Dateline Rice for May 27, 2015

FEATURED ITEM

Continuing rain torments flooded areas in Texas
The Rice University and Texas Medical Center Flood Alert System 3 performed up to spec and beyond during the storm in the Houston area May 25 and 26. Phil Bedient, the Herman Brown Professor of Engineering, is quoted.
Voice of America (This article also appeared in Dallas Sun, Austin News and Big News Network.)
http://bit.ly/1Koqm4l

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

To find ‘needle-in-a-haystack’ mutations, add a ‘goat’
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. David Zhang, assistant professor of bioengineering, is quoted. Graduate student J. Sherry Wang is mentioned.
Futurity
http://bit.ly/1FYswdf
DNA mutations get harder to hide
Texas Medical Center News (This article also appeared in Health Canal and e! Science News.)
http://bit.ly/1QabZ5b
Technique spots DNA mutations accurately
Laboratory Equipment
http://bit.ly/1JVmo54

Ross Harris: Hot car deaths prompt new bills, memorial park meets opposition
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.
Examiner.com
http://exm.nr/1dxJv9K
New invention helps alert parents when a child has been left in car
The Baby Post
http://bit.ly/1HLtlGl

Recent editorials from Texas newspapers
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, and from his speech at the inaugural Houston 2035 conference.
Washington Times (This Associated Press article also appeared in Austin American-Statesman and 22 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/1AxV5Mb
Houston 2035: Innovative cities make diversity its growth engine
Xconomy
http://bit.ly/1RnNnZe

Continúa la puja en Texas para aprobar el uso de marihuana con fines médicos y recreativos
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, is quoted about the legalization of marijuana in Texas.
Semana News (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/1KouZeR

HOUSTON/TEXAS

How powerful was that storm? A physicist does the math.
Douglas Natelson, professor of physics and astronomy and of electrical and computer engineering, authored an op-ed calculating the strength of the thunderstorm that flooded large parts of Houston Tuesday morning.
Houston Chronicle (This article appeared in the Houston Chronicle’s “Gray Matters” online magazine and is featured on the front of today’s Extra section in the online newspaper. Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1FOvNtt

Expenses loom for Plains over California oil spill
Pipeline companies are seeking infrastructure to prevent future oil spills, like the recent accident along California’s coast. Jim Krane, the Wallace S. Wilson Fellow in Energy Studies at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
Houston Chronicle (This appeared on the front of the Business section. Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1PN9MBR

Summer program to spark young writers
Pearland-area children will have the opportunity to participate in Writers in the Schools’ Creative Writing Camp, which is offered in partnership with Rice’s School Literacy and Culture Program.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1J5k235

Rice Education Entrepreneurship Program’s impact growing across Houston
With this month marking the 5-year graduation anniversary of the Rice University Education Entrepreneurship Program’s first MBA cohort, the growth of the program’s impact across Houston’s K-12 schools has been both rapid and widespread. Andrea Hodge, executive director of REEP, is quoted.
Texas Medical Center News
http://bit.ly/1Kozg1U

Police come together for annual Torch Run
Rice police officers participated in the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run May 20.
Magnolia Potpourri (This article also appeared in Tomball Potpourri, Spring Observer and Cypress Creek Mirror.)
http://bit.ly/1J5lKBr

Restaurants across Houston remain closed due to flooding
The Rice University Farmers Market was closed Tuesday, due to the flooding in Houston.
Houstonia
http://bit.ly/1J1htk1

BROADCAST

C-SPAN2
Douglas Brinkley, professor of history and fellow in history at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, discussed author Kabir Sehgal’s new book, “Coined,” on BOOK TV.
http://bit.ly/1JVnA8G

KIII-TV (Corpus Christi, Texas)
Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business is hosting a public casting call for the ABC show “Shark Tank.”
http://bit.ly/1J5rLhk

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

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

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Rice U. receives $50M for leadership development
With a $50 million gift from venture capitalist John Doerr ’73 and his wife, Ann ’75, through their private family foundation, Rice University is planning an unconventional approach to developing students into leaders.
eCampus News
http://bit.ly/1J1iR6h

The year the Soviets owned the moon
John F. Kennedy’s speech given at Rice in 1962 is mentioned.
Vice
http://bit.ly/1AtTkje
John Kennedy announces aim to put an American on moon on May 25, 1961
French Tribune
http://bit.ly/1AtNgHx

Thomas Jefferson High School has 3 valedictorians
Thomas Jefferson High School valedictorian Tram Thi Bich Nguyen plans to attend Rice.
New Orleans Advocate
http://bit.ly/1LHPOSC

SPORTS

Rupp has Deer Park thinking deeper
Rice baseball will compete against several teams in the NCAA baseball tournament regional.
Houston Chronicle (Similar articles appeared in over 300 other media outlets. Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1FYKhZU
Big bats doing Wildcats’ talking
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1FOEeoO
No ticket? Watch UL baseball at ‘The Tigue’
The Advertiser
http://bit.ly/1dxKeHW
Robichaux: Leger will not pitch Friday
ESPN1420.com
http://bit.ly/1KzTwRo
Cy Ranch eliminates Memorial in 2
Memorial Examiner
http://bit.ly/1J1lUes
ESPN-TV
http://bit.ly/1SC8wAy
KHOU-TV
http://bit.ly/1FYPK2P (Similar broadcasts appeared in over 40 other media outlets.)

NEWS RELEASE

Rice-designed Flood Alert System performs well
The Rice University and Texas Medical Center Flood Alert System 3 performed up to spec and beyond during the storm that deluged Houston May 25 and 26.
http://bit.ly/1Bp95Tr