and Mary Greenwood Anderson Professor in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science and of chemistry, is mentioned.
TreeHugger.com
http://tinyurl.com/bqhqlz3
Nanotechnology reaches out to clear the seas of oil spills
WeekendLeader.com
http://www.theweekendleader.com/Innovation/1089/scientific-mop.html
KTXL-TV (Sacramento, Calif.)
http://tinyurl.com/6tteryg

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Ex-judge denounces that Chávez controls the Venezuelan judicial system
Mark Jones, the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies, professor and chair of political science and fellow in political science at the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, is quoted in an article about the lack of judicial independence in Venezuela and the increasingly fragile state of Venezuelan democracy. An English translation of this article is not available.
El Nuevo Herald (Miami)
http://tinyurl.com/6rqq9n5

The right stuff
Franklin Chang Diaz, adjunct professor of physics and astronomy, will speak at events in Lawrence, Mass., about his life and career as an astronaut.
Merrimack Valley Eagle-Tribune (Mass.) (This article also appeared on Individual.com.)
http://www.eagletribune.com/lifestyle/x733695156/Editors-Picks

Processing innovation could give spuds new appeal
An article reports on the performance of a team at the Rice Business Plan Competition.
Spokane Spokesman-Review (Wash.) (This article also appeared on Individual.com.)
http://tinyurl.com/dyye9os

Committee kills repeal of Louisiana Science Act
Hanszen College sophomore Zack Kopplin is mentioned in an article about efforts to repeal the Louisiana Science Education Act.
Alexandria Town Talk (La.) (This article also appeared in the Monroe News-Star and the Shreveport Times.)
http://tinyurl.com/6s6ov4n

Tulsa Republican senators will face primary opponents
Alumnus Jim Bridenstine ’97 is mentioned in an article about political races in Tulsa, Okla.
TulsaBeacon.com
http://www.tulsabeacon.com/?p=5914

Janet Gurwitch says success takes the desire to persevere
An article about statements made by Janet Gurwitch, founder and former CEO of Laura Mercier Cosmetics, at an "Advice Straight Up" luncheon in Florida mentions that she serves on the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business’ Council of Overseers.
Tallahassee Democrat (Fla.)
http://tinyurl.com/7nvl82u

SPORTS

ECU seeks consistency at Rice
Articles preview a baseball series between Rice and East Carolina University.
Pitt County Daily Reflector (N.C.)
http://www.reflector.com/sports/ecu/ecu-seeks-consistency-rice-1032323
Smithmyer heats up Pirates’ stove for Rice
Bonesville.net
http://bonesville.net/Articles/AlMyatt/11-12/04/042012_Myatt.htm

Rice hosts J. Fred Duckett Twilight on Saturday
Rice University hosts the ninth annual J. Fred Duckett/Rice Twilight track and field meet April 21.
Cypress Times (Texas)
http://tinyurl.com/ccvuxgl

Rice’s Beazant is a terror on the tennis court
Hanszen College freshman Natalie Beazant is profiled for her performance on the tennis court. Will Rice College sophomore Dominique Harmath and head women’s tennis coach Elizabeth Schmidt are quoted.
Houston Chronicle
http://tinyurl.com/cr3tleg

Rice forward Kazemi asks for evaluation from NBA advisory committee
McMurtry College junior Arsalan Kazemi asked for an NBA draft evaluation earlier this month but plans to return for his senior season. Head men’s basketball coach Ben Braun is quoted.
Houston Chronicle
http://tinyurl.com/czxuvgf

Merritt named to stopper-of-the-year watch list
Brown College junior J.T. Chargois was named one of three Conference USA relief pitchers named to the 45-man midseason watch list for the NCBWA Stopper-of-the-Year Award, given to the nation’s top collegiate baseball reliever.
ECUPirates.com
http://www.ecupirates.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/041912aaa.html
ECU pitcher named to stopper-of-the-year watch list
WCTI12.com (New Bern, N.C.)
http://www.wcti12.com/sports/30925639/detail.html

Perk School’s Kapic takes game to Rice
An article reports that a student-athlete from the Perkiomen School has signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Rice.
Pottstown Mercury (Penn.)
http://tinyurl.com/c4955j4

NBA roundup
Alumnus Morris Almond ’07 has been signed by the Washington Wizards.
Chicago Tribune
http://tinyurl.com/c8elrdr