Dateline Rice for Feb. 13, 2015

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Admissions report chips at Austin chief’s uncompromising reputation
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, comments on the benefit of a recently released University of Texas at Austin allegations of undue influence report and a new open-carry bill that is expected to pass, and he is cited for his study on the political leanings of politicians.
The Chronicle of Higher Education
http://bit.ly/1E7AfQO
Texans with AK-47s prod legislature to ease curbs on pistols
Chicago Tribune (This article also appeared in Yahoo! Finance, NewsMax, Santa Fe New Mexican and 790 Talk Now.)
http://trib.in/1ywKFF2
HD17 special election — landfills and education
Agenda Wise
http://bit.ly/1DoH69Y

Scott Walker, dropout president?
Presidential candidates are expected to have college degrees, but it may alienate them from voters. Douglas Brinkley, professor of history and fellow in history at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, explains that American voters may relate to Gov. Scott Walker for not graduating from college.
The Washington Post (This article also appeared in Orlando Sentinel and Sun Sentinel.)
http://wapo.st/1MjeFOY

Evanston Public Library and Northwestern University host second event in ongoing series on Middle Eastern Affairs
Ussama Makdisi, the Arab-American Educational Foundation Chair of Arab Studies and professor of history, will present his second lecture in an ongoing series from Evanston Public Library.
Chicago Tribune
http://trib.in/1DoCl0a

Birds may help forests stay cool
Amy Dunham, assistant professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, is quoted about the decline of the Mariana fruit-dove.
Audobon
http://bit.ly/1uPyPuh

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Baker Institute paper: US oil production has been an early responder to large drop in global oil prices
U.S. oil production, especially shale oil, has proven to be an early and nimble responder to the large drop in oil prices that occurred in late 2014, according to a new report by energy experts at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. Companies drilled 28 percent fewer oil wells in January across the U.S. than they did last June, in response to lower oil prices. Jim Krane, the Wallace S. Wilson Fellow for Energy Studies at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, and Mark Agerton, graduate fellow in the Center for Energy Studies a the Baker Institute, co-authored the paper.
Memorial Examiner (This article also appeared in Fort Bend Sun and Bellaire Examiner.)
http://bit.ly/1J9kjUI

BROADCAST

How have views on religion changed in the past decade?
University of Minnesota Professor Penny Edgell, who recently gave a lecture hosted by Rice’s Religion and Public Life Program, discusses the growing divide between people of faith and the nonreligious.
Houston Public Media’s “Houston Matters”
http://bit.ly/1AwmCvs
Costello on transportation: Thursday’s show (Feb. 12, 2015)
Houston Public Media’s “Houston Matters”
http://bit.ly/1726O7U

How do politics affect our romantic relationships?
John Alford, associate professor of political science, is featured for his collaborative research on political bias affecting relationships.
Evansville Courier & Press (This article also appeared in Record Searchlight and 27 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/1CoDT6j

WXXV-TV (Biloxi, Miss.)
John F. Kennedy’s speech given at Rice in 1962 is mentioned.
http://bit.ly/1zcOZue

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Nanoclusters act as antioxidants
PEG-HCC nanoparticles show promise for quenching the overexpression of damaging superoxides in preclinical trauma models. New tests show the process is due to catalytic turnover of reactive oxygen species. James Tour, the T.T. and W.F. Chao Professor of Chemistry, professor of computer science and of materials science and nanoengineering, is quoted.
Nanotechweb.org
http://bit.ly/1vr1yk8
Nano-antioxidants quickly neutralize superoxides
SciTechDaily
http://bit.ly/1J9tog9

NASA, Space Station partners announce future mission crew members
Alumna Peggy Whitson ’85 is scheduled to be on two of the next three International Space Station missions.
Space Daily
http://bit.ly/19f2C66

Sony, the Internet of things and the evolving cyber threat
Christopher Bronk, former fellow in information technology policy at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, authored an op-ed about cyber security, citing the recent breach at Sony Entertainment.
ETH Zurich
http://bit.ly/173v9Kf

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Marquette student startup FocalCast lands $50,000, spot at St. Louis’ Capital Innovators
The tech accelerator Capital Innovators accepted the startup FocalCast in its spring cohort. FocalCast received Capital Innovators’ attention at the Rice Business Plan Competition.
Milwaukee Business Journal
http://bit.ly/1ConKOr

LPFM watch: Seattle LPFMs celebrate World Radio Day, Rice University granted LPFM and more news
Rice’s student-run radio station is returning to the FM airwaves by the end of this year but won’t be called KTRU.
Radio Survivor
http://bit.ly/1F5BR15

Civilization ruined by drought left signs of thirst
André Droxler, professor of Earth science, co-authored a study on a centurylong drought causing the collapse of the ancient Mayan civilization.
Water Online
http://bit.ly/1FHnfm2

Walker’s plan risky for UW
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker cut $300 million from the University of Wisconsin’s budget over the next two years. Rice is mentioned in research on the differences in pay between public and private universities.
Post Crescent
http://post.cr/1Mj3ENI

Symphony brings love to stage
Graduate student Scott Cuellar will perform with the Lima Symphony Orchestra at Veterans Memorial Civic Center in Ohio.
LimaOhio.com (This article also appeared in Amherst News-Times.)
http://bit.ly/1zRVpTf

Organist Jason Roberts accompanies silent film ‘Steamboat Bill Jr.’ as part of great music at St. Bart’s series tonight
Alumnus Jason Roberts ’02 will accompany the silent film “Steamboat Bill Jr.”
Broadway World
http://bit.ly/1KSLqRf

SPORTS

Owls top Middle Tennessee in double OT
Rice basketball beat Middle Tennessee University 71-68 at Tudor Fieldhouse. Head coach Mike Rhoades is quoted. Player Seth Gearhart is mentioned.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/173xIMk
Rice beats Middle Tennessee in 2OT, 71-68
KHOU.com
http://bit.ly/1vqMJOA
Rice holds of Middle Tennessee in double overtime
Memorial Examiner (This article also appeared in Fort Bend Sun, Sugar Land Sun, West University Examiner and Big Ten Conference.)
http://bit.ly/1DoPne5
Recap: Rice versus Middle Tennessee
Idaho Statesman (This article also appeared in News Tribune and 18 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/1DNsQIj
Middle Tennessee (13-11) at Rice (7-15)
News Observer (This article also appeared in Bradenton Herald and 18 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/19f54tb
Rice riding high as MTSU men visit Texas again
Daily News Journal
http://on.dnj.com/1J9cz56

Lady Raiders beat Rice without best effort
Rice women’s basketball fell to Middle Tennessee University 61-79 at Tudor Fieldhouse.
Daily News Journal
http://on.dnj.com/1MjksEa

Preview: Western Kentucky @ Marshall
Rice’s basketball game against Marshall University is pictured.
The Parthenon
http://bit.ly/171PVKz