Dateline Rice for June 27, 2014

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Facing headwinds, Obama courts ‘real America’
The White House is trying to maximize President Barack Obama’s exposure to achieve his goals before the end of his term. Douglas Brinkley, professor of history and fellow in history at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted. He is also featured for the Italian translation of his book “Parish Priest.”
AOL (The article also appeared in 107 other media outlets, including the online version of the Houston Chronicle; the print edition of the Chronicle omitted the portion of the article in which Brinkley is quoted.)
http://aol.it/1qBpGj1
Biography of Knights of Columbus founder Father Michael J. McGivney published in Italian
New Haven Register
http://bit.ly/1wG1bEa

China Daily USA president visits Houston
China Daily USA President Larry Lee attended a reception hosted by Rice President David Leebron and University Representative Y. Ping Sun honoring Chinese Consul General Li Qiangmin.
China Daily USA
http://bit.ly/1sKsPS2

Catalyst converts biodiesel waste into valuable chemicals
Rice researchers examined whether palladium-gold nanocatalysts could convert glycerol into high-value chemicals. Michael Wong, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering and of chemistry, and graduate student Zhun Zhao are quoted.
India.com (This article also appeared in DaijiWorld.com and 10 other publications.)
http://bit.ly/1rGZ5RM
Water-cleanup catalysts tackles biomass upgrading
Science Codex (This article also appeared in Science Daily, R&D Magazine, e! Science News, Science Codex, Innovations Report, Science Newsline, Phys.org, Nanotechnology Now and Economic Times.)
http://bit.ly/1pWk7fU

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Abbott plans $10 million ad blitz in campaign’s closing weeks
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 Attorney General Greg Abbott’s $10 million investment in television airtime. Jones is also mentioned for his ranking or opinion of two Texas representatives and comments about rulings by Houston Mayor Annise Parker.
Houston Chronicle (This story appeared on the front of the City/State section. Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/UQ5Sh3
The battle over Texas
RedState.com
http://bit.ly/TE9Pog
Wolfforth man throws hat in ring for Duncan’s seat
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
http://bit.ly/1yUDXwa
Council, mayor spar over tax collection contracts
Beaumont Enterprise
http://bit.ly/1mm3EM3

Rice to study impact of Houston’s urban development and sprawl
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.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1o9rkaV

There’s never a dull moment in STEM education at San Jacinto College
Local universities are responding to the decline in STEM students. Rice’s STEM-based summer internship program is mentioned.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1jV2neN

Article says more white people are moving to Houston area, thanks to jobs
An article cited Rice researchers as the source for state and local demographic information.
Houston Press
http://bit.ly/1rHcJUJ

Robert Zubrin throws down the gauntlet to Franklin Chang-Diaz over VASIMR
Mars Society President Robert Zubrin has challenged Franklin Chang-Diaz, adjunct professor of physics and astronomy, to a debate about whether astronauts will go to Mars.
Examiner.com
http://exm.nr/1pWxJI3

Accelerate Learning launches STEM site for K-12 teachers
Accelerate Learning launched STEMcoach.com for its K-12 teachers to assist in teaching science. Rice is mentioned.
Texas Tech Pulse (This article also appeared in Virtualization Conference Expo and 10 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/1mD9mxS

BROADCAST

WTXF-TV (Philadelphia)
There were 44 hyperthermia deaths in the last year from parents forgetting their children in the car. A group of Rice engineering students created a device that alerts parents about this danger.
http://bit.ly/1lkSbwa

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

US should re-evaluate definition of skilled workers in immigration policy
New research from Rice and the University of North Carolina and the Centre for Population, Poverty and Public Policy Studies suggests that the U.S. should include informal skills of migrant workers in its definition of skilled workers. Sergio Chavez, assistant professor of sociology and co-author of the study, is quoted.
Phys.org (This article also appeared in Science Daily, Science Codex, Science Newsline and Science 2.0.)
http://bit.ly/1jUPcuu

LHC upgrades could reveal whether Higgs boson is ‘standard’
New data has been gathered from the Large Hadron Collider. Paul Padley, professor of physics and astronomy, is quoted.
Nature.com
http://bit.ly/1m4Pxk5

Tough tungsten alloy produces purer nanotubes
Researchers in China are attempting to synthesize chirally pure samples of carbon nanotubes. Andrew Barron, the Charles W. Duncan Jr.-Welch Professor of Chemistry and professor of materials science, is quoted.
Chemistry World
http://rsc.li/1wFFOCX

Terahertz tech gets a major push
Rice scientists received a grant to develop terahertz-based technology to advance wireless communications and other disciplines.
Digital Journal
http://bit.ly/1iNcEir

One-step process to make black silicon
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.
Overclockers Club
http://bit.ly/1iNd4VU

New technique used in 2-D graphene-like nanosheets
The use of Scotch tape as a mechanical cleavage technique resulted in the Nobel-awarded discovery of graphenes. It is now being used worldwide for assembling graphenes and other 2-D graphene-like structures. Rice is mentioned.
PCBDesigns007.com
http://bit.ly/1mD7xkE

UK university incubator ranked second-best in the world
The Swedish research initiative UBI Index named the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship No. 1 among top university business incubators.
PCWorld.in (This article also appeared in CIO.)
http://bit.ly/1qP8sRB
Wiener Uni-Gründerservice INiTS unter ‘Global Top 25’ — Inkubatoren
Tiroler Tageszeitung Online (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/1o9Lph3

Here’s why there is a good chance KB Home will crush earnings estimates on Friday
A Rice stock market study is referenced.
Seeking Alpha
http://bit.ly/1rHds8C

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

MFA returns Nigerian objects, Obama museum proposal revealed and more
Eight Nigerian artifacts that had allegedly been stolen and sent illegally to the United States have been returned. Susan McIntosh, the Herbert S. Autrey Professor in Anthropology, is quoted.
Blouin Artinfo
http://bit.ly/1yUIa2Q

Defying gravity: Iowan Peggy Whitson enjoys career in space
Alumna Peggy Whitson ’85 is featured.
Sioux City Journal (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1nPeonC

Young architects award
Alumnus Wyatt Frantom ’01 received a Young Architects Award.
Architect
http://bit.ly/1nPxcD8

Zachary Gwin
National Merit Scholar finalist Zachary Gwin plans to major in architecture at Rice.
Tulsa World
http://bit.ly/1mD4JE2

CKHS vals and sals share future goals in life
Central Kitsap High School salutatorian Steven Johnson plans to attend Rice.
Central Kitsap Reporter
http://bit.ly/1rHqmmZ

SPORTS

Rice versus Notre Dame examined in a pre-season preview
The Rice Owls are examined as an opponent of Notre Dame in the upcoming season.
The Elkhart Truth (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1nMlKte

Return of the full ride
Alumnus Joseph Agnew ’10 is mentioned.
Sports on Earth
http://bit.ly/1iN9kDU

Comcast SportsNet Chicago
Alumnus Anthony Rendon ’12 is profiled.
http://bit.ly/1rHpbUC

NEWS RELEASE

Fish found common genetic ground to develop electric organs
Rice University computational biologist George Phillips is co-author on a new paper in Science detailing a 10-year effort that determined a variety of fish with electric organs evolved those organs by similar means.
http://bit.ly/1rHnKp9