Dateline Rice for Jan. 20, 2015 (Weekend Edition)

FEATURED ITEM

Energy policy balderdash
Charles McConnell, executive director of Rice’s Energy and Environment Initiative, authored an op-ed advocating that decisions about energy policy should not be made as if the proponents were playing the game Balderdash.
The Hill
http://bit.ly/180Lf8r

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

A dorm room with 13,000 plastic balls
Brown College senior David Nichol covered his dorm room floor with 13,000 plastic balls.
Inside Higher Ed
http://bit.ly/1KYljcO
Rice University student covers dorm room floor with 13,000 plastic balls
KPRC-TV
http://bit.ly/1zu3vTf
KHOU-TV
http://bit.ly/1yGQh4n
KTRK-TV
http://bit.ly/1yElUdg

Global campuses can be a tool in public diplomacy
Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, fellow for the Middle East at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, authored an op-ed about the global universities trend.
New York Times
http://nyti.ms/1unjVeU

Introducing the idea of ‘hyperobjects’
Timothy Morton, the Rita Shea Guffey Chair in English, authored an op-ed about hyperobjects assisting ecological awareness.
High Country News
http://bit.ly/15rYrSN

One million deaths by parasites
Peter Hotez, a fellow in disease and poverty at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, authored a blog post about the 1 million deaths caused by parasitic diseases in 2013.
PLOS Blogs
http://bit.ly/1CLrScW

Laser-induced graphene shows promise for wearables
Rice University scientists show the practicality of turning laser-induced graphene into portable, flexible devices by making stacked supercapacitors. James Tour, the T.T. and W.F. Chao Professor of Chemistry, professor of computer science and of materials science and nanoengineering, is quoted.
EET India
http://bit.ly/180VYQp

Readers respond to ‘A Beacon from the Big Bang’
Writer Lisa Margonelli quotes Gerald Dickens, professor of Earth science, in a response to a reader’s question on her article about methane hydrates.
Scientific American
http://bit.ly/1ztVXQw

The Xu family: From basketball to the aircraft carrier business
McMurtry College sophomore Oliver Xu is featured in an article about his family’s basketball roots.
South China Morning Post
http://bit.ly/1CeBw9C

Kekerengu raising funds from dinosaur-age fossils
Rice oceanographer Jerry Dickens assisted Chris Hollis of GNS Science in a 16-year study of the rocks found at Bluff Station in New Zealand.
Stuff.co.nz
http://bit.ly/1yGNIPz

HOUSTON/TEXAS

UH to lead national offshore energy research center
Rice will participate in the new Houston national research center called the Subsea Systems Institute.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/153YMKd

Spring ISD superintendent shakes things up
Spring Independent School District Superintendent Rodney Watson is implementing changes to improve the district’s struggling student achievement. Linda McSpadden McNeil, director of Rice’s Center for Education and professor of education, suggested that Watson hear input from parents and those living and benefiting from Spring ISD before making changes.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1wobvhm

Symphony’s ‘Musically Speaking with Andrés’ has much to say
Colombian violinist and conductor Andrés Orozco-Estrada and the Houston Symphony’s performance at the Shepherd School of Music’s Stude Concert Hall is reviewed.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1ymsG8o

Pete Teo shines a light on issues through film project, ’15Malaysia’
Malaysian multimedia star Pete Teo will lead a free film workshop at Rice.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1zu7i2N

Dancing in the tension of Christian unity and integrity: The Osteens, Bisagno, Cardinal DiNardo and a 21st-century reformation
Michael Emerson, the Allyn and Gladys Cline Professor of Sociology, is mentioned in a blog post about church solidarity.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1C37jdV

Artifacts from Nottingham Lace Factory on display
Frank Hole, professor emeritus at Yale University, who led a team of Rice students on an archaeological dig at Nottingham Lace Factory in 1978, donated artifacts found during the excavation.
Galveston County Daily News (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1C305Xb

Artist reception for Karin Broker’s ‘damn girls’ at Rice University’s Pop-Up Gallery will be Jan. 28
Rice Public Art is featuring a Pop-Up Gallery installation, “damn girls,” by Houston artist and Rice University Visual and Dramatic Arts Professor Karin Broker. A reception with the artist will be held Wednesday, Jan. 28, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the BioScience Research Collaborative.
Memorial Examiner (This article also appeared in Fort Bend Sun.)
http://bit.ly/15sbd3L

Houston clock tower will get up and running again
The owners of the Heights Clock Tower plan to renovate the top floors of the building into office areas and apartment space. Nonya Grenader, professor in the practice of architecture, is quoted.
Austin American-Statesman (This article also appeared in Miami Herald, Wichita Eagle Kansas, Charlotte Observer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Sacramento Bee, Merced Sun-Star, Fort Mill Times, DFW.com and Olathe News.)
http://bit.ly/180HPTh

