Dateline Rice for July 16, 2015

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

The good, bad and ironic in China’s climate change pledge
Charles McConnell, executive director of Rice University’s Energy and Environment Initiative, authored an op-ed examining the recently announced “Intended Nationally Determined Contribution” climate emissions pledge by China to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
The Hill
http://bit.ly/1Lm78Pi

Chemical safety nominee receives praise
President Barack Obama nominated Kristen Kulinowski, adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry, to be a member of the Chemical Safety Board.
The Hill
http://bit.ly/1Of8paB

Online shoppers disappointed by Amazon’s Prime Day sale
Amazon’s hyped Prime Day sale was a major disappointment for many. Vikas Mittal, the J. Hugh Liedtke Professor of Marketing at Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business, is quoted about the importance of having consistent e-service quality, not just one-day sales.
CTV News (This article also appeared in TheLoop.ca.)
http://bit.ly/1MwiNd1

Clifford Krauss: An oil windfall from Iran? Not yet
The nuclear agreement between Iran and the West will allow for new oil to enter world markets, but it will take a year or more for Iran to attain the necessary investments and technology before increasing production. Kenneth Medlock III, the James A. Baker III and Susan Baker Fellow in Energy and Resource Economics and lecturer of economics, is quoted.
Business Standard
http://bit.ly/1Mwj7bN

México busca recomponer relación con Texas
Mexico’s government is attempting to mend its relationship with Texas after fallout between former Gov. Rick Perry and Mexico President Enrique Peña Nieto. Tony Payan, the Baker Institute’s Françoise and Edward Djerejian Fellow for Mexico Studies and director of the institute’s Mexico Center, is quoted.
Noti Real (This article also appeared in Yancuic. An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/1SpvDeC

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Houston ‘it’ girls of 2015
Rice President David Leebron and University Representative Y. Ping Sun are included in a slideshow of “Who’s who of Houston society,” which notes that they have previously been honored as International Executives of the Year by the Greater Houston Partnership. Rice is mentioned several other times in the slideshow. The item about Bob and Janice McNair notes that their foundation has supported Rice, where Bob received his MBA. The write-up about Bobby and Phoebe Tudor mentions that they support Rice’s Shepherd School of Music. The note about Jo and Jim Furr mentions that Jim has worked with the Rice Design Alliance. (The “Who’s who of Houston society” slideshow follows the “Houston ‘it’ girls of 2015” slideshow.)
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1J2unxB

El número de niños ahogados en el Condado Harris disminuye
The record-high rain in May and June have limited the time families spend outdoors at pools and swimming holes, which has reduced the number of children drowning. Phil Bedient, the Herman Brown Professor of Engineering, is quoted.
La Voz de Houston (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/1TF7hA4

The rankings of area legislators reflect the political divide in Austin
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, is cited for his ranking of the members of the Texas Senate and comments on the Texas Nationalist Movement’s upcoming “Take Texas Back Tour.”
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
http://bit.ly/1CFV4qE
The rankings of area legislators reflect the political divide in Austin
Amarillo Globe-News
http://bit.ly/1McJN4g
Texas Conservative Coalition courageous conservatives
Agenda Wise
http://bit.ly/1KalDa9
Secessionists in Texas push break from union
TeaParty.org
http://bit.ly/1McK5rD
Teksańskie marzenia o niepodległości
Dziennik.com (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/1HRizc0

If a mini ice age occurs, will Houston freeze?
Some scientists are saying that a decrease in solar activity will lead to a “mini ice age” in the next 15 years. Ron Sass, the Harry C. and Olga Keith Wiess Professor Emeritus of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, notes that it is highly unlikely this will happen and that Houston would hardly notice.
KTRH-AM
http://bit.ly/1OgNpAk

HCC West Houston Center for Science and Engineering receives award from NSF
Margaret Cheung-Wyker, complimentary appointment at the Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, is participating in Houston Community College’s project for student research experiences and exploration in materials sciences. The project was awarded funding from the National Science Foundation Division of Materials Research.
Fort Bend Sun (This article also appeared in Memorial Examiner and Bellaire Examiner.)
http://bit.ly/1f7CpsW

BROADCAST

Students compete to build smartphone apps
Sixty local high schools students at the Samsung Mobile App Academy being held at Rice are learning how to design smartphone apps. The students will submit their apps to a panel of judges and the student with the winning app will receive a $20,000 college scholarship.
KHOU.com
http://bit.ly/1O8qOFB

Texas A&M chancellor talks guns, education value and UT rivalry
Rice is No. 14 on Money magazine’s list of colleges that provide the best value, which is based on a comparison of educational quality, cost and alumni earnings at 736 four-year U.S. universities.
Texas Standard
http://bit.ly/1TFajo2
TAMIU ranks high among schools providing best value for tuition dollar
LMTOnline.com
http://bit.ly/1K9cwDQ
TAMIU ranks 5th in Texas among schools providing best value for tuition dollar
KGNS.tv
http://bit.ly/1McFw0F

