Dateline Rice for April 22, 2015

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Why it’s legal to fire someone for being gay in 28 states
Michelle Hebl, professor of psychology and management, is cited for her co-authored study on the effects of sexual orientation antidiscrimination legislation in the workplace in an article about gender discrimination in America.
Vox
http://bit.ly/1JbyeZo

Borderland protests: Do Border Patrol checkpoints go too far?
Car dashboard videos of people’s experiences crossing the Mexican border are igniting debate among border activists, academics, lawyers and law-enforcement officers. Tony Payan, the Baker Institute’s Françoise and Edward Djerejian Fellow for Mexico Studies and director of the institute’s Mexico Center, is quoted. Christian Science Monitor (This article also appeared in Yahoo! News.)
http://bit.ly/1HknR55

SFIFF58: Tim League to present neo-grindhouse extravaganza — craft beer included
Alumnus Tim League ’92, owner of the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, is hosting a program called “Dark Wave” at the 58th San Francisco International Film Festival.
Examiner.com
http://exm.nr/1cZYM2I

Students urge Congress to combat neglected tropical diseases
Alumnus Nathan Lo ’13 co-authored an op-ed about the seven neglected tropical diseases that require Congress’ attention.
The Hill
http://bit.ly/1HkwbSq

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Student blog: What does Saudi Arabia’s shift in power mean for women’s rights?
Martel College junior Neethi Nayak authored a blog post about the planned expansion of women’s political and economic rights in Saudi Arabia.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1Hl2a4R

Rosenberg has contested district elections for City Council
Alumna Susan Euton ’80 is running for District 2 for the Rosenberg City Council.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1Pir5qX
http://bit.ly/1aSbEGr

Lone Star cast features Katy thespians
Actress Patti Lozano, who will play Lily in Lone Star College-Cy-Fair’s production of “A Man of No Importance,” mentions that her son will attend Rice.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1EbYPT7

What makes Texans in Washington different
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, authored an op-ed about the conservatism among U.S. House Texas Republicans and Democrats and is quoted about Rand Paul being the first presidential candidate to raise money through Bitcoin.
TribTalk
http://bit.ly/1JcmciH
Presidential hopeful Rand Paul to raise money through Bitcoin
My Fox Houston
http://bit.ly/1Htz8hV

Lift the ban on crude oil exports
Lifting the 40-year-old export ban on U.S. crude oil would have far-reaching effects on pricing, energy security and energy sector investment, according to new research from Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. Kenneth Medlock III, the James A. Baker III and Susan Baker Fellow in Energy and Resource Economics and lecturer of economics, is mentioned.
San Antonio Express-News
http://bit.ly/1DNpOmt
Big oil wants you to help end US export ban
Hellenic Shipping News (This article also appeared in First Enercast Financial News.)
http://bit.ly/1EbTgEe

National Oilwell Varco exec named new CEO of Transocean
Alumnus Jeremy Thigpen ’97 was named CEO of Transocean.
Houston Business Journal
http://bit.ly/1ErZX7h
NOV’s Thigpen to head Transocean
OEDigital.com (This article also appeared in Rigzone and over 70 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/1zLV9SK

BROADCAST

KUT 90.5 (Austin, Texas)
Gérard Araud, French ambassador to the United States, will engage in a wide-ranging discussion on global affairs, including terrorism, climate change and recent developments in the Middle East, with Edward Djerejian, founding director of Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, at Rice today.
http://bit.ly/1HV5dzI

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Engineers made a simple device to numb skin so injections hurt less
If the Rice University freshmen on the engineering design team Comfortably Numb have it their way, children will be less fearful and feel less pain when they go to the doctor’s office for a shot. The research team includes Greg Allison, Andy Zhang and Mike Hua. They were guided by Ann Saterbak, professor in the practice of bioengineering education, and Jane Grande-Allen, the Isabel C. Cameron Professor of Bioengineering. The article includes a video produced by Rice’s Brandon Martin.
Gizmodo (This article also appeared in Gizmodo Australia, Tech Investor News, Ohh Word and eWallstreeter.)
http://bit.ly/1DyebMX
Comfortable numb device cools skin to prevent pain of drug injections (video)
MedGadget
http://bit.ly/1K4RtSb

Hubble’s chief scientist explains how the telescope got off the ground
Robert O’Dell, the Andrew Hays Buchanan Professor Emeritus of Astrophysics and former chief scientist on the Hubble Space Telescope, authored an op-ed about the evolution of the Hubble Space Telescope’s success and use. An image of a proplyd in the Orion Nebula is credited to O’Dell and Rice.
The Conversation
http://bit.ly/1yRP2RX

Study suggests new drug strategy for insulin-influenced tumor growth
Patients who are obese, diabetic or both have the highest incidence of brain tumors, and they offer a clue that insulin is a factor for some glioblastoma patients. But a new Rice University study suggests drugs tested on such tumors targeted the wrong molecules. Amina Qutub, assistant professor of bioengineering, and graduate student Ka Wai Lin are quoted.
Scicasts
http://bit.ly/1PhU6Db

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Wendy Davis talks public school funding in return visit
Wendy Davis discussed public education funding in Midland, Texas, and cited a study by Steve Murdock, the Allyn and Gladys Cline Professor of Sociology and director of Rice’s Hobby Center for the Study of Texas.
Permian Basin
http://bit.ly/1yPAMsD

UTSA hosts digital humanities expert presentation April 23
Lisa Spiro, executive director of digital scholarship services at Fondren Library, will present “Shaping (Digital) Scholars: Teaching and Learning in the Digital Humanities” at the University of Texas at San Antonio Main Campus.
UTSA Today
http://bit.ly/1JbjZDX

Female academics combat bias in STEM fields
Female scientists are changing the gender gap affecting science academia. Vicki Colvin, Rice’s former vice provost for research, is quoted.
The Brown Daily Herald
http://bit.ly/1Fe42e3

UT Tyler finishes debate season among best in nation
The University of Texas at Tyler student debaters placed second in the nation at the 2015 National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence. Rice is mentioned.
CBS19.tv
http://bit.ly/1bhsteg

Franklin business owner honored by funeral association
Alumnus Frederick Miller ’65 received an award from the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association.
The Tennessean
http://tnne.ws/1Jbqbfi

SPORTS

C-USA recognizes Rice’s Austin Orewiler as pitcher of the week
Rice baseball player Austin Orewiler was named Conference USA Baseball co-Pitcher of the Week for April 13-19.
Best College Sports News Network
http://bit.ly/1EbTNGc

Southeastern Invitational canceled for bad weather
Rice’s track and field will compete against Southeastern Louisiana University April 25.
The Lion’s Roar
http://bit.ly/1buHUR6

NEWS RELEASES

Gamers feel the glove from Rice engineers
Rice University engineering students create a tactile feedback glove for virtual-reality environments.
http://bit.ly/1yPLdfN

Richards-Kortum elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Rice University bioengineer and global health leader Rebecca Richards-Kortum has been elected a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, one of the nation’s foremost scholarly honors.
http://bit.ly/1PiqJ3y

Mexico’s energy reform, oil and gas auction in focus at Rice’s Baker Institute April 28
As Mexico prepares to tender some of its more lucrative conventional oil and gas blocks in successive auction rounds this summer, experts on energy and Mexico will gather at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy April 28 to discuss the bidding process and the country’s broader energy reform efforts.
http://bit.ly/1DhXUwt