Dateline Rice for July 23, 2012 (Weekend Edition)

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Facebook earnings call offers shot at rebuilding image
Facebook is getting its first crack as a public company to allay the growth concerns that have made it the second-worst performing U.S. technology initial public offering of 2012. John Palizza, a lecturer in management at the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business, is quoted.
Bloomberg.com (This article also appeared in Businessweek.)
http://bloom.bg/NNKsHx

16-university consortium expands free, online IT course offerings
Rice University will offer five online courses free to people around the world as a new partner with the California-based enterprise Coursera.
ZDNet.com
http://zd.net/O7cxvP

Time for a second look at daily deals?
An article discusses Rice research on daily deal websites such as Groupon.
NBCNews.com (This article also appeared on Terra.com.)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48269953#.UA1HiKAn0yg

Smithsonian to exhibit Texas man’s WWII birds
This month the Smithsonian will mount a small yearlong exhibition featuring specimens collected from the World War II Pacific Theater, including many collected by alumnus Sammy Ray ’52.
San Francisco Chronicle (This article also appeared in the San Antonio Express-News, the Beaumont Enterprise, the Franklin Daily Journal, the Columbus Republic, WJTV.com [Jackson, Miss.], WHLT.com [Hattiesburg, Miss.], WJACTV.com [Johnstown, Penn.], WTOV9.com [Steubenville, Ohio], WHIO.com [Dayton, Ohio] and WFTV.com [Orlando, Fla.].)
http://bit.ly/SQ8WUf

Texas’s dropout rate shows positive signs
Many Texas school districts are reporting their third or fourth straight year of rising graduation rates. Rice is mentioned.
New York Times (This article also appeared in the Texas Tribune, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Rio Grande Valley Monitor and ENCToday.com.)
http://nyti.ms/SOPWFC

National Public Radio’s ‘All Things Considered’
Consumer advocates say Texas should be implementing more parts of the Affordable Care Act. Anne Walker, director of student financial services at Rice, is quoted as a Lake Jackson resident who signed a petition. (This story also appeared on Minnesota.PublicRadio.org, WPR.org [Wisconsin], OPB.org [Oregon], KBIA.org [Missouri], WKAR.org [Michigan], WNYC.org [New York], KNAU.org [Arizona], GPB.org [Georgia], WBFO.org [New York], NHPR.org [New Hampshire], VPR.org [Vermont], NWPR.org [Washington], NorthCountryPublicRadio.org [New York], CapRadio.org [Calif.], WBUR.org [Boston], KUNC.org [Colo.], WSKG.org [Binghamton, N.Y.], KWGS.org [Tulsa, Okla.], APR.org [Alabama], KaiserHealthNews.org and IdeaStream.org.)
http://n.pr/OeZNBq

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Companies now embracing sustainability
James Blackburn, professor in the practice of environmental law, and Brown College senior Elizabeth Harwood authored this op-ed about how sustainability is emerging as a key element of corporate policy and strategy.
Houston Chronicle
https://news2.rice.edu/files/2012/07/HCBlackburnHarwood.pdf

Rice professor found dead on Kazakhstan mountain
News items report on the death of Adilet Imambekov, assistant professor of physics and astronomy, who died while on a mountain-climbing trip in his native Kazakhstan. Thomas Killian, professor of physics and astronomy, is quoted. Services for Imambekov were held this weekend.
KHOU.com
http://bit.ly/MMRr2L
KPRC-TV
http://bit.ly/NZkg0H

Ground games will be key for Cruz, Dewhurst
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 in news items about elections in Texas, a lawsuit filed against Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio, Texas’ voter ID law and the Republican Party. Jones is also quoted in a sidebar accompanying an article about the race to replace Rep. Ron Paul.
Houston Chronicle (This article also appeared in the San Antonio Express-News and KETK.com [Tyler, Texas].)
http://bit.ly/QetPuu
Arizona sheriff Arpaio under scrutiny in racial profiling trial
Laredo Sun
http://laredosun.us/notas.asp?id=22331
Poli Sci profs against voter ID
OffTheKuff.com
http://offthekuff.com/wp/?p=46544
A Rice take
Campos Communications
http://bit.ly/MzHGYZ
Race to succeed Ron Paul gets little attention
Houston Chronicle (This article also appeared on Individual.com.)
http://bit.ly/MyBzUT

Houston surgeon reshaping lives near and far
Alumnus Tue Dinh ’84 is profiled for his career as a surgeon.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/M5JYRL

CPRIT may dole out funds differently
An article about the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas’ meetings to discuss the types of grants it awards mentions the incubator grant awarded to Rice.
Austin Business Journal
http://bit.ly/MzHUiR

Landtroop faces tough challenger in Ken King
Rice research is cited in an article about the Texas House District 88 race.
Amarillo Globe-News
http://bit.ly/PIClME

