Dateline Rice for Sept. 25, 2015

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Top 50 best-value engineering programs of 2015
Rice is No. 15 on Value College’s list of the top 50 best-value engineering programs for 2015 based on quality and cost, according to criteria from Payscale.com and U.S. News & World Report.
ValueColleges.com
http://bit.ly/1VLmbWG
Texas A&M Engineering among best value in nation, top in state
TAMU.edu
http://bit.ly/1OynI12

Engie says nobody is making money off US natural gas exports
The Global Engineering & Construction Forum was held at Rice to discuss the state of the oil industry.
Bloomberg Business (This article also appeared in Washington Post, World Oil and La Repubblica.)
http://bloom.bg/1PBkaIP

Reflections of a ‘for purpose’ executive
President John F. Kennedy’s famous “Moon Speech” delivered at Rice Sept. 12, 1962, is mentioned.
Linkedin.com
http://bit.ly/1KDiVVd

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Mayoral rivals blast Garcia for drop in HCSO rape clearance rate
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 quoted about Houston mayoral candidate Adrian Garcia and also about inexperienced political candidates in southern states.
Houston Chronicle (This appeared on the front of the City & State section. Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1MNlN8G
Why Southerners are nominating no-name candidates
Governing
http://bit.ly/1iPQ76e

KTRU due back on FM dial next Friday
KTRU will return to FM radio next Friday as KBLT-LP on 96.1. The station will celebrate its return with a free concert at Rice Memorial Center.
Houston Press
http://bit.ly/1Wng6jz

City health improvements impressive, precarious
San Antonio hopes to see changes to its public health reputation with the help of Texas’ growing economy and its merge with Austin along Interstate 35. Steve Murdock, the Allyn and Gladys Cline Professor of Sociology and director of Rice’s Hobby Center for the Study of Texas, is quoted.
San Antonio Express-News
http://bit.ly/1LCpGvK

Rice study says ample parking in Rice Village
Although many patrons of Rice Village might say that parking is a persistent problem in the popular shopping area, a new report from Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research finds that Rice Village actually has ample parking, but more can be done to improve the use of available spaces. Kyle Shelton, postdoctoral research fellow at the Kinder Institute, is quoted.
Bellaire Examiner
http://bit.ly/1LRQlAm

Abbot appoints 3 to University of Houston board
Gov. Greg Abbott reappointed Beth Madison, board secretary of Rice’s Shepherd School of Music, to the University of Houston System Board of Regents.
Texas Insider
http://bit.ly/1G7reYe

KISD’s Shaw Center presents Family STEAM Night
Katy Independent School District’s Robert R. Shaw Center for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics will host a family STEAM night for KISD students tonight. The schedule includes a presentation from Rice’s Civic Scientists Program.
Katy Times
http://bit.ly/1MNCgtp

He’s coming: George P. Bush to speak at Chamber event Oct. 7
Alumnus George P. Bush ’98 will be the keynote speaker for the Harlingen Chamber of Commerce’s Public Affairs Luncheon on Oct. 7.
Valley Morning Star
http://bit.ly/1NYqtsw

Ezra Charles ‘Story of Boogie Woogie’ concert coming to Marshall
Alumnus Ezra Charles ’66 will perform “The Story of Boogie Woogie” at the Marshall Visual Art Center.
The Gilmer Mirror
http://bit.ly/1FyhH1q

Charles Tapley: 1931-2015
Alumnus Charles Tapley ’54 died Sept. 21 at the age of 84.
Glasstire
http://bit.ly/1Fm3EMI

BROADCAST

Super total lunar eclipse Sunday
Patrick Hartigan, professor of physics and astronomy, comments on the super-total-lunar eclipse that will be visible Sunday between 8 and 11 p.m.
KTRH-AM (This also appeared in KODA-FM.)
http://bit.ly/1QCTlEt
http://bit.ly/1YFGUNZ

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Groupon to cut 1100 jobs, about 10 percent of workforce
Daily-deal site Groupon plans to cut 1,100 jobs by September 2016. The article cites a Rice study on daily-deal websites. Utpal Dholakia, professor of marketing at the Jones Graduate School of Business, is quoted. Dholakia is also mentioned for his co-authored study about people’s spending and eating habits and tips on how to achieve self-control.
iFreePress
http://bit.ly/1OX5ENl
Study compares general and domain-specific measures of self-control to predict consumer behavior
News-Medical
http://bit.ly/1FlzpFy

Looking ahead, Sept. 24
Brian Connelly, artist teacher of piano and director of piano and chamber music accompanying program at the Shepherd School of Music, will perform at St. Michael’s College to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Vermont Music Teachers Association.
Stowe Today
http://bit.ly/1gUPC8U

8 ways to find cheap textbooks
Rice’s OpenStax College is mentioned as an example of a successful initiative that provides alternatives to expensive textbooks.
Investopedia
http://bit.ly/1iAiB2Q

Sane enough
Rice is mentioned in author Linda Day’s book, “Sane Enough.”
Foreword Reviews
http://bit.ly/1KzzaWh

Alumna assists in finding and writing genetic research
Emory University graduate student Sarah Bay attributes her decision to attend graduate school to a summer internship she completed at Rice.
The Link (This article also appeared in Individual.com.)
http://bit.ly/1JtsFjR

SPORTS

Rice’s Bailiff mixes winning, staying true to school
Head football coach David Bailiff celebrated his 50th victory as Rice’s coach when the Owls beat North Texas University 38-24.
Houston Chronicle (This appeared on the front of the Sports section. Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1Wnjf2L

The man behind the mask: Darik Dillard
Rice football player Darik Dillard is featured.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1OX7wG1

Baylor prediction: No. 5 Bears lose possession battle, pull away late against Rice Owls
Rice football will play against Baylor University Sept. 26 at McLane Stadium in Waco, Texas.
Dallas Morning News
http://bit.ly/1G7o9Yf
Big 12 offensive power rankings: Week 4
The Collegian
http://bit.ly/1KDBJ6P

Dual-threat Rice QB gaining comfort, confidence with each game
Rice football player Driphus Jackson is featured. Head coach David Bailiff is quoted.
Waco-Tribune Herald
http://bit.ly/1FywTvF

Alumni notebook: Rice’s McDaniel leads C-USA in assist average
Rice volleyball player Madison McDaniel is leading the Conference USA assists average leaderboard.
Woodlands Villager
http://bit.ly/1NYLuDs

Volleyball set to open C-USA play at home this weekend
Rice women’s volleyball will play against Florida International University this weekend.
Conference USA
http://bit.ly/1KUJbyY

Can a 50-year-old run a 4:20 mile?
Alumnus Sean Wade ’89 will attempt to run a 4:20 mile when he turns 50 in February.
RunnersWorld.com
http://bit.ly/1OX7CgH

Fetterman: Triathlon now the focus for former Keller Central/Texas Tech track star
Alumna Becky Wade ’12 is mentioned.
Dallas Morning News
http://bit.ly/1PBAsRV

NEWS RELEASE

Deep-diving whales could hold answer for synthetic blood
The ultra-stable properties of the proteins that allow deep-diving whales to remain active while holding their breath for up to two hours could help Rice University biochemist John Olson and his colleagues finish a 20-year quest to create lifesaving synthetic blood for human trauma patients.
http://bit.ly/1LSb9rv