Dateline Rice for July 24, 2015

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

How one city will change its entire bus system overnight
After three decades, Houston is revamping its entire bus network — more than 80 routes, 1,200 buses and a quarter-million daily passengers — literally overnight. Kyle Shelton, postdoctoral research fellow at Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, is quoted.
Next City
http://bit.ly/1VEW8kJ

Equality Act: Congressional Democrats introduce most comprehensive LGBTQ rights bill ever
U.S. House and Senate Democrats introduced the Equality Act, which would expand the Civil Rights Act to protect people from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity among many public accommodations. Michelle “Mikki” Hebl, professor of psychology and management, is cited for the study she co-authored on workplace discrimination.
Vox
http://bit.ly/1IkW8k7

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Mexico’s 1st round of bidding offers lessons
Mexico held a disappointing auction of its oil and natural gas reserves. Tony Payan, the Baker Institute’s Françoise and Edward Djerejian Fellow for Mexico Studies and director of the institute’s Mexico Center, comments on Mexico’s strict industry policies, which makes it difficult to negotiate and settle disputes.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1GKhmT1 v
Mexico’s failed 1st round of bidding an important lesson, energy panel says
Fuel Fix (This appeared on the front of the online Fuel Fix section.)
http://bit.ly/1MMytJ6
1st Mexico oil and gas auction a disappointment
My San Antonio
http://bit.ly/1Mpevq2

The most interesting affordable housing in Houston
Ryan Holeywell, senior editor at Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, authored an op-ed about the unique affordable housing near downtown Houston.
Houston Chronicle (This appeared in the Houston Chronicle’s “Gray Matters” online magazine. Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1gSv1CV

Prosecutors: Autopsy shows Sandra Bland committed suicide
Waller County prosecutors are continuing their investigation of the state trooper who arrested Sandra Bland. The article mentions that Pennie Goodie, the Prairie View Police Department officer who arrived as back-up for the arrest, used to work for the Rice University Police Department.
Houston Chronicle (This appeared on the front page. Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1CZbb2r

State board calls for more Texans to have degree or certificate
Steve Murdock, the Allyn and Gladys Cline Professor of Sociology and director of Rice’s Hobby Center for the Study of Texas, comments on Texas’ higher education agency’s strategic plan to have 60 percent of Texas residents between the ages of 25 and 34 obtain a certificate or degree by 2030.
Austin American-Statesman
http://atxne.ws/1VBNOlL

Poll: GOP voters side with Trump on immigration
Despite criticism from fellow Republicans about his remarks on immigration, a third of GOP voters would vote for presidential candidate Donald Trump, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll. Bob Stein, the Lena Gohlman Fox Professor of Political Science, is quoted.
KTRH-AM
http://bit.ly/1GKvAU2
http://bit.ly/1RY4QLH

Serious candidate or showman? (San Antonio)
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 is quoted about the U.S. economic embargo on Cuba and how long Donald Trump can keep up his current campaign success.
KTSA-FM
http://bit.ly/1HXPGMv
Continued trade embargo on Cuba hinders US business, lacks sense
Sputnik News
http://bit.ly/1JD88Kr
Texas Senate 2015 scorecards
Agenda Wise
http://bit.ly/1KovtSZ

Calm before the storm
Galveston remains unprotected from future hurricanes, despite proposed solutions. Phil Bedient, the Herman Brown Professor of Engineering, contacted William Merrell, a marine scientist at Texas A&M University, to combine Rice’s Centennial Gate storm plan with Merrell’s Ike Dike.
Texas Monthly
http://bit.ly/1Kow9aV

Think outside the building with Rice public art
Rice commissioned graffiti artist Daniel Anguilu to paint a mural on the side of Baker College. Molly Hubbard, director of Rice Public Art, proposed the idea to Baker College masters Ivo-Jan and Rose van der Werff and the college’s residents. Then-college president Andrew Stout asked for approval and suggestions from students.
Houstonia
http://bit.ly/1gQQ74D

