Dateline Rice for June 23, 2014 (Weekend Edition)

FEATURED ITEMS

Brasília, a capital city that’s a place apart
Brasília will host Brazil’s final Group C match, against Cameroon, at Estádio Nacional. Farès el-Dahdah, professor of architecture and director of the Humanities Research Center, is quoted.
New York Times
http://nyti.ms/1szf6xj

Top 10 US colleges with the smartest women
The College Prowler section of Niche created a ranking system to determine the top 10 U.S. colleges with the smartest women. Rice is No. 7 on the list.
The Street
http://bit.ly/1uXLOUV

Worth exploring
An editorial advocating for more scientific research on the use of marijuana to treat post-traumatic stress disorder in veterans quotes William Martin, the Harry and Hazel Chavanne Senior Fellow in Religion and Public Policy at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required. This editorial also appeared in Beaumont Enterprise.)
http://bit.ly/1pavZgp

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

It’s frack, baby, frack, as conventional gas drilling declines [Infographic]
Natural gas is the perceived solution to cutting greenhouse gas emissions, but experts are questioning the cost. Kenneth Medlock III, the James A. Baker III and Susan Baker Fellow in Energy and Resource Economics and lecturer of economics, is quoted.
Scientific American
http://bit.ly/1pa323Z

5 applications for graphene, the ‘wonder material,’ that could change the way we live
The explosive interest in graphene has generated unique studies. Rice researcher’s study of graphene mixed with vanadium oxide to create battery cathodes that recharge in 20 seconds is referenced.
Business Insider (This article also appeared in Greece Post and 180 other media outlets.
http://read.bi/1lKKULY

St. Stephen’s shuts SSIME
Last year St. Stephen’s College closed its Institute for Management Excellence, due to small enrollment. The institute had been created in partnership with Rice’s Jones School of Business. Alumnus Sanjay Saigal ’89 is mentioned.
Times of India
http://bit.ly/1pa8NPh

A brief political history of the Apollo program: The decision to land a man on the moon
John F. Kennedy’s speech given at Rice in 1962 is referenced.
Yahoo! Voices
http://yhoo.it/1szlpkh

Dubai vai de entreposto a parade obrigatoria
Visitors to Dubai have increased dramatically over the past decade. Jim Krane, the Wallace S. Wilson Fellow for Energy Studies at the Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
Estadao (An English translation is not available. This article also appeared in IEco.)
http://bit.ly/1q1sZ5e

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Houston offers a fertile setting that feeds biotechnology
Rice is mentioned in two articles that appeared in a special section on Houston’s 100 leading companies in the Sunday Houston Chronicle. In an article about Houston’s biotechnology boom, Houston Technology Center President Walter Ulrich notes that Rice has been a pioneer in the field of nanotechnology. Alumnus Brenton Scott ’05 is quoted and Robert Raphael, associate professor of bioengineering, is mentioned.
http://bit.ly/1qsKIAk
Oil prosperity sloshes to other sectors
In an article on the top-performing companies in Houston. William Arnold, professor in the practice of management at the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business, is quoted about the oil producers and midstream companies.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1q1e8I3

Sweet plans
The University of Houston System is finalizing its plans to make its Sugar Land campus. An editorial mentions Stephen Klineberg, professor of sociology and co-director of Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, for the new information concerning Houston’s demographics in the latest Houston Area Survey.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/V5lOMK

Egypt’s leadership carousel
Alumnus Ben Stevenson ’09, policy assistant to the director, authored a blog post about former Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi and his influence on Egyptian politics.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/UAKyMw

Chad’s morning brief: Texas Democrats prepare for anniversary of filibuster, the District 3 race isn’t over yet and other top stories
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, is quoted about the anniversary of Wendy Davis’ filibuster and its contribution to her campaign.
KFYO.com
http://bit.ly/1l3G1Y8
Texas Democrats: Women are key to 2014 victory
Fort Worth Star-Telegram (This article also appeared in FindLaw.)
http://bit.ly/1nV69Jw

New $1 million grant to fund Rice study on Houston-area urban development
Houston Endowment Inc. awarded a $1 million grant to researchers at Rice’s Hobby Center for the Study of Texas to study the urban development of neighborhoods and residents in the Greater Houston metropolitan area. Steve Murdock, the Allyn and Gladys Cline Professor of Sociology and director of Rice’s Hobby Center for the Study of Texas, is quoted. He will serve as principal investigator for the study. Murdock is also quoted about Texas’ population.
The Rancher (This article also appeared in Bellaire Examiner, Memorial Examiner and Fort Bend Sun.)
http://bit.ly/1pDL8oe
Texas might grow by 15 million people in 25 years, but it won’t be solely because people move there
Politifact
http://bit.ly/1rqn5Z8

Rice’s Thomann wins CAREER grant to study photocatalysis
Isabell Thomann, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, will spend five years exploring ways of using sunlight to reduce the carbon footprint of power plants, thanks to a prestigious CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation.
The Rancher (This article also appeared in Bellaire Examiner, Fort Bend Sun and Memorial Examiner.)
http://bit.ly/TnPJ1n

