Dateline Rice for July 25, 2013

FEATURED ITEM

America’s top colleges 2013
Rice is No. 33 on Forbes Top Colleges ranking. The article also notes that the best known massive open courses were created at top colleges, including Rice.
Forbes.com
http://onforb.es/165auRY

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Kuwait’s ruling emir puts diplomacy first
Kristian Ulrichsen, a fellow for Kuwait at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted in an article about Kuwait’s 84-year-old hereditary emir, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah.
Reuters (This article appeared in five other publications.)
http://reut.rs/14LfNY1

The 25 healthiest colleges in the United States
Rice is mentioned in an article about the healthiest colleges in the U.S.
Boston.com
http://bo.st/1dXfUzr

44 rescued from Gulf rig after natural gas blowout
Ken Medlock, the James A. Baker III and Susan Baker Fellow in Energy and Resource Economics at Rice University’s Baker Institute, senior director of the Center for Energy Studies and adjunct assistant professor in economics, is quoted an article about a fire on an offshore drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico.
The New Zealand Herald (This Associated Press article appeared in 18 other publications.)
http://bit.ly/15MuFSM
Authorities see no sheen near burning Gulf rig
KTRK (This Associated Press story appeared in more than 30 other publications.)
http://bit.ly/137AxaI
Gas well in the Gulf continues to burn
Yahoo! (This Associated Press article appeared in more than 100 publications.)
http://yhoo.it/137BwHQ

The ex-presidents club: Lots of life left after White House
Douglas Brinkley, professor of history and fellow in history at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted in an article on U.S. presidents and the lives they lead after leaving office.
The Dispatch (Starkville, Miss.) (This article appeared in five other publications.)
http://bit.ly/17FEMdh

Rare agreement on need to rein in surveillance
An improbable, right-left coalition has emerged on Capitol Hill to force the Justice Department and the National Security Agency to consider changes to the once-secret collection of ordinary Americans’ telephone calling information as part of anti-terrorism efforts. 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.
Albany Times Union
http://bit.ly/11ghOs7

HOUSTON/TEXAS

QFest Houston celebrates ‘P.D.A.’ and other displays
QFest, the city’s annual festival dedicated to big-screen representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, boasts 60 films in 30 programs at nine venues, including Rice Cinema. Upcoming screenings at Rice Cinema are listed.
Chron.com
http://bit.ly/1aJbSuy

BROADCAST/WEBCAST

PNAS Science Sessions
Janet Braam, professor and chair of biochemistry and cell biology, discusses her research on vegetables’ “internal clocks.” The research earned the Proceedings of the National Acadamy of Science’s 2012 Cozzarelli Prize.
Science360 Radio
http://1.usa.gov/14992sP

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Carbon fiber and graphene: Two great tastes that taste great (and become even stronger) together
Graduate student Changsheng Xiang is quoted in a story about graphene oxide flakes.
Core77.com
http://bit.ly/18DpwlR

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Off-grid sterilization with Rice’s ‘solar steam’
Naomi Halas, the Stanley C. Moore Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering and director of Rice’s Laboratory for Nanophotonics and professor of physics and astronomy, chemistry and biomedical engineering; Peter Nordlander, professor of physics and astronomy and in electrical and computer engineering; and Rice graduate student Oara Neumann are mentioned in an article about a solar-powered autoclave.
Green Building Elements
http://bit.ly/13cY32d
Solar steam — off-grid solar-powered sterilization system created
Clean Technica
http://bit.ly/143nrqq
Solar-powered sterilization technology to solve sanitation problem
EcoSeed
http://bit.ly/16ZvFSG
Nanotechnology researchers have unveiled a solar powered sterilization system
nanoMAN.com
http://bit.ly/145iZaM

New clues illuminate Alzheimer’s roots
Scientists at Rice University and the University of Miami have figured out how synthetic molecules designed at Rice latch onto the amyloid peptide fibrils thought to be responsible for Alzheimer’s disease.
Domain B
http://bit.ly/149njpn

SPORTS

Rice expects to build on sizzling end to 2012 football season
Rice is riding a five-game winning streak and a crest of optimism heading into a season-opening matchup with nationally ranked Texas A&M and the reigning Heisman Trophy winner.
Houston Chronicle
http://www.chron.com/sports/rice/article/Rice-expects-to-build-on-sizzling-end-to-2012-4685370.php

UFV pre-season hoops action
The University of the Fraser Valley opens its men’s basketball exhibition season Aug. 1 against the Rice University Owls.
Abbotsford Mission Times (British Columbia)
http://www.abbotsfordtimes.com/sports/season+hoops+action/8704496/story.html
Cascades hoopsters to host NCAA’s Rice Owls next week
Abbey News
http://www.abbynews.com/sports/216779441.html

Willson braces for first training camp
An article reports on Seattle Seahawk and former Rice football player Luke Willson.
The Windsor Star (Ontario)
http://www.windsorstar.com/sports/Willson+braces+first+training+camp/8699676/story.html

Martin Nwakamma commits to Rice
A high school student has verbally committed to play for Rice.
Statesman.com
http://bit.ly/13dSkJC