See it before it closes: Yasuaki Onishi at Rice Gallery
Artist Yasuaki Onishi’s installation at Rice Gallery will close July 27.
Glasstire.com
http://bit.ly/MA1j3j

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

How nanosilver zaps germs
Scientists have settled a long-standing controversy about how silver nanoparticles kill bacteria and — in the wrong amounts — sometimes make them stronger. Pedro Alvarez, the George R. Brown Professor and chair of Civil and Environmental Engineering, is quoted. Vice Provost for Research Vicki Colvin is mentioned.
Chemical & Engineering News
http://cen.acs.org/articles/90/i30/Nanosilver-Zaps-Germs.html

Flattened drilling seen challenging US upstream thinking
Drilling activity has flattened in the U.S. despite gyrations of crude oil and natural gas prices in an unusual pattern that challenges managers of the oil and gas producing industry. 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.
Oil & Gas Journal
http://bit.ly/MwWJAS

Marissa explains it all … to Yahoo? Marissa Mayer leaves Google for Yahoo
Alumna Elisa Gabbert ’02 authored this op-ed about the appointment of Marissa Mayer as Yahoo CEO. Her brother, Adam Gabbert ’99, is mentioned.
Wordstream.com (This article also appeared on Business2Community.com.)
http://bit.ly/Lxk1nM

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Ramadan fasting poses quandary for mothers-to-be
Mahmoud El-Gamal, Chair of Islamic Economics, Finance and Management, professor of economics and statistics and Rice Scholar at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted in this article about the challenges pregnant Muslim women face during Ramadan.
Aberdeen American News (S.D.) (This article also appeared in the South Bend Tribune and HispanicBusiness.com.)
http://bit.ly/LCUIWf

Critics of new University of Missouri Press model speak up
Rice is mentioned in an article about the University of Missouri Press.
Columbia Missourian (A similar article also appeared in the Bend Bulletin.)
http://bit.ly/O9ExLD

Organist, cellist will perform at basilica
Alumnus Benjamin Noyes ’98 will perform at the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul.
Lewiston Sun-Journal (Maine)
http://bit.ly/MzrS8M

Spray-on battery breakthrough
Researchers at Rice University have developed a lithium-ion battery that can be painted on virtually any surface.
CampusReview.com.au
http://bit.ly/M5N0oV

SPORTS

South Alabama athletic director named to baseball selection committee
Rick Greenspan, director of athletics, was among several appointed to the NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament selection committee.
Mobile Press-Register (Ala.)
http://bit.ly/OOGz3J
USA’s Erdmann appointed to NCAA baseball committee
SunBeltSports.org (A similar article appeared on Local15TV.com [Mobile, Ala.].)
http://bit.ly/MMCttE

Willson watch
Lovett College senior Luke Willson has been named to the preseason watch list for the John Mackey Award.
Canda.com (This article also appeared in the Windsor Star and the Ottawa Citizen.)
http://bit.ly/NLGguO

Found ’em
A news brief reports that Larry Hoefer is assistant football coach at Rice.
Abilene Reporter-News (Texas)
http://bit.ly/OkH4CX

Cy Creek HS grad Paul Janish makes two great plays in Atlanta loss
A recap of a baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the San Francisco Giants focuses on former Rice baseball player Paul Janish.
UltimateCyFair.com (Texas)
http://bit.ly/PrajZe

Woodlands High School grad Danny Lehmann leads Rochester rout
Former Rice standout Danny Lehmann is featured for his performance in a baseball game between the Rochester Red Wings and the Norfolk Tides.
UltimateWoodlands.com (Texas)
http://bit.ly/SQdeuF
Daniel Joseph Lehmann, Rochester Red Wings
UltimateWoodlands.com (Texas)
http://bit.ly/MDRD9R

How Olympic ‘Blade Runner’ sprints without feet
Rice is mentioned in an article about amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius.
Discovery.com
http://bit.ly/MpZB4r

Brett Favre signs on as offensive coordinator for high school football team, admits to playing final season for the money
Rice is mentioned in an article about former pro football player Brett Favre.
International Business Times
http://bit.ly/PoAH2k

Boxer Esparza stays calm before Games storm
An article discusses the boxing career of Marlen Esparza and her hopes to compete in the Olympics. (Editor’s note: The article reports incorrectly that Esparza has been accepted at Rice.)
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/Ofa9Q3

NEWS RELEASES

Security and terrorism expert available to discuss Colorado shooting
Rice University’s Baker Institute security and terrorism expert Joan Neuhaus Schaan is available to comment on the gunman and assault that occurred during a showing of the Batman film "The Dark Knight Rises" in Aurora, Colo.
https://news2.rice.edu/?p=31793

College student to attempt Guinness World Record in joggling
Matthew Feldman, a University of Florida student who is conducting nanomaterials research in the lab of Rice University professor Pulickel Ajayan this summer, will attempt to break a Guinness World Record in joggling — running and juggling — July 27 at the Rice University running track.
https://news2.rice.edu/?p=31804