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

3-D white graphene could make tunable fan-free cooling for electronics
Three-dimensional structures of boron nitride sheets and nanotubes may offer a way to keep small electronic devices cool, according to scientists at Rice University. Rouzbeh Shahsavari, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, is quoted. Graduate student Navid Sakhavand is mentioned.
Gizmodo (Similar articles appeared in Tech Times and 18 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/1MctGUn
How 3-D white graphene could keep your favorite gadgets cool
News Ledge
http://bit.ly/1MwjxyP

Researchers suggest new method to improve Wi-Fi propagation
Rice University engineers have demonstrated the first system that allows wireless data transmissions over UHF channels during active TV broadcasts. Edward Knightly, professor of electrical and computer engineering and computer science, is quoted. Graduate student Xu Zhang is mentioned.
Network World (Similar articles appeared in Tendencias21.net, MonteVideo, Madrimasd.org, Omicrono and Bitacoras.)
http://bit.ly/1e2elqt
Wireless data successfully transmitted over active TV channels
Tech Times
http://bit.ly/1SpsD20
WATCH by Rice researchers smartly uses TV UHF band to offer super Wi-Fi
EE Herald
http://bit.ly/1Jk9YzP

Study explains how output of single neurons can predict behavior on perceptual tests
By comparing and analyzing the signals of individual neurons in animals undergoing behavioral tests, neuroscientists at Rice University, Baylor College of Medicine, the University of Geneva and University of Rochester have deciphered the code that the brain uses to make the most of its inherently “noisy” neuronal circuits. Xaq Pitkow, assistant professor of neuroscience at Baylor and assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at Rice, is quoted.
Medical Xpress
http://bit.ly/1I5w7XZ

Tailored zeolite synthesis takes a big step forward
Researchers at the University of St. Andrews solved the structure of a highly complex zeolite and were able to predict and synthesize new structures. Study co-author Michael Deem, the John W. Cox Professor of Biochemical and Genetic Engineering, chair of bioengineering and professor of physics and astronomy, is quoted.
Chemistry World
http://rsc.li/1McCR77

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

New executive director tapped for Rice University’s Moody Center for the Arts
Alison Weaver, an art historian and former director of affiliates for the Guggenheim Museum in New York, has been named executive director of Rice University’s Moody Center for the Arts.
ArtForum
http://bit.ly/1LclTWh

Across the expanse
Anne Klein, professor of religion, is interviewed about transmission and the secularization of Tibetan Buddhism in the West. This interview was originally published in Mandala Magazine.
Tricycle
http://tricy.cl/1f7obrL

Workforce development partnerships offer new audiences to institutions
Skillsoft, which offers online courses to millions of employees at 8,000 companies, government offices, educational institutions and global enterprises, is partnering with Patten University to provide fully recognized credentials and certifications. Rice’s “Fundamentals of Computing” specialization is mentioned.
Education Dive
http://bit.ly/1LlYb8B

Railroad Commission Chairman David Porter testifies before US Agriculture Committee
Railroad Commission Chairman David Porter cited a recent study from Rice during his testimony before the U.S. Agriculture Committee on the importance and urgency of lifting the federal ban on crude-oil exports.
Pleasanton Express
http://bit.ly/1Lmb3ve

To walk on the moon is to feel power of god
President John F. Kennedy’s famous “Moon Speech” delivered at Rice Sept. 12, 1962, is quoted.
WND.com
http://bit.ly/1McEpOC
Astronauts, rockets, the moon and God
The Moral Liberal
http://bit.ly/1SpsZ8J

SPORTS

Rice football picked to finish 2nd in C-USA West
Rice football was picked to finish second in Conference USA’s West Division in the league’s annual preseason football media poll.
Houston Chronicle (Similar articles appeared in 43 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/1V7nZty
Rice picked to finish 2nd behind La Tech in C-USA media poll
Examiner.com
http://exm.nr/1MwnbZp

Lombardi Award watch list 2015: Full list released
The Rotary Lombardi Award committee placed Rice football players Andrew Reue and Alex Lyons on the 2015 preseason watch list.
Bleacher Report (Similar articles appeared in 30 other media outlets.)
http://ble.ac/1M7RxDE
Southern Miss DL Michael Smith named to preseason C-USA 1st team
Toledo News Now
http://bit.ly/1RBErmA

Hundreds join former Texas A&M star Johnny Manziel at College Station autograph session
About 350 fans paid to meet former Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel at an autograph session. Rice is mentioned.
Dallas Morning News (This appeared in 120 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/1CFZ0YJ

KOSA-TV (Odessa)
Former Rice football trainer Paul Stephen McKeller died.
http://bit.ly/1gDI378

NEWS RELEASE

Baker Institute scholars offer predictions on aftermath of ‘El Chapo’ escape
The escape of Joaquin Guzman Loera — known as “El Chapo,” the most powerful drug trafficker in Mexico — was a humiliating setback for the administration of Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto, according to experts at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.
http://bit.ly/1SptIH3