Dateline Rice for Oct. 15, 2013

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Reinforcing US Middle East policy
Edward Djerejian, founding director of Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, authored this op-ed about the Middle East and U.S. foreign policy.
Aljazeera
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013/10/reinforcing-us-middle-east-policy-2013101113433426664.html

HOUSTON/TEXAS

UH nanotechnology spinoff means business
An article about a nanotechnology product and spinoff companies from research universities mentions Rice as having dominated in the field of nanotechnology. Andrew Barron, the Charles W. Duncan Jr.-Welch Professor of Chemistry and professor of materials science, is quoted; the late Richard Smalley and Robert Curl, University Professor Emeritus and the Kenneth S. Pitzer-Schlumberger Professor Emeritus of Natural Sciences, are mentioned.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required) (This story appeared on the front page of the Houston Chronicle.)
http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/energy/article/UH-nanotechnology-spinoff-means-business-4895576.php
University puts first nanotechnology product to the test
Fuelfix.com
http://fuelfix.com/blog/2013/10/15/an-amusing-little-wine-trick-helps-sell-tiny-uh-product/

Hospitals shedding jobs
Hospitals are cutting thousands of jobs, just as the nation prepares for Obamacare to kick in. Vivian Ho, the chair in health economics at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, a professor of economics at Rice and a professor of medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, is quoted.
KTRH.com
http://www.ktrh.com/articles/houston-news-121300/hospitals-shedding-jobs-11738134/

Poll: Texans support legalizing marijuana
A majority of Texas voters would like to see the state go the way of Washington and Colorado and legalize possession of marijuana, according to a new poll conducted by Public Policy Polling for the Marijuana Policy Project. Nathan Jones, the Alfred C. Glassell III Postdoctoral Fellow in Drug Policy at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
San Antonio Express-News
http://www.mysanantonio.com/life/healthzone/article/Poll-Texans-support-legalizing-marijuana-4894888.php

Health care and the millennials
An article annouces a panel discussion on the challenges and opportunities in health care for the millennial generation to be held at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy Nov. 1. The article mentions health economist Vivian Ho as a panelist.
Texas Tribune
http://www.texastribune.org/events/2013/nov/01/health-care-and-the-millennials/

Climate scientists predict a Texas drought ‘worse than we imagined’ and a changing coast
Thousands of the world’s climate scientists have concluded that the warming identified in the atmosphere and in the oceans is primarily driven by humans, with a degree of confidence similar to the connection identified between smoking and lung cancer. The forecast is the same, but more specific: a warmer climate, more heat waves, a rising sea level, more heavy precipitation events and, in Texas and much of the central U.S., a tendency toward dry conditions. John Anderson, the W. Maurice Ewing Chair in Oceanography, professor of Earth science and academic director of Rice’s Shell Center for Sustainability, is mentioned.
Dallas Observer
http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2013/10/climate_scientists_predict_a_t.php

BROADCAST/WEBCAST

KPRC-TV
Ron Sass, the Harry C. and Olga Keith Wiess Professor Emeritus of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, is quoted in a story about the drought in Texas.
http://tinyurl.com/m4lwsxp

‘Houston Matters’
Mark Jones, the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies, professor and chair of political science and fellow in political science, discusses the Houston mayoral race.
KUHF-FM
http://www.houstonmatters.org/show/2013/10/14/houston-matters-for-monday-october-14-2013

KHOU-TV
Rice University’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) program is No. 3 for best-administered MBA programs (up from No. 8 last year) in the U.S. and is No. 8 for best professors, according to new rankings from the Princeton Review.
http://tinyurl.com/mzpvoko
Texas Cable News
http://tinyurl.com/lh3r69h

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Nanophotonics researchers honored with 2014 Frank Isakson Prize 
The American Physical Society (APS) has awarded Rice University researchers Naomi Halas and Peter Nordlander the 2014 Frank Isakson Prize for Optical Effects in Solids in recognition of their groundbreaking research in nanophotonics.
AZoNano.com
http://www.azonano.com/news.aspx?newsID=28502
Halas, Nordlander recognized for pioneering nanophotonics research
Nanowerk
http://www.nanowerk.com/news2/newsid=32736.php

Mix of graphene nanoribbons, polymer has potential for cars, soda, beer
A discovery at Rice aims to make vehicles that run on compressed natural gas more practical. It might also prolong the shelf life of bottled beer and soda. James Tour, the T.T. and W.F. Chao Chair in Chemistry and professor of mechanical engineering and materials science and of computer science, is quoted; Rice graduate student Changsheng Xiang is mentioned.
Space Daily
http://tinyurl.com/ljea3cl
Mixture of graphene nanoribbons, polymer to benefit cars, soda and beer
World Industrial Reporter
http://www.worldindustrialreporter.com/mixture-of-graphene-nanoribbons-polymer-to-benefit-cars-soda-and-beer/

