Dateline Rice for Feb. 19, 2015

FEATURED ITEM

Rapper Bun B teaches class on religion and hip-hop at Rice
Religion and Hip-Hop Culture is a new free edX online course being offered by Rice University’s Center for Digital Learning and Scholarship. Anthony Pinn, the Agnes Cullen Arnold Professor of Humanities and professor of religious studies, and Bernard “Bun B” Freeman, the Center for Engaged Research and Collaborative Learning’s Distinguished Lecturer, will lead the course.
Houston Public Media’s “Houston Matters”
http://bit.ly/1LhYxf1
Professor Bun B schools us on W.E.B. DuBois’ ‘The Souls of Black Folk’ (video)
The Urban Daily (Similar articles appeared in 18 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/1AoGajK
Bun B says rap-a-lot CEO J. Prince’s ‘Courtesy Call’ was gonna be on an album
XXLMag
http://bit.ly/1vjXnf6

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Why the US needs to help Mexico fight corruption
Tony Payan, the Baker Institute’s Françoise and Edward Djerejian Fellow for Mexico Studies and director of the institute’s Mexico Center, authored an op-ed in favor of the United States helping Mexico settle its issues.
The Hill
http://bit.ly/1LhZdRR

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Iwo Jima veteran to share his story on 70th anniversary
Talento Bilingue De Houston Center is honoring the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima Feb. 22. Douglas Brinkley, professor of history and fellow in history at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
Houston Chronicle (This appeared on the front page. Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1CNuKXC

Texas Obamacare enrollments, renewals near 1.2 million
Elena Marks, scholar in health policy at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, explains the sudden surge in health insurance marketplace enrollment.
Houston Chronicle (This appeared on the front of the Business section. Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1E9HPMT
Nearly 1.2 million Texans sign up for health plans
San Antonio Express-News
http://bit.ly/1LeJAsh

The punk comedian who became mayor of Reykjavík
Famous Icelandic comedian, pundit and former mayor of Reykjavík Jón Gnarr is featured. Gnarr will begin his residence this spring as the first writer-in-residence at Rice’s Center for Energy and Environmental Research in the Human Sciences.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1EXuuFm

Critics say Lewis’ party leadership gives council bid unfair advantage
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 Lane Lewis’ campaign.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1LhjRkV

From Hawaii to Htown, Cariloha Bamboo opens at Rice Village
Duncan College senior Mary Anderson authored a blog post about the new bamboo-fabric boutique Cariloha Bamboo that opened in Rice Village.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1G7OEOk

Manufacturers say EPA proposals would halt expansions
Jay Timmons, president and CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers, spoke at Rice about the threat manufacturing facilities face from the proposed Environmental Protection Agency rules against pollutants.
Fuel Fix
http://bit.ly/1Dvcllg
State of Manufacturing address at Rice University
NAM.org
http://bit.ly/1EtC3E2

Mission to … Utah? Would-be Mars voyagers look for lessons about how people would fare on the 4th planet
Alumnus David Real ’75 mentioned his Rice roommate, William Clancey ’74, in an op-ed about their two-week vacation at a simulated Mars colony in the Utah desert.
The Dallas Morning News
http://bit.ly/1z2DJzz

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

US natural gas market buffered against local policy intervention
The depth and efficiency of the United States natural gas market would buffer it against potential local policy interventions aimed at limiting access to shale gas resources, according to a new paper by energy economists at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. Ken Medlock, the James A. Baker III and Susan Baker Fellow in Energy and Resource Economics and senior director of the Center for Energy Studies at the Baker Institute and lecturer of economics, is quoted.
Phys.org
http://bit.ly/1MADMNf
Study: Local ordinances will not hurt gas market
Argus Media
http://bit.ly/1DD94Pj

Doping germanium quantum dots to yield solar cells
Andrew Barron, the Charles W. Duncan Jr.-Welch Professor of Chemistry and professor of materials science and co-founder of Natcore, and scientists working with Natcore Technology Inc. formed a heterojunction solar cell using germanium quantum dots on an ordinary n-type silicon wafer.
EET India (This article also appeared in EE Times Europe.)
http://bit.ly/1LhyqVK

MS research roundup: Feb, 18, 2015
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.
Multiple Sclerosis Discovery Forum
http://bit.ly/1LhuxQo

Natural gas trucking fleet could benefit economy, but has mixed environmental effects
According to a report by Rice University and the Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis, switching from diesel fuel to natural gas may have advantages for the nation’s heavy-duty trucking fleet.
Phys.org (This article also appeared in Daily Democrat, e! Science News, EIN News and UC Davis News & Information.)
http://bit.ly/1FynhPS

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Ausnahmetalent am Flügel
Alumnus Viktor Valkov ’14 is featured.
MorgenWeb.de
http://bit.ly/1Lfm26B

Lawrence Scholar Awarded Newton International Fellowship
Alumnus Matthew Levy ’14 is the first American physicist to be awarded a prestigious Newton International Fellowship by the Royal Society of the United Kingdom. Matthew Baring, professor of physics and astronomy, is mentioned.
The Independent
http://bit.ly/1EXaqmC

St. Mary’s freshmen win NCLC Case Study Competition
Rice is hosting the Southwest U.S. Finals Feb. 21.
St. Mary’s University
http://bit.ly/1CN3eao

Duo Alves to perform at OUS
Alumna Kristen Alves ’97 will perform at the Ohio University Southern Community Concert Series.
Ironton Tribune
http://bit.ly/19CJXBn

SPORTS

FIU versus Rice — Feb. 19, 2015 college basketball pick, odds and prediction
Rice men’s basketball will play against Florida International University today at U.S. Century Bank Area in Florida.
Sports Chat Place
http://bit.ly/1AoFueg
Owls take winning streak on the road
Conference USA
http://bit.ly/1EsXftD
Rice (9-15) at FIU (12-13)
Charlotte Observer
http://bit.ly/17hxscT

Night 1 of Conference USA Championships ends with ties for 1st in women’s and men’s scoring
Rice women’s swimming ended the first night of the Conference USA with a strong finish. Swimmer Marissa Konicke is mentioned.
Swim Swam
http://bit.ly/19CdStl

Common hip issue in teens misdiagnosed as pulled muscle
Rice baseball player John Clay Reeves discusses his hip impingement, which is a common condition seen in teens and young adults.
Health Canal
http://bit.ly/1EsSWi6

Cats sweep Bison, improve to 5-0
Rice baseball will play against the University of Arizona at Hi Corbett Field in Arizona.
Arizona Wildcats
http://bit.ly/1AWS86b
Wildcat baseball sweeps Bison
KPLCTV.com (This article also appeared in WNEM-TV, KOLD-TV and WTOL-TV.)
http://bit.ly/1EatcJk

NEWS RELEASE

Rice University expert available to discuss Texas’ first same-sex marriage
Despite Texas’ ban on gay marriage, the first same-sex couple has been legally married in Travis County today through a court order. Brian Riedel, assistant director of Rice’s Center for the Study of Women, Gender and Sexuality, is available to discuss the timely issue.
http://bit.ly/17vXBVc