Dateline Rice for May 26, 2015 (Weekend Edition)

FEATURED ITEM

Texas Standard for May 22, 2015
Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, fellow for the Middle East at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is interviewed about the Islamic State’s takeover of Iraq and how they can be stopped. He is also quoted about Oman’s independence from other Gulf states and the Gulf Co-operation Council.
Texas Standard
http://bit.ly/1F8yp0C
Middle path
Zawya
http://bit.ly/1HISZcd

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Inside Don Draper’s Big Sur nirvana: The Esalen Institute
Jeffrey Kripal, the J. Newton Rayzor Professor of Religion, authored an op-ed about the Esalen Institute and people identifying as spiritual, but not religious.
The Daily Beast
http://thebea.st/1SAcmKs
What is the spiritual retreat in the ‘Mad Men’ finale?
Starcasm.net
http://bit.ly/1LFlVTK

Brain or heart? Where you place thy ‘sense of self’ says a lot about you
Whether people locate their sense of self in the brain or the heart can have a major influence on their decision-making, according to a new study by management and business experts at Rice University and Columbia University. Hajo Adam, visiting assistant professor of business, and Otilia Obodaru, assistant professor of management at Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business, are quoted.
Gizmodo India (This article also appeared in Medical Daily and Med India.)
http://bit.ly/1LDamMb

College freshmen have invented a way to make injections less painful. Pretty cool.
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.
Upworthy
http://u.pw/1Huu612

Adnoc holds energy R&D summit
Sibani Lisa Biswal, assistant professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, received an innovation award at the Abu Dhabi International Research and Development Conference and Exhibition.
The Gulf Today (This article also appeared in Gulf in the Media.)
http://bit.ly/1Q8qxCv

Viaggio nello ‘shale oil’ texano
Bill Arnold, professor in the practice of management at Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business, is quoted in an article about Texas’ shale oil industry.
Panorama (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/1RkEy2z

Inovação brasileira reconhecida
The Diaspora Brazil Award winners were announced. José Onuchic, the Harry C. and Olga K. Wiess Professor of Physics and Astronomy, is mentioned.
Correio Braziliense (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/1ErvPCc

Women in business Q&A: Dr. Rebecca Parsons, chief technology officer, ThoughtWorks
Alumna Rebecca Parsons ’90 is interviewed about her leadership role at ThoughtWorks.
Huffington Post
http://huff.to/1JU3yve

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Tradition upended as freshmen make voices heard in Senate
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 new trend of freshman Senate members having a more prominent role and opinion about hot-button issues and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s decision to move forward with his bid for president.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1KxissA
Rick Perry to enter GOP presidential race still under indictment
Personal Liberty
http://bit.ly/1AvX43m

Editorial: Myths die hard
Stephen Klineberg, professor of sociology and founding director of Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, is quoted about Texas’ stereotype in an op-ed about the state’s need for rebranding.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1Evlo0r

On Memorial Day and everyday: Never forget
Army Cpl. Tomas Sotelo Jr. is remembered on Memorial Day for his service to the country. The article mentions that Sotelo had wanted to attend Rice.
Houston Chronicle (This article also appeared in Beaumont Enterprise. Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1FdUTyk

Memorial Hermann continues to sue the uninsured for charges they can’t afford
Vivian Ho, the James A. Baker III Institute Chair in Health Economics at Rice’s Baker Institute and professor of economics, defends Memorial Hermann’s ability to maintain smart business practices and ability to treat more patients than other hospitals.
Houston Press
http://bit.ly/1Ev7MT8

Survey: Texans not singing from the same hymnal anymore
Fewer Texans now identify as Christian, according to the Pew Research Center’s latest study. Elaine Howard Ecklund, the Herbert S. Autrey Chair and Professor of Sociology, co-director of the Boniuk Institute for the Study and Advancement of Religious Tolerance and director of Rice’s Religion and Public Life Program, is quoted.
Athens Review
http://bit.ly/1LCOosF

Education briefs
John Cooper School students Jack Whitney and Kevin Dural won awards for their essays in the Embracing Tolerance Contest sponsored by Rice’s Boniuk Institute for the Study and Advancement of Religious Tolerance.
The Montgomery County Courier
http://bit.ly/1F8ffIi

Pushing principles and principals for better public schools: Q&A with Raise Your Hand Texas CEO David Anthony
David Anthony, CEO of Raise Your Hand Texas, who is responsible for donating money to send principals to Rice for training in management, is interviewed.
Waco Tribune
http://bit.ly/1Bnf2jM

Editorial: New law puts all campus police, public or private, on same footing
The Texas Senate approved Sen. John Whitmire’s filed bill that would require private university police departments to obey requests under the Texas Public Information Act. Rice is mentioned.
Dallas Morning News
http://bit.ly/1Arnp38