Carbyne: The new world’s strongest material?
A material called carbyne could be stronger even than graphene or diamond, according to Rice researchers who have calculated its properties. Boris Yakobson, the Karl F. Hasselmann Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, professor of chemistry and member of the Richard E. Smalley Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, and postdoctoral researcher Vasilii Artyukhov are quoted.
Gizmag
http://www.gizmag.com/carbyne-properties/29393/
Carbyne material is ‘world’s strongest’
Eureka
http://www.eurekamagazine.co.uk/design-engineering-news/carbyne-material-is-worlds-strongest/56965/
Carbon’s new champion
Space Daily
http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Carbons_new_champion_999.html

Rice scientists create a super antioxidant
Scientists at Rice University are enhancing the natural antioxidant properties of an element found in a car’s catalytic converter to make it useful for medical applications. Vicki Colvin, the Kenneth S. Pitzer-Schlumberger Professor of Chemistry, vice provost for research and professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, is quoted.
Health Canal
http://www.healthcanal.com/medical-breakthroughs/43888-rice-scientists-create-a-super-antioxidant.html

Clues to foam formation could help find oil
Scientists have uncovered two new ways bubbles form in foam, a finding that could help engineers extract every last drop from an oil reservoir. Lisa Biswal, associate professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, and George Hirasaki, research professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, are quoted.
Space Daily
http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Clues_to_foam_formation_could_help_find_oil_999.html
Clues to foam formation could help EOR
World Oil Online
http://www.worldoil.com/Clues_to_foam_formation_could_help_EOR.html

‘White graphene’ halts rust in high temps
Rice researchers have discovered that nano-thin films of hexagonal boron nitride – also called “white graphene” – protect materials from oxidizing. Pulickel Ajayan, the Benjamin M. and Mary Greenwood Anderson Professor in Engineering and professor of mechanical engineering and materials science, of chemistry and of chemical and biomolecular engineering, and Jun Lou, associate professor of mechanical engineering and materials science, are quoted.
Space Daily
http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/White_graphene_halts_rust_in_high_temps_999.html

Typhus returns to Texas; Dr. Peter Hotez highlights appearance of NTDs
Peter Hotez, fellow in disease and poverty at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted in this article on the comeback recently of murine typhus in Texas.
BioNews Texas
http://bionews-tx.com/news/2013/10/14/typhus-returns-texas-dr-peter-hotez-highlights-appearance-ntds/

‘Artificial nose’ can sniff out solvent gases
Rice University researchers combined a common mineral, zeolite, with a metallic compound based on rhenium to make an “artificial nose” that can sniff out solvent gases. Angel Martí, assistant professor of chemistry and bioengineering, is quoted.
Medical News Today
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/267340.php

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Four finalists named in UGA provost search
Rice alumna Kimberly Andrews Espy is named as a finalist in the University of Georgia’s search for senior vice president for academic affairs and provost.
Athens Herald-Banner (Georgia) (This item also appeared in UGA Today, Athens Patch, Oconee Patch and WSB-TV online.)
http://onlineathens.com/uga/2013-10-14/four-finalists-named-uga-provost-search

SPORTS

This week in New Mexico State athletics
An article previews an upcoming football game between Rice and the New Mexico State Aggies.
KTSM.com
http://www.ktsm.com/sports/new-mexico-state/week-new-mexico-state-athletics-1
UTEP football: Aaron Jones could return after injury
El Paso Times
http://www.elpasotimes.com/sports/ci_24310699/utep-football-jones-could-return-after-injury

KVIA-TV (El Paso, Texas)
A story talks about how New Mexico State University will be wearing pink uniforms when they play Rice in football Saturday.
http://tinyurl.com/nchy5es (Click broadcast)

NEWS RELEASES

Rice scientists create a super antioxidant
Scientists at Rice University are enhancing the natural antioxidant properties of an element found in a car’s catalytic converter to make it useful for medical applications.
https://news2.rice.edu/2013/10/15/rice-scientists-create-a-super-antioxidant-2/

Rice Theatre to present ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ Nov. 6-9
Rice University Theatre will present an outdoor performance of William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in the university’s Founder’s Court. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 6-9. Admission is free.
https://news2.rice.edu/2013/10/14/rice-theatre-to-present-a-midsummer-nights-dream-nov-6-9/

US Rep. Gutierrez to discuss hopes for immigration reform bill at Rice Oct. 21
U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., will speak at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy Oct. 21 on his views about the immigration reform bill currently stalled in Congress and how his life, traced in his recently published memoir, has been affected by the nation’s immigration system. The public event is hosted by the Baker Institute’s Mexico Center, Rice University Office of Public Affairs’ Multicultural Community Relations and Jane Moser Presents.
https://news2.rice.edu/2013/10/14/us-rep-gutierrez-to-discuss-hopes-for-immigration-reform-bill-at-rice-oct-21-2/