Dateline Rice for March 1, 2013

FEATURED ITEMS

Federal budget cuts to kick in Friday
After weeks of dire predictions accompanied by nonstop political finger-pointing, the automatic federal budget-cutting process known as sequestration is set to kick off. The effect of the sequestration on Rice research funding is mentioned in this front-page article.
Houston Chronicle (subscription required)
http://bit.ly/Z6eZ96

KUHF-FM
Texas Rep. Scott Hochberg ’75, a lecturer at the Susanne M. Glasscock School of Continuing Studies, is interviewed about his class on education policy at Rice.
http://bit.ly/XdsuX1

Modified bacteria turn waste into fat for fuel
A link to a Rice news release about research to turn plant waste into fatty acids and then into fuel appeared on the homepage of Science360.gov.
Science360.gov
https://news2.rice.edu/files/2013/03/Science360BacteriaFat.jpg

Hacking isn’t cyberwar, for now
Chris Bronk, fellow in information technology policy at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, authored this op-ed about cyberwarfare.
New York Times
http://nyti.ms/XHiFjt

TribuneFest: A conversation with Aycock and Patrick
Two Texas Tribune videos show a public education symposium at Rice University. The symposium was hosted by the Texas Tribune and Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and Hobby Center for the Study of Texas. A separate article discusses statements made at the event.
Texas Tribune
http://bit.ly/129Cqot
TribuneFest: Accountability and student testing
Texas Tribune
http://bit.ly/XjyuvQ
In hunt for roads funds, Texas won’t model Virginia
Texas Tribune (This article also appeared on MyHighPlains.com [Amarillo, Texas], BigCountryHomepage.com [Abilene, Texas] and KTSM.com [El Paso, Texas].)
http://bit.ly/XjyPyr

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

BBC Radio
Edward Djerejian, founding director of Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, appeared on BBC Radio to discuss the Syrian civil war.
https://soundcloud.com/riceuniversity/edward-djerejian-on-bbc-5-live

David McKay
An article remembers NASA scientist David McKay ’58 and notes that he was in the audience for President John F. Kennedy’s 1962 speech at Rice.
The Telegraph (U.K.)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/9900905/David-McKay.html

An example for Alberta in shifting US growth patterns
Rice research showing that Houston has become the most racially and ethnically diverse city in the nation is cited in a column about a Manhattan Institute report.
Calgary Herald (Canada)
http://bit.ly/Woeprk

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Scientists use magnetic levitation to grow lung tissue
In a development that could lead to faster and more effective toxicity tests for airborne chemicals, scientists from Rice University and the Rice spinoff company Nano3D Biosciences have used magnetic levitation to grow some of the most realistic lung tissue ever produced in a laboratory. Thomas Killian, professor of physics and astronomy; Jane Grande-Allen, associate professor of bioengineering; and Hubert Tseng, a graduate student in bioengineering, are quoted.
Texas Medical Center News
http://bit.ly/ZMwaS0

Health care industry experts want more medical pricing transparency
Vivian Ho, the James A. Baker III Institute Chair in Health Economics at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and professor of economics, is quoted in an article about transparency in medical pricing practices.
Houston Business Journal
http://bit.ly/YDYBut

Odd and obvious Texas symbols
An article about Texas’ official symbols mentions a 1997 attempt by State Rep. Scott Hochberg ’75 to make the buckyball, discovered at Rice, the official state molecule.
Houston Chronicle (subscription required)
http://bit.ly/VSvp6m

Underrated education: More surprise Texas schools added to national overlooked colleges list
Rice appeared on the Daily Beast’s "Amazing but Overlooked" list.
Culturemap.com
http://bit.ly/145mIG3

Rice study suggest gay marriage ban affects health of same-sex couples
Same-sex couples who live together have worse health than married opposite-sex couples and similar health as opposite-sex couples who are living together (after adjusting for socio-economic differences), according to a new study from researchers at Rice University. Justin Denney, assistant professor of sociology, is quoted.
KTRH.com (This article also appeared on Sunny99.com.)
http://bit.ly/ZEwtKW
Married heterosexual couples are healthier than unmarried gay couples
NewsFixNow.com
http://bit.ly/XJgGbn

