Dateline Rice for Jan. 12, 2015 (Weekend Edition)

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Colonial Williamsburg Foundation board adds 2 trustees
University Representative Y. Ping Sun was elected as foundation trustee for the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Board of Trustees.
DailyPress.com
http://bit.ly/1BU0J9d
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation names new trustees
Virginia Business
http://bit.ly/1sqJUkb

Mexican energy reform will allow country to reduce dependence on fertilizer and imports of staple foods
Adrian Duhalt, the Puentes Consortium Visiting Scholar in the Mexico Center at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, comments on Mexico’s energy reform, which he discussed in a new policy paper titled “Natural Gas Supply and Production of Ammonia and Urea in Mexico: Structural Setbacks and Policy Implications.”
Teatro Naturale
http://bit.ly/1BbMbSa

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Suburbs look to become cultural centers
Sugar Land began construction of its $84 million performing arts center, which is regarded as an anomaly for Houston’s suburbs. Bill Fulton, director of Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, is quoted.
Houston Chronicle (This appeared on the front of the City & State section in Sunday’s paper. Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1DPKcT7

Urban planning group recognizes Houston area’s standout projects
The renovated energy-efficient Pennzoil Place was a finalist in the Houston District Council of the Urban Land Institute’s 2015 Development of Distinction Awards and sets an example for other buildings in Houston to follow. Stephen Fox, lecturer of architecture, is quoted.
Houston Chronicle (This appeared on the front of the Business section in Sunday’s paper. Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1IkRsZC

Free community college proposal faces big hurdles in 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, explains the unlikelihood of President Barack Obama’s pitch for “free” community college being accepted by the Texas Legislature. Jones is also quoted about Texas lawmakers’ re-regulation of tuition costs and the upcoming Texas lawmaker session.
Houston Chronicle (This appeared on the front of the City & State section in Saturday’s paper. This article also appeared in San Antonio Express-News. Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1C81x8G
Prospects for return to tuition regulation best since ’03
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1BYY2kF
New state leadership among top challenges for Texas Legislature
The Dallas Morning News
http://bit.ly/1z01w8S
Heaps of work to do in session
San Angelo Standard-Times
http://bit.ly/1xUrSra
Matthew Waller: State lawmakers to tackle unfinished business
Abilene Reporter-News
http://bit.ly/1A8027Z
New state leaders may mean new Texas Capitol dynamics
Corpus Christi Caller-Times (This article also appeared in San Angelo Standard-Times.)
http://bit.ly/1DPHcGr

Harris Health considers job, service cuts to bridge budget gap
A Medicaid expansion across the state could prevent Texans’ federal dollars funding other states’ programs. Vivian Ho, the James A. Baker III Institute Chair in Health Economics at the Baker Institute for Public Policy and professor of economics, supports the expansion.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1ybJ8Hr

Rice chalks up another accolade: Among nation’s best college dorms
Rice is one of seven universities across the U.S. with the most impressive dorms. The enjoyable atmosphere of Rice’s residential colleges is featured.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1A8eXir

Maybe a step closer to immigration reform
An op-ed calls for substantial progress in immigration reform, which was the topic of a recent discussion hosted by Rice’s Baker Institute of Public Policy and the American Jewish Committee.
Houston Chronicle (This article also appeared in American Jewish Committee. Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1w9R47V

Chabrelle Williams says opera is her calling
Opera singer Chabrelle Williams will perform at Rice’s Alice Pratt Brown Hall Jan. 12.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1y4Wvw0

Effect of low crude oil prices being felt by support industries
Consumers are enjoying the significant drop in oil prices, but it’s uncertain how long this will last. Charles McConnell, executive director of Rice’s Energy and Environment Initiative, discusses its impact on Houston.
Galveston County Daily News (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1xhkVeT
http://bit.ly/1wWd87c (Full article)

The Woodlands Salon Series’ next concert is Jan. 30
William VerMeulen, professor of French horn, and the Rice Horn Crew are performing at the Woodlands Salon Series Jan. 30.
Montgomery County Courier
http://bit.ly/14LsTHj

Rangel: Will GOP leadership get along?
Conservative activists are not convinced that Texas Rep. Drew Springer is conservative enough. Rice is cited for its study on the political leanings of state representatives.
Amarillo Globe-News
http://bit.ly/1C7Rel3

7 free things to do in Houston Jan. 12-16
James Turrell’s “Twilight Epiphany” Skyspace on the Rice campus is featured as a fun, free Houston hot spot.
Houston on the Cheap
http://bit.ly/14QqoTi

Film screening: ‘Mentality’
The many faces and meanings of masculinity are the focus of “Mentality,” a feature-length documentary a group of Rice undergraduates produced this past fall. A free public screening of “Mentality” will take place at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 12 at the Rice Media Center’s Rice Cinema Film Theatre. Doors open at 5:30 for a reception in the Rice Media Center gallery.
CultureMap Houston
http://bit.ly/1y51oVY

What’s up with Houston’s Swimming Hole? Idea floats to next level with link to quality-of-life group
Three social business entrepreneurs launched a Kickstarter campaign to develop a “natural and beautiful” public swimming spot in Houston. Rice’s Shell Center for Sustainability is mentioned as a supporter of the project.
CultureMap Houston
http://bit.ly/17Aoica

