Dateline Rice for April 4, 2013

FEATURED ITEMS

Trendy Houston restaurant gets Rice engineering students to develop soap dispenser
Rice University students developed a unique type of soap dispenser using a common kitchen utensil that a downtown Houston restaurant will soon incorporate into its bathrooms. Lovett College sophomore Sarah Hernandez, Sid Richardson College sophomore Marie Hoeger and Duncan College sophomore Josiah Grace are quoted. McMurtry College junior Kayla McCarty and Ann Saterbak, professor in the practice of bioengineering education, are mentioned. This article was promoted on the Houston Chronicle homepage.
Houston Chronicle (This article also appeared in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, the Darien News and the Greater New Milford Spectrum.)
http://bit.ly/10z9hMx

Where are the scientist-advocates and civic-scientists?
Peter Hotez, a fellow in disease and poverty at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, and Neal Lane, the Malcolm Gillis University Professor and senior fellow in science and technology policy at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and a professor of physics and astronomy, authored this op-ed calling for a new generation of scientist-advocates and policy experts.
HuffingtonPost.com
http://huff.to/12hHZgp

Fracking could lead to big profits for some companies
The increased use of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing has dramatically increased the nation’s energy supply and is raising concerns about such issues as water pollution. Private companies are now rushing into the relatively new market for recycling drill site water. Andrew Barron, the Charles W. Duncan Jr.-Welch Professor of Chemistry and professor of materials science, is featured in the article and accompanying video.
Voice of America News
http://bit.ly/10dnxgz

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

The science on same-sex marriage
Research by Jenifer Bratter, associate professor of sociology and program director of Race Scholars at Rice in the Kinder Institute of Urban Research, is cited in an article about studies on same-sex marriage.
Wall Street Journal
http://on.wsj.com/ZAcLxa

Texas by numbers
Research by Steve Murdock, the Allyn and Gladys Cline Professor of Sociology and a former director of the U.S. Census Bureau, is cited in an article about politics in Texas.
The Economist
http://econ.st/12j98mQ

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Houston region may be nation’s most diverse, but congressional delegation isn’t
Despite the region’s diversity, Houston’s congressional delegation remains mostly white. Michael Emerson, the Allyn and Gladys Cline Professor of Sociology and co-director of the Kinder Institute for Urban Research, is quoted.
Houston Chronicle (This article also appeared in the San Antonio Express-News.)
http://bit.ly/16wrbVk

Dayton High School alum excels at Lamar — a Leadership Southeast Texas workshop
Joseph Young, a graduate student in electrical and computer engineering, is mentioned in an article reporting that members of the Leadership Southeast Texas Class of 2013 gathered in Beaumont to hear about Lamar University programs.
Liberty County Vindicator
http://bit.ly/16wYRSP

Cypress local one of 25 Texans competing in 2013 H-E-B Slim Down Showdown
Antondria Pradia, executive administrative assistant in facilities, engineering and planning, is one of 25 Texans competing in the H-E-B Slim Down Showdown this year.
Cypress Creek Mirror (This article also appeared in the Magnolia Potpourri and the Tomball Potpourri.)
http://bit.ly/Xpvnoq

Oak Forest resident, Memorial Hermann Northwest Hospital volunteer recognized for service
Alumnus Charles Cernik ’50 has been named the 2013 Volunteer of the Year by RSVP of the Texas Gulf Coast.
Spring Observer (This article also appeared in the Magnolia Potpourri, the Tomball Potpourri and the Cypress Creek Mirror.)
http://bit.ly/16x0X5k

And even more
Daryl Robinson, a graduate student in music, will perform in Abilene, Texas.
Abilene Reporter-News
http://bit.ly/Z3X4zt

Rap star from Port Arthur works on Houston anti-texting and driving campaign
Houston Mayor Annise Parker enlisted rapper Bun B in launching her anti-texting-while-driving campaign. Rice is mentioned.
KFDM.com
http://www.kfdm.com/shared/news/top-stories/stories/kfdm_vid_4321.shtml

Home to be designated Local Tyler Historical Landmark
A home owned by alumna Shirley Simons ’44 has been approved to receive designation as a Local Tyler Historic Landmark.
Tyler Morning Telegraph
http://www.tylerpaper.com/article/20130404/NEWS08/130409921

BROADCAST/WEBCAST

KPFT-FM
Ric Stoll, the Albert Thomas Professor of Political Science and scholar at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, discussed the escalation of tensions between North and South Korea. The interview begins approximately five minutes into the clip.
http://archive.kpft.org/_pa_dodown.php?id=8435586