BROADCAST

Rice students invent device that prevents kids from being left in hot cars
Five recent Rice University graduates have designed a new car seat accessory that can not only protect infants accidentally left in hot cars but can also notify caregivers and emergency personnel. Graduates Audrey Clayton, Rachel Wang and Jason Fang are quoted. Ralph LaFrance, Ge You and alumna Susan Baldwin ’82 are mentioned.
KPRC-TV
http://bit.ly/1FMUkiH
Dothan’s new police chief has stern warning for parents
WTVY.com
http://bit.ly/1IXSmhT
Rice students design hot car accessory to save children
The Police News
http://bit.ly/1LFZ8qW
Hot car deaths are horrific accidents, so stop being so judgmental
Mommyish
http://bit.ly/1BnsnJ4
WGCL-TV (Atlanta)
http://bit.ly/1FdYwEs
WPRI-TV (Providence, R.I.)
http://bit.ly/1KkTY2t

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

DNA mutations get harder to hide
Rice University researchers have developed a method to detect rare DNA mutations with an approach hundreds of times more powerful than current methods. David Zhang, assistant professor of bioengineering, is quoted. Graduate student J. Sherry Wang is mentioned.
Phys.org
http://bit.ly/1Q8sfDN

Genome editing: What the future holds
Gang Bao, the Foyt Family Professor in Bioengineering and the director of Rice’s Nanomedicine Center for Nucleoprotein Machines, is mentioned for his research on the use of CRISPT/Cas9 to block sickle cell disease through a grant from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas.
IOL SciTech
http://bit.ly/1EvaVSG

S’pore ‘well set up’ to be LNG pricing benchmark
Peter Hartley, professor of economics, explains Singapore’s potential to become the key pricing benchmark of Southeast Asia.
Hellenic Shipping News
http://bit.ly/1Q8qdUq

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

John Podesta: Legacy maker
Douglas Brinkley, professor of history and fellow in history at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, comments on the influence on public lands and climate change that Bill Clinton’s former chief of staff, John Podesta, had. Brinkley also delivered the commencement speech at Perrysburg High School.
High Country News
http://bit.ly/1HIOxdk
Perrysburg graduates urged to stand up to injustice
Toledo Blade
http://bit.ly/1Kx8ibs

Corporate culture’s influence on employee evaluations
Psychologists at Rice reinforce the importance of continuous feedback on employee performance. Doctoral candidate and lead author of the study Jisoo Ock is quoted. Study co-author Fred Oswald, professor of psychology, is mentioned.
Human Resource Executive Online
http://bit.ly/1F8rW5N

Conway student earns NSF Graduate Research Fellowship
Graduate student John Gomez was selected for the 2015 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program.
Log Cabin Democrat
http://bit.ly/1PKgCIv

Stand-up comedy is now in China, and they may have Emo Phillips to thank
Alumnus Joe Wong ’00 is featured for his career as a stand-up comedian.
The Interrobang
http://bit.ly/1FU5lk4

May 25, 1961: Kennedy ramps up the Space Race by pledging to put a man on the moon
John F. Kennedy’s speech given at Rice in 1962 is mentioned.
BT.com
http://bit.ly/1FBhjvC

SPORTS

Despite C-USA setback, Rice still has NCAA Tournament resume
Rice baseball will play against University of Houston and University of Louisiana at Lafayette in the NCAA baseball tournament regional.
Examiner.com
http://exm.nr/1J2BJ34
Host UH grouped with Rice, HBU in NCAA baseball regional
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1KxrINm
Houston becomes the center of the college baseball universe
Houston Press
http://bit.ly/1SAkuul
Cajuns will travel to Houston this weekend for NCAA regional round
KATC.com
http://bit.ly/1Eveatu
Cajuns are Houston bound; LSU No. 2 overall seed
ESPN1420.com
http://bit.ly/1KkGjIV

Texas Southern to face Texas A&M in NCAA tournament
A 2004 NCAA tournament game between Rice and Texas Southern University is mentioned.
Southwestern Athletic Conference
http://bit.ly/1LFbQGr

Goal of NBA crown unites player, coach
The Golden State Warriors basketball team practiced at Rice University in preparation of their game against the Houston Rockets.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1ArldbG
Warriors make plans for overdue Finals trip
San Francisco Examiner
http://bit.ly/1F8dFWR
Kawakami: What’s ‘normal’ for Stephen Curry is otherworldly for everyone else
Contra Costa Times (This article also appeared in San Francisco Gate and more than 50 other media outlets.)
http://bayareane.ws/1Avycc3
KRON-TV (San Francisco)
http://bit.ly/1RkT36p (Similar broadcasts appeared on KGO-TV, KCBA-TV, KTVU-TV and KQET-TV.)

NEWS RELEASES

Flooding expert available for interviews
Phil Bedient, Rice University professor of civil engineering, director of Rice’s SSPEED Center and designer of the Flood Alert System 3, is available for interviews today to discuss the current flooding in Houston.
http://bit.ly/1FNc3qn

Rice recruits cancer researcher from Harvard with CPRIT grant
A cancer researcher from Harvard Medical School will join the Rice University faculty in August as the result of a $2 million grant from CPRIT.
http://bit.ly/1Bnnz6c

DNA mutations get harder to hide
Rice bioengineers develop a powerful approach to find rare DNA mutations called single-nucleotide variations. The researchers’ work could speed the development of personalized medicine.
http://bit.ly/1F8u2Tq