BROADCAST

DNA, it turns out, is a lot more loopy
In a triumph for cell biology, researchers have assembled the first high-resolution, 3-D maps of entire folded genomes and found a structural basis for gene regulation — a kind of “genomic origami” that allows the same genome to produce different types of cells. Rice researcher Suhas Rao is interviewed about the discovery.
National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered” (This broadcast also appeared on KUT 90.5 and more than 30 other media outlets.)
http://n.pr/1AD33jk

WAMU-FM (Washington, DC)
Jeffrey Kripal, the J. Newton Rayzor Professor of Religion, discuss Deepak Chopra’s latest book, “The Future of God” on Interfaith Voices.
http://bit.ly/1DB0XUI

KRIV-TV
The Urban Harvest fruit tree sale will be Jan. 17 at Rice Stadium.
http://bit.ly/1sqGZrU
KTRH-AM
http://bit.ly/14LVmgf

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

The myriad uses of amazing graphene
Graphene, the remarkably thin and strong form of carbon, is featured for its potential to revolutionize products and processes across industries. Jae-Hwang Lee, a former research scientist at Rice and now an assistant professor at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, is cited for his study on graphene’s resistance to a speeding bullet.
Cosmos Magazine
http://bit.ly/1KBSqmm

When building big, every atom matters
The forces that bind atoms and molecules can impact the strength of particulate materials like concrete. Rice researchers carried out simulations to determine how the atomic placement of elements in concrete can be tuned to maximize its mechanical properties. Rouzbeh Shahsavari, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, is quoted. Former graduate student Saroosh Jalilvand is mentioned.
Controlled Environments
http://bit.ly/1IEvejI
Atomic placement of elements counts for strong concrete
Phys.org (This article also appeared in e! Science News, European Coatings Journal and Aggregate Research.)
http://bit.ly/1DGcgIs

Low-cost carbon capture material made from asphalt
Rice scientists turn asphalt into an effective, environmentally friendly carbon-capture material for use at natural gas wellheads. James Tour, the T.T. and W.F. Chao Professor of Chemistry, professor of computer science and of materials science and nanoengineering, is mentioned.
Chemical & Engineering News (This article also appeared in Financial Express, NHV.us and HNGN.)
http://bit.ly/1wPyx1M
Cheap asphalt to trap carbon dioxide created
Business Standard
http://bit.ly/1BcfPqG
Substance from honeybee hives may help with hair loss
News Observer
http://bit.ly/14KOKOV

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Atheists, agnostics, humanists find community at Kansas City Oasis
Anthony Pinn, the Agnes Cullen Arnold Professor of Humanities and professor of religious studies, comments on the rise of Sunday gatherings for agnostic and atheist congregations.
Kansas City Star
http://bit.ly/1FEpM4f

2015 AIA Institute Honor Awards winners announced
The American Institute of Architecture 2015 Institute Honor Awards recognized Rice’s Brockman Hall for Physics.
Dezeen.com
http://bit.ly/1y4C2HB
2015 AIA Institute Honor Awards recognize excellence in architecture, interiors and urban design
Metal Architecture
http://bit.ly/1Il76Ev

SPORTS

Combs, Williams lead North Texas past Rice 66-63
Rice men’s basketball fell to North Texas University 66-63 at Tudor Fieldhouse. Head coach Mike Rhoades is quoted. Player Marcus Jackson is highlighted.
CBSSports.com
http://cbsprt.co/1IkI0pn
Rice’s Marcus Jackson makes a shot from the opposite free-throw line to beat 1st-half buzzer (video)
NBC Sports
http://bit.ly/1BUcqwJ
Owls’ comeback falls just short against hot-shooting Mean Green
Fort Bend Sun (This article also appeared in Memorial Examiner and Sugar Land Sun.)
http://bit.ly/1yb3TCV
Brief: men’s basketball drops 4th straight game
NTDaily.com
http://bit.ly/1Il9ZVJ
North Texas (6-8) at Rice (4-9)
Sun Herald (This article also appeared in Kansas City Star and 11 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/1FLDrXe
Recap: Rice versus North Texas
The Telegraph (This article also appeared in Bradenton Herald, Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, Lexington Herald-Leader, Charlotte Observer, Merced Sun-Star and Modesto Bee.)
http://bit.ly/1DPRfep
Combs scores 18, Williams 15 and North Texas holds off Rice 66-63
The Republic
http://bit.ly/1A88XX5

Video: Missouri State swim and dive training trip 2015
Missouri State University’s swim team trained at Rice.
Swim Swam
http://bit.ly/1wPl0Yi

Reserve freshman forward leaves Rice program
Rice football player Christian Covington is entering the NFL draft.
NBC Sports
http://bit.ly/1BbFTlC
Rice’s Christian Covington announces he will enter the NFL draft
Austin American-Statesman (This article also appeared in the Score.)
http://bit.ly/1ARuOHA
Owl football: Christian Covington forgoes senior season, declares for NFL draft
Magnolia Potpourri (This article also appeared in Cypress Creek Mirror.)
http://bit.ly/14LkMdP

Luke Willson’s big plays help Seahawks beat Panthers — again
Alumnus Luke Willson ’12 is featured.
The Olympian (This article also appeared in Bellingham Herald, Tri-City Herald and News Tribune.)
http://bit.ly/1wQaGz5