Children’s Museum hosts mascot race
Rice’s Sammy the Owl mascot will participate in the Mascot Race Jan. 31 at the Children’s Museum of Houston.
Atascocita Observer (This article also appeared in Lake Houston Observer, Kingwood Observer and Humble Observer.)
http://bit.ly/1wnWLz2

Mysterious Mayan collapse solved by Texas professor? New study quashes myths
André Droxler, professor of Earth science, co-authored a study on a centurylong drought causing the collapse of the ancient Mayan civilization.
CultureMap Dallas
http://bit.ly/1xRSFjd

Meet the 2015 MasterMinds winners: A historian, an artist and a student mariachi orchestra
The Apollo Chamber Players, a Houston-based group formed at Rice’s Shepherd School of Music, are featured for their busy past year and a half, which includes a commission for new works from Karim Al-Zand, associate professor of composition and theory at the Shepherd School.
HoustonPress
http://bit.ly/1GpuBi8

Attorney, entrepreneur Wickliff to speak at WT
Alumnus Cortlan Wickliff ’10 will be the next speaker at West Texas A&M University’s Distinguished Lecture Series.
Amarillo Globe-News
http://bit.ly/1zu5OWh

CFISD names new principal for Woodard Elementary School
Susan Brenz, the principal at Yeager Elementary School, has been named the new principal for Sadie Woodard Elementary School. Brenz is a graduate of the Rice University Education Entrepreneurship Program.
Cypress Creek Mirror
http://bit.ly/1KXVyJE

BROADCAST

KUT 90.5 (Austin, Texas)
Texas leaders are fighting efforts to reduce industrial emissions impacting the environment. John Anderson, the W. Maurice Ewing Chair in Oceanography and professor of Earth science, discusses evidence for global warming.
http://bit.ly/1yG9J2E

Keystone XL: Bad for Alaska crude?
Alaskan Democrats disagree with the plan to permit the Keystone XL Pipeline to extend into Alberta, which would compete with Alaska oils fields. Kenneth Medlock III, the James A. Baker III and Susan Baker Fellow in Energy and Resource Economics and lecturer of economics, explains that Keystone would not harm Alaska oil prices or investment in Alaska fields.
Alaska Public Media (This article also appeared in KTOO.org.)
http://bit.ly/1ylO7GL

Monorail, Code Red Report and social media impact on mental health: ‘Houston Matters’ for Friday, Jan. 16, 2015
Steve Murdock, the Allyn and Gladys Cline Professor of Sociology and director of Rice’s Hobby Center for the Study of Texas, discusses the report by the Code Red Task Force on Access to Health Care in Texas as chair of the task force.
Houston Public Media’s “Houston Matters”
http://bit.ly/1C3ZOTW

The world-class, sneaker-clad Canadian Brass returns to Houston
The group Canadian Brass will perform at Rice’s Stude Concert Hall Jan. 20.
Houston Public Media
http://bit.ly/1AI4479

KTRH-AM
The Urban Harvest fruit tree sale was held at Rice Stadium.
http://bit.ly/1CLzoED
Urban Harvest’s 15th annual fruit tree sale
CultureMap Houston
http://bit.ly/1zufIHu

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Hydrogels deliver on blood-vessel growth
Injectable hydrogels promote the growth of healthy blood vessels in new tissue. The Rice University research shows promise for a broad range of tissue regeneration strategies, as well as therapies to help victims of heart attack, stroke and ischemic tissue diseases. Jeffrey Hartgerink, professor of chemistry and of bioengineering, is quoted. Postdoctoral researcher Vivek Kumar; graduate students Abhishek Jalan, Marci Kang, Navindee Wickremasinghe; and undergraduate students Nichole Taylor, Siyu Shi and Benjamin Wang are mentioned.
HealthCanal
http://bit.ly/1J3iPrG
Researchers introduce improved injectable scaffold to promote healing
Phys.org
http://bit.ly/1CLonmK

Nanophotonics pioneer Naomi Halas to direct Rice’s Smalley Institute
Rice appointed nanotechnology pioneer Naomi Halas director of the Richard E. Smalley Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology. Halas, one of Rice’s most cited and renowned researchers, said she plans to expand the institute’s scope, engage more faculty and students and foster new collaborations at the frontiers of science.
Novus Light
http://bit.ly/1J37FD9
Naomi Halas named new director of Rice University’s Smalley Institute
BioNews-Texas
http://bit.ly/1KYdWlJ

