Dateline Rice for Dec. 19, 2013

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Car paint with graphene gets ice off radar domes
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 in articles about the practical application of graphene nanoribbons and graphene in oil exploration.
Futurity
http://bit.ly/18AXyax
Graphene nanoribbons an ice-melting coat for radar
Science Daily (This article also appeared on Environmental Research Web, India Everyday, Computer World Australia, TechWorld Australia, Australian Reseller News, Computer World Norge, Linux World and Computer World UK.)
http://bit.ly/1hnYdN5

NASA schedules a series of dangerous spacewalks to repair the International Space Station
David Alexander, director of the Rice Space Institute and professor of physics and astronomy, comments on a malfunctioning cooling pump on the International Space Station.
ABC News
http://abcn.ws/1kVVSc5
NASA officials explain emergency spacewalk plans
ABC News
http://abcn.ws/1bQiO73
WPTA-TV (Fort Wayne, Ind.)
(This interview also aired on WUTR-TV [Utica, N.Y.].)
http://tinyurl.com/k6jnjef

The lost art of Mom’s retro hairdo
An article on retro hairstyles features the coiffure worn by alumna Betty Hoevel ’71 that is captured on her Rice student ID.
CNN (This article also appeared on WYFF-TV, KIFI-TV, CNNMoney, KESQ-TV, KHBS-TV, KOAT-TV, WCTI-TV, KRCR-TV, WJTX-TV, Channel 4000 and WDSU-TV.)
http://cnn.it/1dRGGKw

US racial gap widens, prospects for reconciliation dim
A column on race relations in the U.S. cites Rice research conducted in 2006 by Michael Emerson, the Allyn and Gladys Cline Professor of Sociology and co-director of Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research.
Huffington Post
http://huff.to/19V49HS

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Spanish-speaking candidates have political advantage
Mark Jones, the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies, professor and chair of political science and fellow in political science at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, said the ability to speak Spanish gives candidates a clear political edge with the fractured Hispanic voting bloc regardless of political affiliation, especially with first- and second-generation Americans.
Texas Tribune
http://bit.ly/1beMdI6

Scholar named president of new Episcopal Health Foundation
The Episcopal Diocese of Texas named Elena Marks, scholar in health policy at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, president and CEO of its newly formed Episcopal Health Foundation.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1kY9e7y
Newly formed Episcopal Health Foundation adds president, CEO
Houston Business Journal
http://bit.ly/1cTyc7b

Unapologetic energy: Houston musician wins a major international award
A profile of Houston-based performer/composer Kris Becker ’07 mentions that he dedicated one of his pieces, “Piano Sonata No. 1,” to his former teacher Robert Roux, chair of keyboard and professor of piano at Rice’s Shepherd School of Music.
Culture Map
http://bit.ly/19f6bbt

Cult favorites ‘China Beach’ and ‘Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman’ now on DVD
The television “China Beach,” which was co-created by Rice alumnus William Broyles ’66, is now available on DVD.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1ho9U68

Roy Walter Cox, age 79, died Saturday
Alumnus Roy Cox ’57 died Dec. 14.
Temple Daily Telegram (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1kYaW8X

BROADCAST

KRIV-TV
A segment on a new TIRR Memorial Hermann facility mentioned a robot arm used there for rehabilitation that was designed by collaborators at Rice University.
http://tinyurl.com/myykfl4

KRIV-TV
Head football coach David Bailiff has been named as one of five finalists for the Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Award. Bailiff comments on the honor.
http://tinyurl.com/mdc5gnp

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Open textbooks catching on in higher ed
Several institutions are making a new push to provide students with free or very low-cost textbooks. Rice’s OpenStax College and Connexions are mentioned.
University Business
http://bit.ly/1gIusJ5

Graphene sticky notes may offer 32GB capacity you can write on
A startup company hopes to launch a new consumer data storage product that uses film-thin, graphene-based flash drives that users can make notations on and then stick anywhere like a sticky note. Rice research is mentioned.
Computer World
http://bit.ly/1fpoNE7

Yale anthropologist’s research inspires modern art
Rice’s Chao Center of Asian Studies is mentioned in an article about Vietnamese artist Tiffany Chung.
India Education Diary
http://bit.ly/1klY4Mo

Resistant wastewater
Tests at two wastewater treatment plants in northern China revealed antibiotic-resistant bacteria were not only escaping purification but also breeding and spreading their dangerous cargo. Pedro Alvarez, the George R. Brown Professor and chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, is quoted.
The Scientist
http://bit.ly/1bRm1mM
Chinese sewage is feeding superbugs that no antibiotic can kill
Quartz
http://bit.ly/1gIt4X5

Low power FM in Texas: The next wave
An article on applications to start low-power FM stations in Texas mentions Rice.
Radio Survivor
http://bit.ly/1dREVNs

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

McMurry University to award degrees to 53 students at 2013 Fall Commencement
Alumnus Philip LeMasters ’87 will be the featured speaker at McMurry University’s fall commencement ceremony.
McMurray University News
http://bit.ly/19Ap2vE

SPORTS

Preparations are underway for the Rice-Mississippi State Liberty Bowl Dec. 31.
MSU defensive line has ‘good mindset’
Starkville Daily News
http://www.starkvilledailynews.com/node/16025
WMC-TV (Memphis, Tenn.)
http://tinyurl.com/kqpydvw
WHBQ-TV (Memphis, Tenn.)
http://tinyurl.com/pw2jphs
WPTY-TV (Memphis, Tenn.)
http://tinyurl.com/ngzxjjl

Rice men’s basketball hosts School House Mania on Thursday
Despite an unconventional 11:30 a.m. start time for today’s men’s basketball game against Northwood, Rice University’s Tudor Fieldhouse will be packed with roughly 4,000 students from more than 20 local elementary schools for the first “School House Mania.”
The Rancher (This article also ran in the Sugar Land Sun, Bellaire Examiner and Memorial Examiner.)
http://bit.ly/1eqEfDt

Luke Willson was a steal for the Seahawks
Alumnus Luke Willson ’12 is profiled for his career with the Seattle Seahawks.
ESPN
http://es.pn/1fplKfa

With an overscheduled 2014 season, Aggies look for resolution with road contest vs. Rice
The New Mexico State Aggies currently hold a 13-game schedule for the 2014 season – one more than the standard college football schedule – and are working on a resolution with Rice pertaining to the two teams’ contest in Houston next year.
Las Cruces Sun
http://bit.ly/JGEZpX

Hoops star Matt Tate from Greens Farms in Westport makes college choice
A story on a high school athlete mentions Rice.
West Port Daily Voice
http://bit.ly/1cTAovx

Heisman winner Jameis Winston is dating girlfriend Breion Allen
An article on Heisman winner Jameis Winston mentions Rice women’s basketball player Breion Allen.
Zimbio
http://bit.ly/19Aoxla

5 stylemakers at the top of their game
Alumnus Ameer Jumabhoy ’13, an international polo player, is profiled.
Paper City
http://bit.ly/1dRXWj2