Dateline Rice for May 29, 2015

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Graphene spacecraft could fly on starlight
Chinese researchers at Nankai University hypothesized that a solar-powered spacecraft could one day be built with graphene. The article notes that Rice University scientists used microbullets in experiments to show graphene is 10 times better than steel at absorbing the energy of a penetrating projectile.
Wired.co.uk
http://bit.ly/1SGBxes

Saudi Arabia says it’s ditching fossil fuels — kinda
Saudi Arabia’s oil minister Ali al-Naimi declared that Saudi Arabia planned to shift focus from fossil fuels to becoming a major producer of global power in solar and wind energy. Jim Krane, the Wallace S. Wilson Fellow in Energy Studies at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
Vice News
http://bit.ly/1AynHFr

Bosphorus reimagined as petrol pipeline
Neyran Turan, assistant professor of architecture, is featured for her new installation at SALT Beyoğlu in Istanbul.
Hurriyet Daily News (This article also appeared in Turkish Daily News.)
http://bit.ly/1RuS1oq

Walter Byers, architect of the modern NCAA, dies at 93
Walter Byers, the first executive director of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and former Rice student, died at the age of 93.
The Washington Post
http://wapo.st/1HAvWxu

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Mayor’s race gearing up with 3 forums next week
Stephen Klineberg, professor of sociology and founding director of Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, will discuss the results from the 2015 Houston Area Survey at next Thursday’s mayoral forum.
Houston Chronicle (This article also appeared in Beaumont Enterprise. Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1FRJkR9

Is a lack of federal funding to blame for Monday’s flooding along Brays Bayou?
Phil Bedient, the Herman Brown Professor of Engineering, is quoted about the Brays Bayou construction project that was meant to be completed last year, but has now been pushed to 2020.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1FkgO77
http://bit.ly/1FHNKbZ

San Jacinto College broadens impact to produce more STEM grads
An article about San Jacinto College’s STEM council and activities mentions that San Jacinto students obtain internships through the Rice Summer Internship Program.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1cnaLqb

Locals sink or swim ABC’s ‘Shark Tank’
Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business is hosting a public casting call for the ABC show “Shark Tank.”
Houston Chronicle (This article also appeared in DailyNews724. Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1HAwunb
http://bit.ly/1ACfrUo

‘CSI’ success is no mystery
“CSI: Web Adventures,” a long-running interactive online science game created at Rice University, is now featured on the American Library Association’s Great Websites for Kids. Leslie Miller, executive director of the Rice center, is quoted.
Houston Style Magazine
http://bit.ly/1G7mC9u

Campus carry heads to conference committee
Texas lawmakers are seeking compromise over changes made to Senate Bill 11, which would expand where concealed carry license holders can bring their handguns on college campuses. Rice is mentioned.
Texas Tribune (This article also appeared in the Houston Chronicle, My High Plains and Express News.)
http://bit.ly/1FHYE1f
With days left in session, ‘campus carry’ bill heads to conference committee
Dallas Morning News
http://bit.ly/1JXE8Nf

Young professionals consider purpose of one’s soul, belief
Graduate student Elie Bengio gave a presentation at a recent dinner on the difference between the true and necessary beliefs about God and the universe, according to Maimonides’ teachings.
Jewish Herald-Voice
http://bit.ly/1EEiAOG

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Rice U. merges nanotech and quantum institutes
Rice University is merging two of its multidisciplinary research institutes, the Richard E. Smalley Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology and the Rice Quantum Institute, to form a new entity, the Smalley-Curl Institute. Naomi Halas, director of the Richard E. Smalley Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology and the Rice Quantum Institute and the Stanley C. Moore Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and a professor of chemistry, bioengineering, physics and astronomy, and materials science and nanoengineering, is quoted. Robert Curl, University Professor Emeritus and the Kenneth S. Pitzer-Schlumberger Professor Emeritus of Natural Sciences; Frank Tittel, the J.S. Abercrombie Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering and professor of bioengineering; and the late Richard Smalley are mentioned.
Controlled Environments
http://bit.ly/1dBDOI6

Physical therapy apparatus for disadvantaged communities
Alumna Jennifer Muturi ’15, one of the recipients of this year’s Alan Grob Prize, called on students in Rice’s Introduction to Engineering Design course to help her design and build a physical-therapy apparatus to better serve pediatric patients at a rehabilitation center in Buduburam, Ghana. Ann Saterbak, professor in the practice of bioengineering education, is quoted.
Medical Design Technology
http://bit.ly/1LRocup

Wearables may get boost from boron-infused graphene
Flexible, wearable electronics may benefit from graphene microsupercapacitors infused with boron and made with a common laser. James Tour, the T.T. and W.F. Chao Professor of Chemistry, professor of computer science and of materials science and nanoengineering, is quoted.
The 7R Future Leadership Institute
http://bit.ly/1JZ0iyK

What’s next for virtual reality?
Rice University engineering students created a tactile feedback glove for virtual-reality environments.
Load the Game
http://bit.ly/1G7h7aQ
Qual’è il prossimo obiettivo della realtà virtuale?
DaVinci Tech (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/1Jc3SoD

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Moab Poets and Writers to host writing workshop June 6
Alumna Mylene Dressler ’93 will host a writing workshop June 6 at the Moab Arts and Recreation Center in Utah.
The Times-Independent
http://bit.ly/1HAtWW2

Brownwood’s 2 highest-ranking students ready for life after high school
Valedictorians from Brownwood High School and St. Mary’s Dominican plan to attend Rice.
Brownwood Bulletin
http://bit.ly/1G724OE
Here are the 2015 vals and sals at high schools in New Orleans
The Times-Picayune
http://bit.ly/1dBIgGM

SPORTS

Houston Regional: What to know about Rice baseball team
Rice baseball is profiled in preparation of the NCAA Regional. Head coach Wayne Graham is mentioned.
The Times-Picayune (This article also appeared in Bayou Buzz.)
http://bit.ly/1FHX9Ap
Owls face Ragin’ Cajuns Friday in NCAA Regional
Conference USA
http://bit.ly/1JZ1fXZ
No. 3 Cajuns face No. 2 Rice in Houston Regional
ESPN1420.com
http://bit.ly/1SGDLua
Cajuns SS Blake Trahan, 2B Stefan Trosclair named 3rd team all-Americans
ESPN1420.com
http://bit.ly/1HP892n
Baseball makes final preparations for NCAA Tournament
Texas Sports
http://bit.ly/1RuOYwC

Why not us? An oral history of Louisville’s 2007 College World Series run
Rice baseball is mentioned in a history of the University of Louisville’s players and past games.
Austin American-Statesman (This article also appeared in WSB-TV and 10 other media outlets.)
http://atxne.ws/1FI3pba