DPCAC hears hurricane-surge proposals
Four speakers addressed the Deer Park Community Advisory Council about hurricane damage prevention. Larry Dunbar, project manager for Rice’s Severe Storm Prediction, Education and Evacuation from Disasters Center, discussed SSPEED’s proposed Centennial Gate, which would protect the Houston Ship Channel.
InsideDP.com
http://bit.ly/1qsRiqD

Top botanical gardens in Houston
Rice’s Lynn R. Lowery Arboretum is included in a list of the top botanical gardens to visit in Houston.
CBS Houston
http://cbsloc.al/1l3VXd8

‘Starlady’ children give her galaxy-sized birthday party
Donna Pierce, director of the Highland Park ISD planetarium, celebrated her 80th birthday. She received more than 300 cards with greetings from universities, including Rice.
Dallas Morning News
http://bit.ly/1iRZXxr

BROADCAST

WHIO-AM (Dayton, Ohio)
Alumna Cassie Barlow ’96 is interviewed.
http://bit.ly/1m5ObQd

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Scientists shoot carbon nanotubes out of high-speed gun (w/video)
Graduate student Sehmus Ozden co-authored a paper on the results of high-impact nanotube collision experiments.
Phys.org
http://bit.ly/1wmLv8z

Chemical process helps sunlight reach solar cells
Rice scientists created a one-step process to etch nanoscale spikes into silicon to allow more than 99 percent of sunlight to reach cells’ active elements and produce electricity. Andrew Barron, the Charles W. Duncan Jr.-Welch Professor of Chemistry and professor of materials science, and graduate student Yen-Tien Lu are mentioned.
Daily Fusion (This article also appeared in Zee News, Indian Mirror, Engineering, Nanotechnology Now, Photonics Online, French Tribune, Nature World News and Inventorspot.)
http://bit.ly/1lcDwHV

Benefits of ScanAsyst and Peakforce tapping advanced atomic force microscopy AFM imaging techniques
A study about Atomic Force Microscope imaging techniques includes a sample topography provided by Robert Hauge, distinguished faculty fellow in chemistry.
AzoNano.com
http://bit.ly/1izoMTX

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

The machine in the ocean: ‘On The Petropolis of Tomorrow’
“The Petropolis of Tomorrow,” a design and research project created at Rice, is featured.
ArchDaily.com
http://bit.ly/V5BH60

National Guard border duty faces hazy future
Recent budget cuts are limiting the amount of security along the U.S.-Mexico border. Tony Payan, the Françoise and Edward Djerejian Fellow for Mexico Studies at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and director of the Baker Institute’s Mexico Center, is quoted.
ABC 10 News (San Diego. This article also appeared in the Corpus Christi Caller-Times and 12 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/1q16c9O

Specialty tea beverages: Steeped with excitement
Tea has become a top selling point at colleges, hospitals, casual restaurants and cocktail bars. Johnny Curet, director of residential dining, is quoted about Rice’s unique tea blends.
Food Management
http://bit.ly/1nYgB2P

The winners so far in Wells Fargo’s Adventure in Green Giving
Rice is mentioned as a past Wells Fargo grant recipient.
Inside Philanthropy
http://bit.ly/1qsSr1o

St. Louis Symphony adds musicians
Alumna Julia Thayer ’09 has been appointed to the St. Louis Symphony. Hornist William Ver Meulen is mentioned.
The Intelligencer
http://bit.ly/1wndYeB

Pittsylvania County library continues civil rights film series June 24
Alumnus Andrew Canady ’09 will lead a discussion about the film “The Loving Story” at the Pittsylvania County Public Library System.
Chatham Star Tribune
http://bit.ly/1lKRpN7

Vrouwen hebben zeker een toegevoegde waarde in politieke besluitvorming
Justin Esarey, assistant professor of political science, is quoted about the benefit of women in politics.
DBSuriname.com (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/1iqfv0X

SPORTS

Baseball: Aquino looks to repeat as home-run derby champion
Rice baseball player Michael Aquino is featured.
The Villager
http://bit.ly/1szeQya

Top 10 largest NFL prospects in 2014
Rice senior offensive lineman Ian Gray is profiled.
Sports Chat Place
http://bit.ly/1pE5UEa

The downbeat #1386 – yes, more draft stuff
Alumnus Morris Almond ’07 is profiled.
SLCDunk.com
http://bit.ly/1lLygfr
KSL-TV (Salt Lake City)
http://bit.ly/1uXKKAh

Brock Holt: Superhero
Alumnus Brock Holt ’12 is featured.
FireBrandAL.com
http://bit.ly/1npVe8U

NEWS RELEASE

New data bolsters Higgs boson discovery
If evidence of the Higgs boson revealed two years ago was the smoking gun, particle physicists at Rice University and their colleagues have now found a few of the bullets. The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) published research in Nature Physics this week that details evidence of the direct decay of the Higgs boson to fermions, among the particles anticipated by the Standard Model of physics.
http://bit.ly/1m5NvdA