Dateline Rice for July 17, 2012

FEATURED ITEMS

Universities reshaping education on the web
Rice University will offer five online courses free to people around the world as a new partner with the California-based enterprise Coursera. Rice President David Leebron and Dean of Undergraduates John Hutchinson are quoted in the Houston Chronicle article. Hutchinson also appeared on KTRH-AM to discuss this story. A link to this broadcast is not available.
New York Times
http://nyti.ms/MDMUzz
Rice joining other elite schools offering free online courses
Houston Chronicle (This article appeared on the front of the City & State section.)
http://bit.ly/MuRfKy
After leadership crisis fueled by distance-ed debate, UVa will put free classes online
Chronicle of Higher Education
http://chronicle.com/article/After-Leadership-Crisis-Fueled/132917/
Into the fray
Inside Higher Ed
http://bit.ly/LnFbEX
Duke among schools joining Stanford with Coursera courses
Bloomberg.com
http://bloom.bg/NuyVwH
UVa, 11 other schools to join online platform
Washington Examiner (This Associated Press article also appeared in the Richmond Times-Dispatch, the Columbus Republic, the Roanoke Times, NorthJersey.com, WTOP.com [Washington, D.C.], FederalNewsRadio.com [Washington, D.C.], WVEC.com [Norfolk, Va.], Washington.CBSLocal.com and WFTV.com [Orlando, Fla.].)
http://bit.ly/O7dGSc
KTRK-AM
KHOU-TV
http://bit.ly/NBLydc
UK university joins US online partnership
BBC.co.uk
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-18857999
UVa announces new online courses venture
Charlottesville Daily Progress (Va.)
http://bit.ly/PbIR1E
Coursera adds first international university partners, raises additional $6 million
GigaOM.com
http://bit.ly/Q1hCIi
Coursera to distribute free online courses from the UW and 11 other universities
GeekWire.com
http://bit.ly/OM4UYY
Duke putting free courses online
Durham Herald-Sun (N.C.) (This article also appeared on Individual.com.)
http://bit.ly/NyabFp
Education startup Coursera partners with 12 new universities
TheNextWeb.com
http://tnw.co/M5aPII
UW joins Stanford, others; will offer free online classes
Seattle Times
http://bit.ly/MeF9Dj
Duke University to offer free online courses
Charlotte Observer (N.C.)
http://bit.ly/M6b1Yj
12 universities launch free online education for the world on Coursera
VentureBeat.com
http://bit.ly/LvlJus
UI, others join with company for free online courses
Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette (Ill.)
http://bit.ly/O7hX89

A skyspace in Houston
An article discusses the James Turrell "Twilight Epiphany" Skyspace at Rice. Sarah Whiting, dean of the Rice School of Architecture and the William Ward Watkin Professor of Architecture, is quoted. Trustee Suzanne Deal Booth ’77 is mentioned.
Architect
http://www.architectmagazine.com/lighting/a-skyspace-in-houston_1.aspx

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

In new abortion battle, Planned Parenthood sues Arizona
Planned Parenthood sued Arizona in an effort to overturn a law that blocks funding for its health clinics. Mark Jones, the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies, professor and chair of political science and fellow in political science at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted. Jones is also quoted in news items about the Texas U.S. Senate race, Rep. Ron Paul’s presidential bid and President Barack Obama’s visit to Texas.
Reuters (This article also appeared in the Chicago Tribune, the Baltimore Sun, HuffingtonPost.com, Yahoo.com, TVNZ.co.nz, WSAU.com [Wausau, Wis.], WKZO.com [Kalamazoo, Mich.], KDAL.com [Duluth, Minn.], WHTC.com [Holland, Mich.], WTAQ.com [Green Bay, Wis.] and KWGN.com [Denver].)
http://reut.rs/NRnt0q
Cruz takes slight lead over Dewhurst in fundraising
Houston Chronicle (This article also appeared on Individual.com.)
http://bit.ly/LopP30
KRIV-TV
http://bit.ly/MBRjC9
Paul won’t get speaking slot at GOP confab
Houston Chronicle (This article also appeared in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.)
http://bit.ly/MC7Cio
KRLD-AM (Dallas) (This story also appeared on KLBJ-AM [Austin], WBAL-AM [Baltimore], WBZ-AM [Boston], WBBM-AM [Chicago], WTIC-AM [Hartford, Conn.] and KDKA-AM [Pittsburgh].)
http://bit.ly/MuT764

The brave new world of tomorrow’s tablets
Tablets with paper-thin screens that can be folded and tucked into your back pocket, artificial intelligence and augmented reality may be coming to a store near you. Lin Zhong, assistant professor in electrical and computer engineering and of computer science, is quoted.
FoxBusiness.com (This article also appeared in the Globe and Mail, Stuff, the Windsor Star, the Hindustan Times, Canada.com and nearly 90 other media outlets.)
http://fxn.ws/NyfR4D

