Dateline Rice for Jan. 6, 2015

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Artificial intelligence and manufacturing (part 1)
Moshe Vardi, director of the Ken Kennedy Institute for Information Technology and the Karen Ostrum George Distinguished Service Professor of Computational Engineering and professor of computer science, is quoted in an op-ed about the potential of artificial intelligence.
Forbes
http://onforb.es/1xMDYkR

Are your political views in your genes?
John Alford, associate professor of political science, is featured for his collaborative research on biological political bias.
Forbes
http://onforb.es/1FgFn9L

Boehner’s restive Republican caucus hinders bid to build legacy
Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, is entering his fifth year as the 53rd speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. Paul Brace, the Clarence L. Carter Professor of Political Science, is quoted.
Bloomberg
http://bloom.bg/1BFksaN

State budgets take a beating while consumers prosper at the pump
Articles about oil revenue loss affecting Governor-elect Greg Abbott’s legislative priorities and Chris Christie’s minimal support in Texas quote 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.
BarbWire (This article also appeared in Daily Surge.)
http://bit.ly/1ywaafh
Stile: Christie saddling up to Texas
NorthJersey.com (This article also appeared in NewsGB.com and New Jersey News.)
http://bit.ly/1yvDF0O

Obama should govern with his pen
Douglas Brinkley, professor of history and fellow in history at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, comments on President Barack Obama’s use of executive authority.
The Washington Spectator
http://bit.ly/1tMeqWF

¿Por qué los mayas desaparecieron? Este hoyo azul lo revelaría
André Droxler, professor of Earth science, co-authored a study on a centurylong drought causing the collapse of the ancient Mayan civilization.
ElComercio.pe (An English translation is not available. This article also appeared in Pro & Contra, Berlingske Business and Canal44.com.)
http://bit.ly/1BGfTwI

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Older office building outfitted with modern efficiency
Municipal and business leaders are making efforts to cut energy use by 30 percent at commercial buildings, which was planned and discussed at Rice’s Energy Summit last year.
Houston Chronicle (This appeared on the front of the Business section. Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1vBCLsr

Award-winning author reading, interview set
Amber Dermont, the Gladys Louise Fox Associate Professor of English, will conduct an onstage interview with award-winning fiction writer Karen Russell as part of the 2014/2015 Inprint Margarett Root Brown Reading Series.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1Aqm6NM

Find fruits, nuts and berries for your garden at area events
The Urban Harvest fruit tree sale will be Jan. 17 at Rice Stadium.
Houston Chronicle (This appeared as a teaser on the front page and was featured on the front of the Star section. Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1ywoEMd

City launches million-dollar business plan competition for vets
Rice is hosting an event for the finalists of VetBizBattle to gain investors in veteran-owned businesses.
Houston Chronicle (This article also appeared in San Antonio Express-News, DailyNews724 and NewsHub. Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1xzWa2J
City launches million-dollar business plan competition for vets
Houston Business Journal
http://bit.ly/1Fhqbtb
City of Houston launches contest to help veterans build businesses
KHOU.com
http://bit.ly/1xAH1Oc
From the battlefield … to the board room — transforming veterans into entrepreneurs
Houston Style Magazine
http://bit.ly/1BE5SzV
KRIV-TV
http://bit.ly/1xOsH6Q

Bush puts former AMD, Freescale executive in key Texas GLO job
Rice alumnus George P. Bush ’98 elevated Paul Senecal to director of administration in a reorganized Texas General Land Office.
Dallas Business Journal
http://bit.ly/1ywgALt

Neuroscientists nab top prize in gingerbread-contest
Rice neuroscientists won the top prize at the 2014 AIA Gingerbread Bake-Off with their model of the Grand Budapest Hotel from the Wes Anderson film.
Houston Chronicle (This appeared on the front of the Heights Community Extra section.)
http://bit.ly/1tMkQ8o

Scientist-turned-fashion designer aims for global appeal with unique made-in-Houston dresses
Alumna Chekwube Emebo ’13 is featured for her unique clothing line, Ada Kwube.
CultureMap Houston
http://bit.ly/1xzTOAE

BROADCAST

Same-sex marriage ads star gay Texas cop
A New York based group called “Freedom to Marry” aired an advertisement to gain bipartisan support for legalizing gay marriage. Bob Stein, the Lena Gohlman Fox Professor of Political Science, said it is unlikely that same-sex marriage supporters will get legislative approval to put the issue back on the ballot.
KHOU.com
http://bit.ly/1zQRzWo

Fox Business Television
Radio and television host Don Imus talks about his recent Rice campus tour. Douglas Brinkley, professor of history and fellow in history at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is mentioned.
http://bit.ly/1xzZlra
WABC-AM (New York)
http://bit.ly/1tMkoqx

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Hispanic Texans have low graduation rate
Texas journalist Richard Parker cited Rice’s study on Houston’s suburbs becoming the most racially and ethnically diverse in the U.S. in his recently published thesis “Lone Star Nation.”
EdmondSun.com
http://bit.ly/1xzS9LE

SPORTS

Rice basketball weekly debuts Tuesday on Root Sports Southwest
Rice basketball will be featured in an in-depth program called Rice Basketball Weekly on Root Sports Southwest. Head coach Mike Rhoades is interviewed and player Marcus Jackson appears as a guest.
Conference USA
http://bit.ly/1BGq7NB

Owls three-point barrage not enough against UTEP
Rice men’s basketball fell to University of Texas at El Paso 66-57 at Tudor Fieldhouse.
Bellaire Examiner (This article appeared in Memorial Examiner and Sugar Land Sun.)
http://bit.ly/1IlpxHb

WRBL-TV (Columbus, Ga.)
Alumnus Kurt Roper ’95 is mentioned.
http://bit.ly/1xOx0vO

Rice’s Covington to skip senior season, enter NFL draft
Rice football player Christian Covington is entering the NFL draft.
Houston Chronicle (This article also appeared in NBCSports.com. Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1ywre4H

NEWS RELEASE

Rice scholars to host panel at Menil Collection
Rice University’s Anthony Pinn and Bernard “Bun B” Freeman will present a panel discussion on “The Influence of Gandhi and King on Hip-Hop Culture” at the Menil Collection.
http://bit.ly/1ywEExD