Crush those clinkers while they’re hot
Clinkers pulverized to make cement should be processed right out of the kiln to save the most energy. The environmentally friendly advice is the result of a computational study by scientists at Rice University. Rouzbeh Shahsavari, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, is quoted. Former Rice graduate student Lu Chen is mentioned.
Space Daily (This article also appeared in One News Page.)
http://bit.ly/1zu4O4u

‘DNA origami’ inside nucleus provides clues to disease origins
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.
Genetic Literacy Project
http://bit.ly/1CwCRGN
Nvidia GPUs could help combat cancer in human genome research
The Inquirer
http://bit.ly/15sp4GF

Will graphene truly become the next miracle material?
Graphene, the remarkably thin and strong form of carbon, is featured for its potential to revolutionize products and processes across industries. Rice is mentioned as a leading university working on graphene materials and applications.
Digital Journal
http://bit.ly/1Gpygwl

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Industry: Obama sending mixed messages on natural gas
The natural gas industry is questioning President Barack Obama’s loyalty to the Environmental Protection Agency. Kenneth Medlock III, the James A. Baker III and Susan Baker Fellow in Energy and Resource Economics and lecturer of economics, is quoted.
TheTrucker.com
http://bit.ly/1ElWLpm

Only limited US immigration reform likely in 2015
Tony Payan, the Baker Institute’s Françoise and Edward Djerejian Fellow for Mexico Studies and director of the institute’s Mexico Center, is quoted about President Barack Obama’s executive action to allow undocumented migrants to apply for temporary legal status.
Work Permit
http://bit.ly/1sW0Z61

World’s thinnest, strongest material
Rice University scientists used microbullets in experiments to show graphene is 10 times better than steel at absorbing the energy of a penetrating projectile. Edwin Thomas, the William and Stephanie Sick Dean of the George R. Brown School of Engineering, is quoted.
Deccan Herald
http://bit.ly/1CeIvzv

‘Addressing unconscious bias’
Michelle Hebl, professor of psychology and management, will speak at Norris University about how unconscious bias influences character.
Evanston Now
http://bit.ly/153110n

Women in business — Margaret Cording
Former Jones Graduate School of Business professor Margaret Cording is featured.
Business Education
http://on.ft.com/1ymaDPF

SPORTS

Marathon report: Wade grateful for small step toward goal
Alumna Becky Wade ’12 placed 11th in the U.S. Half-Marathon Championship in Houston. She plans to run the Los Angeles Marathon in March.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1J3WhqE

Rice scores 73-68 overtime win over Charlotte
Rice men’s basketball beat University of North Carolina at Charlotte 73-68 at Dale F. Halton Arena. Players Max Guercy, Marcus Jackson, Seth Gearhart and Bishop Mency and Andrew Drone are mentioned.
CBSSports.com
http://cbsprt.co/1Em5GqU
Recap: Charlotte versus Rice
SunHerald.com (This article also appeared in Olympian, News Tribune, Telegraph, News & Observer, Bradenton Herald, Charlotte Observer and Lexington Herald-Leader.)
http://bit.ly/1yFSD4V
Rice (4-11) at Charlotte (8-8)
Bradenton Herald (This article also appeared in Sacramento Bee, Charlotte Observer, Modesto Bee, Kansas City Star, Tri-City Herald, Lexington Herald-Leader and Beaufort Gazette.)
http://bit.ly/1DYvGLL
Charlotte versus Rice — Jan. 17, 2015 college basketball pick, odds and prediction
Sports Chat Place
http://bit.ly/154e7uy

Owls blank Cards in dual opener
Rice women’s tennis team beat Lamar University 7-0 at the George R. Brown Tennis Center. Head coach Elizabeth Schmidt is quoted.
Fort Bend Sun (This article also appeared in Sugar Land Sun and Memorial Examiner.)
http://bit.ly/1ymGTlS

NEWS RELEASES

Hydrogels deliver on blood-vessel growth
Injectable hydrogels promote the growth of healthy blood vessels in new tissue. The Rice University research shows promise for a broad range of tissue regeneration strategies, as well as therapies to help victims of heart attack, stroke and ischemic tissue diseases.
http://bit.ly/1J8tRtZ
Media Pitch: Rice U. student covers dorm room floor with 13,000 plastic balls
Rice senior David Nichol covered the floor of his residential college room with 13,000 plastic balls.
http://bit.ly/18147nM

Rice community to celebrate MLK Day
On the eve of Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Day, the Rice University community held a candlelight vigil followed by a program titled “The Struggle for Social Justice Continues.”
http://bit.ly/1CLyNmt