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Fighting cancer in 3-D
Researchers at Rice University and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York reported that three-dimensional scaffolds used to culture Ewing’s sarcoma cells were effective at mimicking the environment in which such tumors develop. Antonios Mikos, the Louis Calder Professor of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, is quoted.
Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News
http://bit.ly/Xe1K8u
Porous polymer scaffolds provide great environment to study cancer therapies
MedGadget.com
http://bit.ly/XqTioE
Culturing tumors in 3-D assists cancer drug development
TheEngineer.co.uk
http://bit.ly/16r4hwE

Ribbons of material create better cathode for lithium-ion batteries
Hybrid ribbons thousands of times thinner than a sheet of paper could speed the development of powerful lithium-ion batteries, researchers report. 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, is mentioned.
EcoSeed.org
http://bit.ly/11qVjjT

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

The elephant and the lone star
The message from Barack Obama’s victory in the 2012 election was that Latino America holds the balance of power. But in Texas it seems that Republican minds see things differently. 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.
NewStatesman
http://bit.ly/108nUZN

Minority voters aren’t anti-government
Research by Klineberg is cited in a column about views on the role of government among minorities.
Tucson Sentinel (Ariz.)
http://bit.ly/12gwN7u

Finding graphene’s weaknesses
Graphene, the single-atom-thick form of carbon, has become famous for its extraordinary strength. But less-than-perfect sheets of the material show unexpected weakness, according to researchers at Rice University in Houston and Tsinghua University in Beijing.
OverclockersClub.com
http://www.overclockersclub.com/news/33929/

Chamber music to liven South Church Sunday
Ken Cowan, associate professor of organ, will perform in New Britain, Conn.
Bristol Press (Conn.)
http://bit.ly/10yLxKa

Conductor profile: Cristian Macelaru, Alabama Symphony will test small works in intimate setting
Alumnus Cristian Macelaru ’06 will guest conduct the Alabama Symphony.
Birmingham Times (Ala.)
http://bit.ly/ZAeSBc

SPORTS

College Park grad Simms pitches in Rice win
Articles recap the Rice Owls baseball team’s win over Texas State University.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/14EX9Au
College Park grad Aquino plays in Rice win
UltimateWoodlands.com
http://bit.ly/12g0rK8
Humble Kingwood grad Perrott plays in Rice University win
UltimateKingwood.com
http://bit.ly/10wfQAY
Humble Kingwood grad Perkins plays in Texas State loss
UltimateKingwood.com
http://bit.ly/14ObomZ

Darvish’s devastating form bodes well for Rangers
Former Rice baseball players Lance Berkman and Philip Humber are mentioned in an recaps of a game between the Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers.
Chicago Tribune
http://trib.in/XqdCq3
Astros set record with K ration against Rangers
Houston Chronicle (subscription required) (This article appeared on the front of the Sports section.)
http://bit.ly/13UcKNr
Ogando tries to follow up Darvish’s near perfecto against Astros
FoxNews.com (Similar articles appeared in nearly 100 other media outlets.)
http://fxn.ws/XMJPat
Ogando, 4 relievers combine for 5-hitter as Rangers blank Astros 4-0
Washington Post (This Associated Press article also appeared in USA Today, FoxSports.com, ESPN.com, CBSSports.com, 9News.com [Denver] and nearly 380 other media outlets.)
http://wapo.st/16lWeBj

2013 UTEP soccer schedule unveiled
Rice is mentioned in an article about the University of Texas at El Paso women’s soccer team.
KDBC.com (El Paso, Texas)
http://www.kdbc.com/sports/2013-utep-soccer-schedule-unveiled

Rathjen, an outfielder, a good contact hitter with some power
Alumnus Jeremy Rathjen ’12 is profiled for his career in baseball.
Midland Daily News (Mich.)
http://bit.ly/11rhS86

Mike Burt named new JISD football coach and AD
Alumnus Mike Burt ’85 has been named football coach and athletic director for the Joshua Independent School District.
Cleburne Times-Review (Texas)
http://bit.ly/ZcPad6

NEWS RELEASE

Rice launches look at humanity’s future in space
The Rice Space Institute, Rice University Scientia and Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy will host a Scientia conference titled "Space Exploration and Human Imagination: Space Futures" April 11 and 12 at Baker Hall’s International Conference Facility.
https://news2.rice.edu/?p=42782