Dateline Rice for Nov. 6, 2013

FEATURED ITEMS

Rice University political scientists are quoted in two front-page stories in today’s Houston Chronicle:

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 in articles about Tuesday’s local elections and President Obama’s fundraising efforts in Texas.
Parker sails to 3rd term as mayor
The Houston Chronicle (This article appeared on the front page. Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/17bz86M
The wonk whips ‘the futurist’
The Houston Chronicle (This column was the top story in the City and State section.)
http://bit.ly/1bbBApL
Houston mayoral race down to the wire
Click2Houston.com
http://bit.ly/17aRs02
KTSA
http://bit.ly/1aFdNUe

Robert Stein, the Lena Gohlman Fox Professor of Political Science, is quoted in articles about Tuesday’s local elections.
Astrodome’s future bleak after voters reject bond
The Houston Chronicle (This article appeared on the front page. Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1a7OQhk
The wonk whips ‘the futurist’
The Houston Chronicle (This column was the top story in the City and State section.)
http://bit.ly/1bbBApL
Mayor’s race, Astrodome lure balloters to the polls
The Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/18YPgmE
Voters to decide fate of Houston Astrodome
King5.com (This article also appeared in NWCN.com.)
http://bit.ly/1hj2XXD

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Why India’s Mars mission is so much cheaper than NASA’s
David Alexander, director of the Rice Space Institute and professor of physics and astronomy, is quoted in a recent article about the costs of India’s Mars mission compared to those of America’ Mars mission and interviewed in a feature about the Dream Chaser commercial spacecraft.
NPR.org
http://n.pr/1hMxkDr
KPNR 88.9
http://bit.ly/1ekmViz

Grant puts Buffalo at center of laser research
Rice is one of the partners in the new BioXFEL research center established at the University of Buffalo to develop X-ray laser technology for health care applications.
The Buffalo News
http://bit.ly/17MDUGn
UWM physicists win prestigious National Science Foundation grant
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
http://bit.ly/1aFhIQK

Once a fraud, now a masterpiece
An article describes how X-ray image analysis techniques developed by Don Johnson, the J.S. Abercrombie Professor Emeritus of Electrical and Computer Engineering and professor of statistics, were used to authenticate the recently discovered Van Gogh painting “Sunset at Montmajour.”
The Christian Science Monitor
http://bit.ly/HzG8im

Will the Astrodome survive today’s referendum?
A poll conducted by Rice University is cited in an article about the fate of the Astrodome.
TheAtlanticCities.com
http://bit.ly/1iMKFcx

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Rice University establishes new materials science and nanotechnology department
Rice University has created a new academic department to build upon its reputation as a recognized leader in materials science and nanotechnology research. Department chairman Pulickel Ajayan, the Benjamin M. and Mary Greenwood Anderson Professor in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, is interviewed in both articles. Rice President David Leebron and Edwin “Ned” Thomas, the William and Stephanie Sick Dean of the George R. Brown School of Engineering, are also quoted in the Nanowerk article.
Houston Business Journal
http://bit.ly/17EPfdP
Rice establishes Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering
NanoWerk.com
http://bit.ly/1bbkp7Q
Rice creates new department to highlight nanotech revolution
KUHF.org
http://bit.ly/1aEU4Uw

HCC-Northwest plans science institute
Rice’s Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen is mentioned as one of the inspirations for the design of the Houston Community College’s new science institute.
The Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1dNJ9GQ

The most romantic house ever: Historic lovebirds nest comes with a cursed chandelier
Rice’s Woodson Research Center is mentioned in an article about a new exhibition, “Rienzi Begins: Architect John F. Staub and the Mastersons,” at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston’s Rienzi House museum.
CultureMapHouston.com
http://bit.ly/1bbmaBV

Space health innovation challenge
Events scheduled for the Space Health Innovation Challenge taking place at Rice’s BioScience Research Collaborative Jan. 24-26 are previewed.
BioNews-Texas.com
http://bit.ly/HwRzqD

UT School of Architecture snags high national rank
The Rice School of Architecture ranks No. 3 for top undergraduate program and No. 5 for top graduate program, as compiled by the Greenway Group, according to the Architectural Record and DesignIntelligence.
Austin Business Journal
http://bit.ly/HGwkUc
America’s best architecture schools 2014
DesignIntelligence.com
http://bit.ly/1ekFbbu

OTC interns gain valuable insight with cross training
Rice alumna Elizabeth Fudge ’12 is mentioned as one of six interns from the U.S. Army Operational Test Command program that will make them eligible for full-time employment with the Department of Defense.
The Fort Hood Herald
http://bit.ly/1ekO1Gn

