Dateline Rice for Nov. 19, 2013

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Most popular MOOCs revealed
Rice’s “An Introduction to Interactive Programming in Python” is reported to be the highest rated “massive open online course,” or MOOC, according to the site Coursetalk.com, which reviews and rates online courses.
TheAustralian.com.au (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/18kEGdR

Optimizing electronic correlations for superconductivity
Rice physicist Qimiao Si, the Harry C. and Olga K. Wiess Professor of Physics and Astronomy, is quoted in an article about his recent experiments investigating the superconducting properties of iron based compounds.
Phys.org
http://bit.ly/1cF6OaT
Researchers discover new mechanism optimizing electronic correlations for superconductivity
World Industrial Reporter
http://bit.ly/17IsRdH
US, Chinese scientists’ discovery may help find new superconductors
New Europe (This article also appeared in Philippines Today.)
http://bit.ly/18lcacg

American promise
President John F. Kennedy’s 1962 speech at Rice is mentioned.
The Huffington Post
http://huff.to/IepvbN
What we can learn from JFK’s leadership
CNNWorld.com
http://cnn.it/1apGKSt
Videos: President John F. Kennedy
CitizensVoice.com
http://bit.ly/1hUQo57

HOUSTON/TEXAS

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 Texas Gov. Rick Perry, the Young Conservatives of Texas, Tarrant County politics and Harris County District Attorney candidate Kim Ogg.
Catch illegal immigrant game played by UT students
KRIV-TV
http://bit.ly/17kAnyv
KRIV-TV
http://bit.ly/1fSirxt
Tarrant County a battleground for state’s political future
Arlington Voice
http://bit.ly/1dSGXxa
Former prosecutor makes district attorney candidacy official
KUHF-FM
http://bit.ly/1bY31Fu
Same playbook, different field in Rick Perry’s presidential warmup
Austin American-Statesman (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1eg91LL

New statistical tools being developed for mining cancer data
Researchers at Rice University, Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Texas-Austin are working together to create new statistical tools that can find clues about cancer that are hidden like needles in enormous haystacks of raw data. Genevera Allen, the Dobelman Family Junior Chair of Statistics and assistant professor of statistics and electrical and computer engineering, is quoted.
Cypress Creek Mirror
http://bit.ly/1aOWrhI

Bartender at Rice institution Valhalla threatens to cut off alumnus’ necktie
Two articles mention an alumnus who was refused service at Valhalla because he would not remove his necktie to comply with the dress code.
Houstonia 
http://j.mp/19AgMXT 
The Houston Press
http://bit.ly/1hUtomC

Book events: Nov. 18
Poet Sarah Cortez will discuss “Cold Blue Steel” tonight at 6:30 in Fondren Library.
The Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1b5GpWM

Doris Lessing’s Texas connections
Richard Bado, director and professor of opera studies, is quoted in an article about the late author Doris Lessing.
The Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1bMKTQH

New leadership announced for Mustang District
Rachel Miller, assistant dean of the Wiess School of Natural Sciences, is mentioned in an article about the Boy Scouts of America’s Mustang District.
Memorial Examiner
http://bit.ly/Iew125

BROADCAST/WEBCAST

KTRH-AM
Christopher Bronk, fellow in information technology policy at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is interviewed in a segment about cyberterrorism.
http://bit.ly/17IxXH2

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

4 questions on shale gas development in Europe and the US
Kenneth Medlock III, the James A. Baker III and Susan Baker Fellow in Energy and Resource Economics at the Baker Institute, senior director of the Center for Energy Studies at the Baker Institute and lecturer on economics, is mentioned in an article about the differences between shale gas development in Europe and the U.S.
The Brookings Institution
http://bit.ly/1apEoCY

Clotting protein hardens aging hearts
A team of Rice researchers has discovered a link between the protein known as von Willebrand factor and heart-valve calcium deposits. Jane Grande-Allen, professor of bioengineering; graduate student Liezl Balaoing; and Joel Moake, research scientist, are mentioned.
ThirdAge.com
http://bit.ly/1fcQLpI

Archer Exploration Limited reports graphene readily extracted from Campoona graphite
Rice is mentioned an article about the applications of graphene and graphene-related products.
Yahoo!Finance (This article also appeared in 4-Traders.)
http://yhoo.it/17IEO8K

Nano magnets arise at 2-D boundaries
According to a new theory by Rice University scientists, imperfections in certain two-dimensional materials create the conditions by which nanoscale magnetic fields arise. Boris Yakobson, the Karl F. Hasselmann Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science and professor of chemistry, is quoted.
SpaceDaily.com
http://bit.ly/1aOW5Yk

Art on campus
James Turrell’s “Twilight Epiphany” skyscape is one of the pieces discussed in an article about how art can animate and reshape campuses.
The Design Observer (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/Ieoz7i

Visions of the revolution in urban water
Pedro Alvarez, the George R. Brown Professor and chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, is quoted in an article about urban water supplies.
LandscapeOnline.com
http://bit.ly/18MBMLp

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Bun B keeps it trill but loses some energy on ‘Trill OG: The Epilogue’
An article reviews the new release, “Trill OG: The Epilogue,” by Bernard “Bun B” Freeman, the Center for Engaged Research and Collaborative Learning’s Distinguished Lecturer.
XXL.com
http://bit.ly/18MslvH

BDO Consulting expands global forensics
Rice alumnus Jeffrey T. Harfenist ’99 has been appointed managing director of global forensics in BDO Consulting’s Houston location.
The Herald (Rock Hill, S.C. This article also appeared in the Fort Mills Times, Virtual Strategy Magazine and 4-Traders.)
http://bit.ly/17IiDtY

Book review: ‘One Summer’
Douglas Brinkley, professor of history and fellow in history at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is mentioned in a review of Bill Bryson’s book “One Summer.”
BusinessDay.co.za
http://bit.ly/1irxOPP

SPORTS

Rice Owls demolish Louisiana Tech while erasing thoughts of seasons past
An article recaps the Rice vs. Louisiana Tech football game.
The Houston Press
http://bit.ly/1fcZl7H

MTSU set to host conference volleyball tournament
The Rice women’s volleyball team will be one of the teams competing in the Conference USA Volleyball Championships that begins Nov. 21.
The Tennessean
http://tnne.ws/1de9jWl

No. 9 WBB hosts in-state rival Rice
An article previews the Rice vs. Baylor University women’s basketball game.
BaylorBears.com
http://bit.ly/Ieo10Z

Islanders face off against Rice at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the American Bank Center
The Rice vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi men’s basketball game is previewed..
The Corpus Christi Caller
http://bit.ly/I1gJOQ

Outrighted by Rays, Niemann becomes free agent
Rice alumnus Jeff Niemann ’05 is featured in an article about his new status as a free agent.
MLB.com
http://atmlb.com/I15PbQ