Dateline Rice for July 8, 2014

FEATURED ITEM

Cancer patient saw disease as an opportunity to fight for a cause
Independent filmmakers are creating a documentary about junior James Ragan, who died in February after battling cancer.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required. This appeared on the front of the City/State section.)
http://bit.ly/1kzQUSq

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Ambition, investor greed fuel rise and fall of Dubai’s Arabtec
Arabtec’s plan to expand may be halted due to the company’s financial collapse. Jim Krane, the Wallace S. Wilson Fellow for Energy Studies at the Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
Reuters (This article also appeared in the New York Times and 13 other publications.)
http://reut.rs/1qffTxW

How using emoji makes us less emotional
Researchers studied the gender, age, social class and geography of emoticon and emoji users to understand its sentiment and role in communication. Rice’s study on the use of emoticons is referenced.
New Republic
http://bit.ly/VEJcAU

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Job offer not enough to keep Whaley at KHOU
Alumna Katherine Whaley ’04 is leaving KHOU.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1vWy51c

Houstonians prepare for a fight to defend HERO
Houston Mayor Annise Parker announced that she will defend Houston’s Equal Rights Ordinance from being repealed. Rice is mentioned.
Burnt Orange Report (This article also appeared in Memorial Examiner.)
http://bit.ly/1kA7mCd

Coppell teacher studies with distinguished scholars
A Coppell, Texas, teacher will attend the professional development institute “Teaching the American Literary Tradition.” José Aranda, associate professor of English and Spanish and Portuguese and the chair of Spanish and Portuguese, is mentioned as a past attendee.
Coppell Gazette
http://bit.ly/1n3XiRT

BROADCAST

KTSA-TV (San Antonio, 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’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted about President Obama’s visit to Texas.
http://bit.ly/1jlpjK5

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Rice University scientists produce 2-D model to prove formation of gas hydrate under ocean floor
Rice scientists produced a 2-D model to prove how gas hydrate is formed under the ocean floor. Alumnus Sayantan Chatterjee ’12 is quoted. George Hirasaki, research professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, is mentioned.
AZoCleanTech.com (This article also appeared in Bellaire Examiner.)
http://bit.ly/1rMrQ2h

A smashing new look at nanoribbons
Rice scientists have found a chemical-free way to unzip graphene nanoribbons. Pulickel Ajayan, the Benjamin M. and Mary Greenwood Anderson Professor in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science and of chemistry, and chair of the Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering; Enrique Barrera, professor of materials science and nanoengineering; and Robert Vajtai, senior faculty fellow in materials science and nanoengineering, are mentioned. Graduate student Sehmus Ozden is quoted.
Printed Electronics World (This article also appeared in Semiconductor Engineering, Fort Bend Sun, Bellaire Examiner, Memorial Examiner and Sugar Land Sun.)
http://bit.ly/1oEbLIv

Python is now the most popular introductory teaching language at top US universities
As of July 2014, Python is the most popular language for teaching introductory computer science courses at top-ranked U.S. departments. Rice’s course data is listed.
Communications of the ACM
http://bit.ly/1kxwsBA

The 2nd SPACE Conference examines human exploration and habitation in space
John F. Kennedy’s speech given at Rice in 1962 is referenced.
The Space Review
http://bit.ly/TQgMCq
New Scottish enlightenment
We-Make-Money-Not-Art.com
http://bit.ly/1tjvPVC

What to expect when Alcoa kicks off earnings season Tuesday
A Rice stock market study is referenced.
Seeking Alpha
http://bit.ly/1qfkKiJ

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

The 20 best college traditions in the US
Rice’s Beer Bike relay race is included in a list of the best college traditions in the U.S.
Patriot Ledger (This article also appeared in the Bulletin and 37 other publications.)
http://bit.ly/1pX844s

Dinh Q. Lê: ‘Crossing the Farther Shore’
Vietnamese artist Dinh Q. Lê’s installation “Crossing the Farther Shore” is on display at the Rice Gallery through Aug. 28.
WPXI.com
http://bit.ly/1k2p9Sm

1st UCSB Ph.D in feminist studies
University of California, Santa Barbara student Carly Thomsen will begin a two-year postdoctoral appointment at the Center for the Study of Women, Gender and Sexuality at Rice.
Santa Barbara Independent
http://bit.ly/1n43b1l

Rankl adds pair to AU coaching staff
Alumnus Brent Barnes ’93 is featured.
Wellsville Daily Reporter
http://bit.ly/U19KLu

SPORTS

Lafayette Drillers flashback: Bryan Boyne
Alumnus Bryan Boyne ’76 is featured.
ESPN1420.com
http://bit.ly/1xMwptI

A night of nostalgia: Nasty Boys still crazy after all these years
Alumnus Norm Charlton ’86 is featured.
Fox Sports
http://foxs.pt/1r5XOnt

San Francisco 49ers: Vance McDonald ready to step up for offense
Alumnus Vance McDonald ’13 was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers.
Austin American-Statesman
http://bit.ly/1kAbodO

NEWS RELEASES

Gas hydrates by the slice
A decade of research by Rice University scientists has produced a two-dimensional model to prove how gas hydrate, the “ice that burns,” is formed under the ocean floor.
http://bit.ly/1mvqsxf

Fiske Guide to Colleges names Rice a 2015 ‘Best Buy’
The annual Fiske Guide to Colleges has named Rice University one of 22 “Best Buys” for 2015. The list includes private universities in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
http://bit.ly/1oxBbFT