Your weekly guide to Houston: 5 (plus) don’t-miss events – with beer
An article mentions that the Rice Media Center will be one of the hosts for the Houston Cinema Arts Festival 2013. Also mentioned is this Saturday’s “Club Berlin” event, benefiting Rice’s Baker Institute.
CultureMapHouston.com
http://bit.ly/Hx6VeT

Texas Faith: Who would be your Texan of the Year?
Rice alumnus Larry McMurtry ’60 is nominated for the Dallas Morning News’ “Texan of the Year.”
The Dallas Morning News
http://dallasne.ws/1cEp2xG

BROADCAST/WEBCAST

KTRK-TV
The Rice Farmers Market is featured in a segment. (Note: The market is open from 3:30pm to 6:30pm. We have asked Channel 13 to correct the times reported in the video.)
http://bit.ly/1fjZkvZ
Find quality healthy foods and treats at Rice University
ABClocalgo.com
http://bit.ly/1bbgNT2

KRIV-TV
Haejin Koh, associate director of the Chao Center for Asian Studies, talks about the Center’s Asian American Archive on this segment of “Asian Connection.”
http://bit.ly/1bbtSvE

KLIF-AM
A recent Rice study showing how social relationships and social economic status affect life expectancy is discussed.
http://bit.ly/1iMYhEX

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Polio re-emerges in civil war-torn Syria
Peter Hotez, a fellow in disease and poverty at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted in an article about a polio outbreak in Syria’s Deir Al Zour province.
BioNews-Texas.com
http://bit.ly/HJwd9n

Robbed! Healthcare team loses WSJ competition to energy startup
An article mentions Rice alumni Robert Kester ’11 and Allison Lami Sawyer ’10, whose company, Rebellion Photonics, has been named the Wall Street Journal’s “Startup of the Year.”
MedCityNews.com
http://bit.ly/1bYiZ21

Business school profile: Jones School of Business at Rice University
An article profiles Rice’s Jones School of Business. Rice alumnus Mitch Bainwol ’83 is mentioned.
GmatClub.com
http://bit.ly/177YEEM

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

The AstroCritic: ‘Ender’s Game’
Astronaut Leroy Chiao, lecturer in mechanical engineering and materials science, examines the futuristic technology featured in the new science fiction movie “Ender’s Game.”
Space.com (This article also appeared in the Albuquerque Express and the Malayasian Sun.)
http://bit.ly/1a7zppk

The best places to network in the oil and gas industry
Rice is mentioned in an article about the best oil-and-gas-related networking opportunities.
Fuelfix.com
http://bit.ly/16Gdoh8

Join us in congratulating John Killough on his distinguished achievements
Rice alumnus John Killough ’71 has been awarded the 2013 Reservoir Description and Dynamics Award by the Society of Petroleum Engineers.
SPE Technology Updates
http://bit.ly/1cE8mXa

As Duke’s WXDU turns 30, the area’s college rock outlets fight for relevance amid online competition
Rice is mentioned in an article about the state of college radio.
Indy Week
http://bit.ly/17bgKLn

Roger Olson presents T.B. Maston Lecture
Rice alumnus Roger Olson ’82 will present a T.B. Maston Lecture entitled “Sin Boldly: Christian Ethics for a Broken World” at Baylor University’s George W. Truett Theological Seminary today.
Baylor University
http://bit.ly/1bbveGU

WKU forensics team wins largest tourney of fall semester
Rice was one of the schools competing in the 66th annual L.E. Norton Memorial Tournament hosted by Bradley University.
Surfky.com
http://bit.ly/HzF26g

SPORTS

CC women’s soccer heads into C-USA tournament with title in sight
Rice is mentioned as host of the 2013 Conference USA Women’s Soccer Championships.
The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
http://bit.ly/1aEQeLh.
UTEP soccer to face East Carolina in C-USA tournament
KTSM.com (This article also appeared in KDBC.com.)
http://bit.ly/17Mu1bN

NEWS RELEASE

Rice to help bring smallest structures to light
Rice University will help probe the structure of ever-smaller molecules as part of a new National Science Foundation consortium that was announced today. Rice researchers led by George Phillips, the Ralph and Dorothy Looney Professor of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, expect to receive $1.25 million through the new BioXFEL center to create algorithms that sort out the flood of data provided by new X-ray laser crystallography techniques.
http://bit.ly/1ekW71v