Pearland, Webster Police Dept. officers wait tables for Special Olympics Texas
Rice University Police Officers participated in the Tip-A-Cop event at Texas Roadhouse, where they served tables and worked for tips, which were donated to Special Olympics Texas for the Law Enforcement Torch Run.
Bay Area Citizen (This article also appeared in the Pearland Journal.)
http://bit.ly/1Ir7xRq

BROADCAST

A cardboard canoe regatta, and a push for girls in STEM
Fifty girls capped a three-year experience in the Rice University Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineering’s Girls STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) Initiative June 25 when 12 teams competed in a cardboard canoe regatta race.
Houston Public Media (This also appeared in Texas Standard.)
http://bit.ly/1CSiSbc

KHOU-TV’s ‘Great Day Houston’
Stephen Klineberg, professor of sociology and founding director of Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, is quoted during a discussion about the programs Change Happens! and Workshop Houston, which help local youth succeed in creative, educational and technical endeavors.
http://bit.ly/1HXOXuD

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Proton-lead nuclei collisions inside LHC result in ‘liquid-like’ particle interactions
Rice physicists have co-authored a paper that describes the unexpected particle interactions from proton and lead-nuclei collisions. Wei Li, assistant professor of physics and astronomy, led the team of scientists who analyzed the data.
Techie News
http://bit.ly/1GKzsEt

New finding could lead to cheap, efficient metal-based solar cells
New research from Rice University could make it easier for engineers to harness the power of light-capturing nanomaterials to boost the efficiency and reduce the costs of photovoltaic solar cells. Graduate student Bob Zheng and postdoctoral research associate Alejandro Manjavacas are quoted. Naomi Halas, the Stanley C. Moore Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and a professor of chemistry, bioengineering, physics and astronomy, and materials science and nanoengineering, and graduate students Hangqi Zhao and Michael McClain are mentioned.
Science Daily (This article also appeared in R&D Magazine, e! Science News, Bright Surf, Science Newsline, Electronic Component News and Product Design & Development.)
http://bit.ly/1LHF1dB

Non-magnetic elements form unique magnet
How can two metals that are not magnetic combine to make a magnet? Scientists at Rice University have found one answer in their creation of the first known itinerant antiferromagnet from nonmagnetic constituents. Emilia Morosan, associate professor of physics and astronomy, of chemistry and of materials science and nanoengineering, and postdoctoral researcher Eteri Svanidze are quoted. Graduate student Jiakui Wang is mentioned.
Science 2.0
http://bit.ly/1frVYvY

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Congregational conversations
Elaine Howard Ecklund, the Herbert S. Autrey Chair and Professor of Sociology and director of Rice’s Religion and Public Life Program, shares her conversation on science and faith for the program Scientists in Congregations, funded by the John Templeton Foundation.
The Christian Century
http://bit.ly/1JCRVVD

Chattanooga shooter’s family says he had depression
David Cook, associate professor of religion, explains the Islamic text Hadith, which the shooter in Chattanooga quoted the night before his attack against five U.S. Marines.
Bulletin Leader
http://bit.ly/1Jj3B44

EdCC offers class on marijuana business license, law
Alumnus Merwin Spencer ’97 will lead a class on marijuana business license and law at Edmonds Community College.
Edmonds Beacon
http://bit.ly/1elX8IK

SPORTS

‘People are starting to not see me as a little brother.’
Rice football player Darik Dillard is following in the footsteps of his successful older siblings by maintaining a successful football career while studying mechanical engineering. Alumnus Jarett Dillard ’08 is mentioned.
NCAA.org
http://on.ncaa.com/1IrjVAX

Rice football to play at USC in 2022
Rice football will play against University of Southern California in a non-conference home game in 2022.
Sugar Land Sun (This article also appeared in Fort Bend Sun, Memorial Examiner and Bellaire Examiner.)
http://bit.ly/1DC3I4s

2015 Houston Texans team outlook
Former Rice football player Christian Covington is profiled.
Scout.com
http://foxs.pt/1SG2xaY