Dateline Rice for Aug. 25, 2014 (Weekend Edition)

FEATURED ITEM

Free digital textbook publisher to produce 10 new titles by 2017
Rice’s OpenStax College will add 10 new titles to its catalog of free textbooks by 2017, thanks to grants from the Laura and John Arnold Foundation, Rice alumni John Doerr ’73 and Ann Doerr ’75 and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. Richard Baraniuk, the Victor E. Cameron Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and founding director of Rice’s OpenStax College, is quoted.
The Chronicle of Higher Education
http://bit.ly/YVB80c
OpenStax College adding 10 new textbooks by 2017
Campus Technology
http://bit.ly/1BVyExS

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Climate bomb? Methane vents bubble on seafloor off East Coast: Study
Methane is bubbling up from more than 500 vents on the Atlantic Ocean floor off the U.S. East Coast. Gerald Dickens, professor of Earth science, is quoted.
NBC News
http://nbcnews.to/1qgVR8v

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Suburban districts see more minority students than ever
Houston-area schools are experiencing an increase in minority students each year. Steve Murdock, the Allyn and Gladys Cline Professor of Sociology and director of Rice’s Hobby Center for the Study of Texas, is quoted about Fort Bend Independent School District’s equal diversity in its schools. Murdock also spoke at the Hudson League of Women Voters 2014 National Convention.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1pxqved
A behind the scenes look at the LWV 2014 National Convention
HudsonHubTimes.com
http://bit.ly/1t6CYIe

New Katy stadium plan revives bond battle
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 anonymous signs in Katy attacking a nearly $750 million school bond proposal. He is also quoted about the results of the Astrodome survey and the special elections for Texas Legislature seats.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1qGmQHa
Critics question neutrality of survey showing support for razing Astrodome
Houston Public Media
http://bit.ly/1mI45Cd
Rangel: Perry hopes to get into Senate without runoff
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal (This article also appeared in Amarillo Globe-News.)
http://bit.ly/1qbKM7Y

Surprise 50th birthday bash is 1 for the record books as swank restaurant transformed
Rice President David Leebron and University Representative Y. Ping Sun attended a 50th birthday bash for Citigroup investment banker Steve Trauber’s wife, Leticia. The article mentions that Steve ’84 and Leticia ’86 are Rice alumni and their son, J.T. Trauber, is a freshman at Rice this year.
CultureMap Houston
http://bit.ly/1mILxBz

Kantarjian: America’s health care system not as perfect as we think
Hagop Kantarjian, a scholar in health policy at the Baker Institute for Public Policy, authored an op-ed on America’s health care system.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1BVOBEm

Westchester Academy for International Studies grads receive International Baccalaureate diplomas
Baker College freshman Adam Kassir is mentioned.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1wspNDD

Coastal recreation area edges closer to reality
Matagorda County Judge Nate McDonald requested that his county be included in the proposed Lone Star Coastal National Recreation Area to bring in tourists. Rice’s Severe Storm Prediction, Education and Evacuation from Disasters Center proposed storm protection for the Houston region is mentioned.
Houston Chronicle (This article also appeared in DailyNewsEn.com.)
http://bit.ly/XM6sOz

America’s Next Top Model: If you can’t love your selfie
Alumnus Denzel Wells ’12 is a finalist on the CWTV show “America’s Next Top Model.”
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1p5JKWW

Texas gains recognition as the new music mecca: Emotional music changes all — as special concert shows
Composer and pianist Chad Robinson will play music from living Texas composers at the Texas New Music Ensemble inaugural concert, which includes chamber music by Pierre Jalbert, professor of composition and theory at Rice’s Shepherd School of Music.
CultureMap Houston
http://bit.ly/1lsgI9q

Fashion designer who found major success in London returns home to Houston for a new launch party
Alumna Andrea Phillips ’13 is featured for her new dress line, AG Phillips, which is now available at Tootsies.
CultureMap Houston
http://bit.ly/1lsgvTy

Willis ISD opens the year with annual Convocation
Duncan College sophomore Cali Roper spoke at the Willis ISD Convocation.
Montgomery County Courier
http://bit.ly/1l8CGhc

Former Rice player challenges NFL commissioner to continue support for ALS
Alumnus O.J. Brigance ’92, who now suffers from ALS disease, participated in the ALS ice bucket challenge, and nominated NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
KHOU.com
http://bit.ly/VNXRsM

In good company
Alumnus Don Bernshausen ’74 has been awarded the professional insurance designation of associate in claims by The Institutes.
Victoria Advocate
http://bit.ly/VKJJ3V

BROADCAST

KVUE-TV (Austin)
Independent filmmakers are creating a documentary about Rice junior James Ragan, who died in February after battling cancer.
http://bit.ly/1rvf1dI

WEEK-TV (Peoria, Ill.)
Rice’s survey on scientists who identify as Christians is referenced.
http://bit.ly/1nuvM1k