Houston Global Health Collaborative launches first conference March 22-23
Elias Bongmba, the Harry and Hazel Chavanne Chair in Christian Theology and professor of religious studies, is mentioned in an article about the Houston Global Health Collaborative.
Texas Medical Center News
http://bit.ly/13sNgVT

Intrafaith panel discusses peaceful Islamic futures
An article discusses a panel on the future of Islam at an event sponsored by Rice University’s Boniuk Center for the Study and Advancement of Religious Tolerance.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/YKvdH1

Ashok Rao re-elected chairman of TiE Global
Ashok Rao, chairman and chief executive officer of the technology startup Whodini Inc., has been re-elected chairman of the TiE Global Board of Trustees. The article notes that Rao is a member of the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business’ Council of Overseers.
IndoAmerican-News.com
http://www.indoamerican-news.com/archives/14920

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Nanotube detector a promising optoelectronic device
A nanotube-based photodetector that gathers light in and beyond visible wavelengths promises to make possible a unique set of optoelectronic devices, solar cells and maybe even specialized cameras. Junichiro Kono, professor in electrical and computer engineering and in physics and astronomy, is quoted. Robert Hauge, distinguished faculty fellow in chemistry, is mentioned.
Photonics.com
http://photonics.com/Article.aspx?AID=53156

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Some Texas Democrats seek regulations for gun shows in Fort Worth
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 about a push to add regulations on gun shows held at city facilities in Fort Worth, Texas.
Bellingham Herald (Wash.)
http://bit.ly/VSy67V

How about a new American dream instead ?
An op-ed about the American dream cites President John F. Kennedy’s 1962 speech at Rice.
TheModerateVoice.com
http://bit.ly/Z0wzdz

Oscars illustrate Hollywood’s gender age gap
An article about the age and gender gaps in the Academy Awards cites research by a former Rice postdoctoral fellow in sociology.
Deseret News (Utah)
http://bit.ly/Wp66eY

Candace Bushnell dishes on ‘The Carrie Diaries’
An article discussing the career of "Sex and the City" author Candace Bushnell mentions that she once attended Rice.
Connecticut Post (This article also appeared in the Greenwich Time and the Danbury News-Times.)
http://bit.ly/15VYFNA

SPORTS

Women’s college basketball: UH, A&M fall; Rice wins
An article recaps a women’s basketball game between Rice and the University of Texas at El Paso.
Houston Chronicle (subscription required)
http://bit.ly/YO5uO5
UTEP women’s basketball: Miners lose close one to Rice
El Paso Times (Texas) (Coverage of this game also appeared on Examiner.com and UTEPProspector.com.)
http://bit.ly/YO1bCm

‘Dogs suffer 4-3 loss to Rice
An article recaps a men’s tennis match between Rice and Fresno State University.
TheMWC.com
http://www.themwc.com/sports/m-tennis/recaps/022813aab.html

Astros Foundation College Classic teams at a glance
Rice is mentioned in articles about the Astros Foundation College Classic.
Houston Chronicle (subscription required)
http://bit.ly/1490anO
It’s all about consistency for UH pitcher Pruitt
Houston Chronicle (subscription required)
http://bit.ly/VSthLV
Aggies make seventh appearance at Astros tournament
KBTX.com (Bryan/College Station, Texas) (Similar articles appeared on BaylorLariat.com and BaylorBears.com.)
http://bit.ly/148VwGz

KETK-TV (Tyler, Texas)
A story discusses former Rice standout Lance Berkman’s career in baseball.
http://bit.ly/Wlwg1K

NEWS RELEASE

Modified bacteria turn waste into fat for fuel
"Green" chemistry developed at Rice University is at the center of a new government effort to turn plant waste into fatty acids, and then into fuel.
https://news2.rice.edu/?p=41148

Numbers tell the story in Medicaid expansion debate, Baker Institute expert says
As the Texas Legislature and Gov. Rick Perry consider whether to accept the billions of dollars available to the state to expand Medicaid coverage in Texas, a health care expert at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy advocates that decision-makers should look at the hard numbers and not let rhetoric get in the way of covering 1.5 million uninsured Texans.
https://news2.rice.edu/?p=41198