Dateline Rice for July 7, 2015

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Greece: A look at the major disagreements between the country and European leaders
Ted Temzelides, professor of economics, is quoted about the resignation of Greece’s finance minister, Greece’s current economic standing and the unlikelihood of it impacting Americans.
ABC News
http://abcn.ws/1RiyElR
Greece’s economy and how it may affect the US
ABC News
http://abcn.ws/1H5PY2t
Greece: Here’s what happens next
Yahoo! News (This article also appeared in ABC local and 27 other media outlets.)
http://yhoo.it/1NLsrbX
Greece: Here’s what occurs next
Gazette Dubai
http://bit.ly/1JRDzmR
Greece’s economy and how it may perhaps affect the US
Dallas Daily Gazette
http://bit.ly/1dJS3tn
How Greece’s economy may affect the US
WEARTV.com
http://bit.ly/1dK0kgX

In Texas, colleges prepare for concealed weapons
Texas universities are determining how to comply with the new Texas legislation that allows concealed handguns on college campuses. Rice plans to consult members of its community and update the university’s current policy, if needed, by the law’s effective date.
Reuters (This article also appeared in Yahoo! News.)
http://reut.rs/1glt1mf

The anti-pot taboo shrinks in presidential politics
Both political parties are discussing legalizing marijuana and easing drug sentences, a topic that was once politically controversial. William Martin, the Harry and Hazel Chavanne Senior Fellow in Religion and Public Policy at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
Associated Press (This article also appeared in CBS Denver and over 200 other media outlets.)
http://apne.ws/1JMkaqi

HOUSTON/TEXAS

The 2015 Texas House, from left to right
Mark Jones, the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies, professor of political science and fellow in political science at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, authored a biennial analysis and ranking of the members of the Texas House.
TribTalk
http://bit.ly/1dK7uSv

Oil succumbs to pressures at home, abroad
Crude oil prices have fallen below $60, which is less than the benchmark for producers to maintain production growth. Bill Arnold, professor in the practice of management at Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business, is quoted.
Houston Chronicle (This is featured on the front page. Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1IGNDAo
Oil sinks as shale resilient, Iran deal deadline nears
San Antonio Express-News
http://bit.ly/1CkzMyy

Breitbart contributor calls for ‘independence from the federal government’ and ‘assembly of states’
Conservative author Michael Leahy authored an article for Breitbart calling for the separation of states and federal government. Paul Brace, the Clarence L. Carter Professor of Political Science, is quoted.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1G55kDu

Entrepreneurs dazzle, then break for ice cream
The Texas Medical Center and Houston’s British International School challenged 80 second-graders to develop a solution to a health care problem and present their pitch. Doctors, scientists and business leaders from Rice, Genseler and MD Anderson Cancer Center quizzed the teams about their inventions and named Team Air Crutch as the winner.
Houston Chronicle (This appeared on the front of the Business section and in the July 6 issue of Dateline. Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1S2QJzh

HISD students venture into the world of STEM at Rice
Rice’s Office of STEM Engagement and the Houston Independent School District program Linked Learning created six-week paid internships for HISD students. The students are paired with graduate students and assist with work in Rice labs. Carolyn Nichol, director of Rice’s Office of STEM Engagement, helped create the program.
Houston Independent School District
http://bit.ly/1IH4kMf

Late-night improve comedy: Singularity presents Magical Lying Hour with Kinda Sketchy + Ophelia’s Rope
Kinda Sketchy, a comedy troupe that started at Rice, will perform at Station Theater July 18.
Free Press Houston
http://bit.ly/1Hbm9xp

BROADCAST

$2.2 million in grants connect education research and school problems
With grants totaling $2.2 million from Houston Endowment and the Laura and John Arnold Foundation, Rice’s Houston Education Research Consortium plans to explore new areas of education research in the Houston Independent School District. Ruth López Turley, associate professor of sociology and director of the Houston Education Research Consortium, is interviewed about the grant and partnership. Bill Fulton, director of Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, is quoted in the local articles.
Houston Public Media
http://bit.ly/1NP7vRX
$2.2M to Rice from Houston Endowment and Arnold Foundation will support HISD education research
Memorial Examiner (This article also appeared in Sugar Land Sun, Fort Bend Sun and Bellaire Examiner.)
http://bit.ly/1eC7bcV

KHOU-TV
Researchers from Rice, Kansas State University and University of Notre Dame discovered a new species of fly that is infesting apples and hurting the industry.
http://bit.ly/1HbbQt6
FOX28.com
http://bit.ly/1NOxBoj
KFTA-TV (Fort Smith, Ark.)
http://bit.ly/1Cn7bZz
KNWA-TV (Fort Smith, Ark.)
http://bit.ly/1Cn7ALP
KNOP-TV (North Platte, Neb.)
http://bit.ly/1KPtsk1

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Rice University receives $1 million to develop microbial biosensors
Rice University researchers received $1 million from the W.M. Keck Foundation to develop new tools to study Earth’s microbes. Caroline Masiello, associate professor of Earth science; Yousif Shamoo, vice provost for research and professor of biochemistry and cell biology; and Jonathan Silberg, associate professor of biochemistry and cell biology, are quoted. George Bennett, the E. Dell Butcher Professor of Biochemistry and Cell Biology; Matthew Bennett, assistant professor of biochemistry and cell biology; and graduate student Shelly Cheng are mentioned.
AZO Sensors
http://bit.ly/1HaTxo9
Gas sensors promise advances in Earth science
Phys.org
http://bit.ly/1HKcMvl

Study of first-time smartphone users reveals devices may be detrimental to learning process
A yearlong study of first-time smartphone users by researchers at Rice University and the U.S. Air Force found that users felt smartphones were actually detrimental to their ability to learn. Phil Kortum, assistant professor of psychology, is quoted.
Phys.org
http://bit.ly/1glsiBD

Lithography combination delivers high-performance ‘micro’ batteries
Rice is cited for its graphene microsupercapacitors infused with boron and made with a common laser that can power flexible, wearable electronics. James Tour, the T.T. and W.F. Chao Professor of Chemistry, professor of computer science and of materials science and nanoengineering, is mentioned.
Optics.org
http://optics.org/news/6/6/57

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Welcome aboard: New hires and promotions for July 7, 2015
Alumnus Roshan Mendis ’97 was appointed senior vice president of Sabre Travel Network, Asia Pacific.
Travel Pulse
http://bit.ly/1JLY6w3

SPORTS

Transfers Rodney, Willie Herenton a good fit with Stevenson basketball
Stevenson High School graduate Connor Cashaw is preparing for his first year on the basketball team at Rice.
Chicago Tribune
http://trib.in/1Rilnd1

Bingham, Obonna and Kerr take national titles
Baker College senior Evan Karakolis competed at the track and field national championships in Canada.
Brampton Guardian
http://bit.ly/1glvqxl

Training camp preview: Tight ends/fullbacks
Alumnus James Casey ’11 is profiled.
Denver Broncos
http://bit.ly/1HdlE9c

NEWS RELEASES

Rice U study: Customer commitment has many faces, differs globally
Companies that want to increase customers’ loyalty and get their repeat business would do well to understand the nuanced ways in which and reasons why a customer is committed to that company, according to a recent study by marketing experts at Rice University and Fordham University. The research provides a strategic blueprint for developing customer commitment.
http://bit.ly/1CkQRbv

Study of first-time smartphone users reveals devices may be detrimental to learning process
A yearlong study of first-time smartphone users by researchers at Rice University and the U.S. Air Force found that users felt smartphones were actually detrimental to their ability to learn.
http://bit.ly/1MbjWX7