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Rice University computer scientists receive NSF grant to develop cloud-computing tools
Christopher Jermaine, associate professor of computer science, received a grant from the National Science Foundation to help optimize statistical machine learning techniques for distributed computing systems.
Phys.org
http://bit.ly/1twQtzq

Biomimetic photodetector ‘sees’ in color
Rice researchers created a CMOS-compatible, biomimetic color photodetector that responds to red, green and blue light much like the human eye. Naomi Halas, the Stanley C. Moore Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering and director of Rice’s Laboratory for Nanophotonics and professor of physics and astronomy, is quoted.
Science Daily
http://bit.ly/1rvci3V
Biomimetic photodetector ‘sees’ in color: Rice lab uses CMOS-compatible aluminum for on-chip color detection
Nanotechnology Now
http://bit.ly/1BVBfbe

Iranians demonstrate potentials of 3-D boron nitride
A three-dimensional porous nanostructure would have a balance of strength, toughness and ability to transfer heat that could benefit nanoelectronics, gas storage and composite materials that perform multiple functions, according to engineers at Rice. Rouzbeh Shahsavari, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, is quoted. Graduate student Navid Sakhavand is mentioned.
HispanicBusiness.com
http://bit.ly/XMtbdl

Google street view lets virtual visitors tour more college campuses
Google street view is making it easier for prospective students around the world to tour college campuses. Rice is pictured.
eWeek
http://bit.ly/1p2LNB5

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

B-schools turn up the video marketing
Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business is featured in an article about schools that have excelled in video marketing.
Poets & Quants
http://bit.ly/VOjjxR

Ferguson tensions stoke Chattanooga conversation about church’s role in racial reconciliation
Michael Emerson, the Allyn and Gladys Cline Professor of Sociology, is mentioned for the research he co-authored on the race perception difference among black and white Christians.
TimesFreePress.com
http://bit.ly/1sq26FF

Rice’s continuing studies center makes use of undeveloped land
Rice’s Anderson-Clarke Center for Continuing Studies, which houses the Susanne M. Glasscock School of Continuing Studies, is featured.
American School & University
http://bit.ly/1tMvLKl

SPORTS

Men’s basketball shows off hard summer work
Rice men’s basketball is featured for its preparation for the upcoming season. Head basketball coach Mike Rhoades and assistant coach Nick Michael are mentioned.
Conference USA
http://bit.ly/1t6Pesc

Notre Dame vs. Rice ’14 – key matchups
The Aug. 30 Rice football game against Notre Dame is mentioned.
UHND.com (Similar articles appeared in 38 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/1nupAqf
What are Notre Dame students expecting out of the Irish?
Fansided
http://bit.ly/1pYtT1F
Former Norsemen Andrew Trumbetti prepares to play for Notre Dame
NorthJersey.com
http://bit.ly/VOhdy1
KPRC-TV
http://bit.ly/1pyA38M (Similar broadcasts appeared in 115 other media outlets.)

Storylines for 2014 college football season
The Aug. 30 Rice football game against Notre Dame and Sept. 13 game against Texas A&M University are mentioned.
Houston Chronicle (This article also appeared in the Beaumont Enterprise.)
http://bit.ly/1qH2sWk

Baylor tops Rice soccer with overtime goal
Rice women’s soccer fell to Baylor University 1-0.
Examiner.com
http://exm.nr/1olv5XL
Baylor soccer game 1 recap: Owls fall (1-0)
OurDailyBears.com
http://bit.ly/1nupXRw

Athletics welcomes Abby Houser, Krista Huffman
Jana Woodson, associate athletic director for marketing, is mentioned.
RichmondSpiders.com
http://bit.ly/1p9cILx

A legend passes on
Former tennis coach Ron Smarr reflects on University of Georgia’s sports information director, men’s tennis coach and historian Dan Magill, who died.
Rivals.com
http://bit.ly/1tBMb97

Tigers minor league report: Hernan Perez is appealing September call-up prospect
Alumnus Austin Kubitza ’14 is mentioned.
The Detroit News
http://bit.ly/1vEVENr

NEWS RELEASES

Rice’s OpenStax College will add 10 new titles by 2017
Rice University-based publisher OpenStax College today announced $9.5 million in philanthropic grants from the Laura and John Arnold Foundation, Rice alumni John and Ann Doerr and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation to add 10 titles to its catalog of free, high-quality textbooks for the nation’s most-attended college courses by 2017.
http://bit.ly/1sqhhyE

Biomimetic photodetector ‘sees’ in color
Rice University researchers have created a CMOS-compatible, biomimetic color photodetector that directly responds to red, green and blue light in much the same way the human eye does.
http://bit.ly/1ANYWRn

There’s headroom in the cloud
Cloud computing is at the core of a new grant to Rice University computer scientist Christopher Jermaine, who plans to develop tools that will allow research and industry to make better use of massive data sets without having to rely on supercomputers.
http://bit.ly/1qcgSR0