Dateline Rice for Jan. 4, 2013

FEATURED ITEMS

Landmark store leaves rich legacy
John Boles, the William Pettus Hobby Professor of History, is quoted in this front-page story about the closure of Macy’s department store in downtown Houston.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/UndkyP

Need a battery? Just check the garden
Researchers say a plant extract can be turned into a highly effective, natural cathode for lithium-ion batteries. Arava Leela Mohana Reddy, a postdoctoral research associate in mechanical engineering and materials science, and Pulickel Ajayan, the Benjamin M. and Mary Greenwood Anderson Professor in Engineering, professor of mechanical engineering and materials science, professor in chemistry and professor in chemical and biomolecular engineering, are quoted.
Houston Chronicle (This article appeared on the front of the business section and also in the San Francisco Chronicle and FuelFix.com.)
http://bit.ly/WqsrSO

Rice project improves textbooks
A Houston Chronicle editorial praises Rice’s OpenStax College for its free online textbooks.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/X6bgIs

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

No end in sight as toll rises in Syria
Edward Djerejian, founding director of Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted in an editorial about the Syrian civil war.
Minneapolis Star-Tribune (This editorial also appeared on Individual.com.)
http://bit.ly/Z2Vk9f

What lies behind renewed tensions over the Falkland Islands?
Argentinian President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has again opened the dispute over sovereignty of the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic by accusing the British government of blatant colonialism. 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 articles about the reappointment of Rep. John Boehner as speaker of the House and the upcoming Texas legislative session.
CNN.com
http://bit.ly/10UGIyb
For Boehner, it’s a balancing act between his country and his caucus
Globe and Mail (Canada)
http://bit.ly/RvP237
Top three state officials facing political challenges as legislature looms
WOAI.com (San Antonio)
http://bit.ly/TzkEou

Finding the beautiful and the bizarre in a sprawling Western city
The James Turrell “Twilight Epiphany” Skyspace at Rice is mentioned in a column about reasons to visit Houston.
Baltimore Sun
http://bsun.md/VyfFVB

Cyberattack threat in Canada’s oil patch raises risk of disruptions, stolen data
Cyberattacks targeting Canada’s oil-and-gas industry and other major energy firms around the globe are occurring with disquieting frequency. Research by Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy is cited.
Financial Post (This article also appeared in the Vancouver Sun.)
http://natpo.st/VzUEaA

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Worker stuck in ducts rescued at Rice University
Rescue crews were called to Rice University Thursday when a staff electrician became trapped in an air vent.
Houston Chronicle (This article also appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, the San Antonio Express-News, the Stamford Advocate, the Greenwich Time, the Connecticut Post, the Darien News, the Greater New Milford Spectrum, the Norwalk Citizen and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.)
http://bit.ly/ZYtBg1
Electrician rescued after 8-foot fall
Houston Chronicle
https://news2.rice.edu/files/2013/01/HCVentPhoto.jpg
Man gets stuck in air duct at Rice University
Click2Houston.com
http://bit.ly/XqQDul
KHOU-TV
http://bit.ly/TKWjed
KPRC-TV
http://bit.ly/TNB8Im

MFAH and Symphony warm up for global galas
Hans Graf, artist in residence at the Shepherd School of Music, is mentioned in an article about Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and Houston Symphony galas.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/UKWeYT

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Researchers develop nanotech gels to monitor food freshness
Materials scientists at Rice University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have created very thin color-changing films that may serve as part of inexpensive sensors for food spoilage or security, multiband optical elements in laser-driven systems and even as part of high-contrast displays. Ned Thomas, the William and Stephanie Sick Dean of Engineering, professor of mechanical engineering and materials science and of chemical and biomolecular engineering, is quoted.
Plastics News
http://www.plasticsnews.com/headlines2.html?id=27410&channel=220

Are women leaders less corrupt?
Rice research is cited in an article about corruption and women in politics.
BWorldOnline.com
http://www.bworldonline.com/weekender/content.php?id=63713

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

How does the ‘PV bubble’ affect local students?
Martel College sophomore Eleanor Ma is quoted in a column about the “PV bubble.”
Palos Verdes Peninsula (Calif.)
http://bit.ly/TAZR3U

Lessons learned in a hard year
Rice is mentioned in a column about the author’s grandmother.
Tonawanda News (N.Y.)
http://bit.ly/UniL0A

SPORTS

Rice women earning reputation for second-half comebacks
An article discusses the performance of the Rice Owls women’s basketball team this season.
Examiner.com
http://exm.nr/1382bC7

KTEN-TV
Hanszen College sophomore Jordan Taylor is featured for his performance in football.
http://bit.ly/VzWHhf

Bourn, LaRoche lead top free agents left but draft a factor
Articles about free agent baseball players feature former Rice standout Lance Berkman.
SportsIllustrated.CNN.com
http://bit.ly/RvbBF8
Berkman, Lohse looking for fits as free agents
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
http://bit.ly/XqBycc

Know your 40: David Aardsma
An article discusses the baseball career of former Rice baseball player David Aardsma.
SBNation.com
http://bit.ly/135YAol

NEWS RELEASE

British ambassador to US to speak at Rice’s Baker Institute Jan. 11
Sir Peter Westmacott, British ambassador to the United States, will give a presentation on global political developments Jan. 11 at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.
https://news2.rice.edu/?p=38944