Communion on the moon: The religious experience in space
Over the last few decades of human space travel, astronauts of Christian, Jewish and Muslim faith have taken their religious beliefs into orbit. President John F. Kennedy’s 1962 speech at Rice is mentioned. Kennedy’s speech is also mentioned in news items about NASA and the anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission.
The Atlantic
http://bit.ly/NrE9vW
A tale of two space programs
Iowa State Daily
http://bit.ly/NvaJKA
Apollo 11 changed world
KTRH.com (Houston) (This article also appeared on Sunny99.com and iHeart.com.)
http://bit.ly/MgKV7G

Facts and figures
A news brief reports on Rice research showing that the U.S. trails many of the world’s countries when it comes to life expectancy, most notably with its poorest citizens, who live about five years less than those who are more affluent.
PressTV.ir
http://www.presstv.ir/usdetail/251212.html

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Texas’ petrochemical boom fuels hopes and concerns
The hydraulic fracturing technology that sparked a drilling frenzy around Texas and the nation has proved a boon for the petrochemical industry, which is converting cheap and abundant natural gas into resins and polymers that go into items like synthetic clothing and cellphones. Ken Medlock, the James A. Baker III and Susan Baker Fellow in Energy and Resource Economics at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and adjunct assistant professor in economics, is quoted.
MyHighPlains.com (Amarillo, Texas)
http://myhighplains.com/fulltext?nxd_id=284292

The green first lady: Johnson five years after her death
Douglas Brinkley, professor of history and fellow in history at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted in an article about Lady Bird Johnson.
Austin American-Statesman (This article also appeared in the Aberdeen News, the South Bend Tribune and Austin360.com.)
http://bit.ly/Md2R35

Local students named college-sponsored National Merit Scholarship winners
Rice is mentioned in articles about winners of National Merit Scholarships.
Memorial Examiner
http://bit.ly/M3dIK8
Local students named college-sponsored National Merit Scholarship winners
Fort Bend Sun
http://bit.ly/Mttu5R

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

New technique to fabricate multiple anodes from single wafers for rechargeable batteries
Researchers at Rice University and Lockheed Martin reported that they’ve found a way to make multiple high-performance anodes from a single silicon wafer. Sibani Biswal, assistant professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering; Michael Wong, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering and of chemistry; and Madhuri Thakur, a research scientist in chemical and biomolecular engineering, are mentioned.
AZONano.com
http://www.azonano.com/news.aspx?newsID=25253
Silicon wafer could produce better lithium battery
EVWorld.com
http://evworld.com/news.cfm?newsid=28364
Silicon could herald the arrival of new and better batteries
AutoEvolution.com
http://bit.ly/ME1036
Silicon improves performance of rechargeable lithium-ion battery
EcoSeed.com
http://bit.ly/Nv9CdP
Researchers produce silicon ‘sponge’ battery components
TheEngineer.co.uk
http://bit.ly/M5ZDMc

Plasmonic chains act like polymers
Scientists have found that repeating patterns dictate the optical properties of nanoparticle arrays. Stephan Link, assistant professor of chemistry and of chemical and biomolecular engineering, and Liane Slaughter, a graduate student in chemistry, are quoted.
Photonics.com
http://www.photonics.com/Article.aspx?AID=51417

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Teen is finalist in scholarship competition
Rice is mentioned in an article about a Distinguished Young Women National Finals competitor.
Stamford Advocate (Conn.) (This article also appeared in the Albany Times-Union, the Danbury News-Times and the New Canaan News.)
http://bit.ly/MAXJCC

Integrated Design Team from Clarkson designs multi-function walker-cane
Rice is mentioned in an article about the Undergraduate Design Project Competition.
Massena Daily Courier-Observer (N.Y.)
http://bit.ly/O7juuU

Oklahoma City metro achievers
Rice is mentioned in a news brief about an Oklahoma student who achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.
The Oklahoman (This article also appeared in the South Florida Sun Sentinel and Individual.com.)
http://bit.ly/LW9eJT

SPORTS

Atlanta trades for Cy Creek HS standout Paul Janish
Former Rice baseball player Paul Janish has been traded to the Atlanta Braves.
UltimateCyFair.com
http://bit.ly/NdjOvS

UCLA football season preview: The Rice Owls
An article previewing the University of California, Los Angeles’ fall football season focuses on Rice.
GoJoeBruin.com
http://bit.ly/LvnGap

NEWS RELEASES

Rice to partner with Coursera to offer free online courses
Rice University will offer five online courses free to people around the world as a new partner with the California-based enterprise Coursera.
https://news2.rice.edu/?p=31589

Acclaimed trumpet pedagogues to join Shepherd School in 2013
Acclaimed trumpet pedagogues Barbara Butler and Charles Geyer will join Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music in July 2013.
https://news2.rice.edu/?p=31560

Rice University’s Jones School to host ‘Changing Health Care; Concepts to Improve Efficiency’
Health care businessman Don Lyons will discuss the changing face of health care in the U.S. during a public forum at Rice University July 19.
https://news2.rice.edu/?p=31610