Dateline Rice for Oct. 12, 2015 (Weekend Edition)

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

This fungus may defeat pesky leaf-cutter ants
Biologists have found new types of specialized fungal parasites that attack the nests of leaf-cutter ants and their relatives. The discovery could provide clues for controlling the agricultural and garden pests. Scott Solomon, professor in the practice of ecology and evolutionary biology, is quoted.
Futurity
http://bit.ly/1OwtoHI
Battling leaf-cutter ants with fungi
Digital Journal
http://bit.ly/1N8ERvu
Research points to probable fungal control for leaf-cutter ants
FreshGhana.com
http://bit.ly/1K4sRX4

Venezuela native takes reins of Minot Symphony Orchestra
Alumnus Efrain Amaya ’88 was named Minot State University’s new symphony director.
Washington Times (This article also appeared in Miami Herald and 22 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/1LJSAeV

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Ups and downs
An editorial gives a thumbs-up to Malcolm Gillis’s achievements as Rice University’s sixth president. He died Oct. 4.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1PpUrFu

Do you trust other Houstonians?
Residents of Copenhagen, Denmark, are more likely than Houstonians to believe immigration threatens their country’s culture. That’s one of several findings in a new survey from Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research. Michael Emerson, a fellow at the Kinder Institute, and graduate student Kevin Smiley are quoted. Emerson is also cited for his research on racial segregation in church.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1OwJuRG
Taking the next step: Countering segregation in church
The Crimson White
http://bit.ly/1K4jTcs

Turner leading in Houston mayoral poll
Bob Stein, the Lena Gohlman Fox Professor of Political Science, comments on the results of a KUHF/KHOU poll he conducted to show the support for each mayoral candidate.
Houston Chronicle (This appeared on the front of the City & State section. Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1MskD18
http://bit.ly/1OtySVk
Turner leads, Garcia dropping, King rising in race for Houston mayor
KHOU.com
http://bit.ly/1WX7two

Paxton being ‘more proactive’ after legal difficulties
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, comments on Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s push to prove his conservative credentials while facing a securities fraud indictment. Jones also shares reasons why presidential candidate Donald Trump will not win his campaign and is cited for his Texas House members ranking.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1LEP1Ak
Religion is a refuge and smart politics
San Antonio Express-News
http://bit.ly/1Mn2IER
GOP Aggie raising longhorn money with a Democrat
Texas Scorecard
http://bit.ly/1MnlWKw
Por qué Donald Trump no será presidente de Estados Unidos
Infobae.com (An English translation is not available. This article also appeared in Punto.uno, Lamula.pe, Eljacaguero.com, Radioespectaculo.com, Entornointeligente.com, Viva961.com, Inforientalsde.com, Reddenoticiasrd.com and FMImpacto107.com.)
http://bit.ly/1jZ71zB

Q&A: Architect draws on city culture
Architect Richard Keating is interviewed about Houston’s architecture and mentions that his favorite building is Rice’s Brochstein Pavilion.
Houston Chronicle (This appeared on the front of the Business section in Saturday’s Chronicle. Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1Mniek9

Sandra Cisneros builds a house and a life in words
Author Sandra Cisneros will speak at Rice’s Stude Concert Hall tonight as part of the Margarett Root Brown Series.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1Par6ja
Houston-area book events: Oct. 11-17
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1jZ3jWw
http://bit.ly/1PaqVV0
Drag queens, death and Texas: Many stories in the house of Sandra Cisneros
CultureMap Houston
http://bit.ly/1Owrnvf

Set your DVRs
A new PBS series, “The Brain with David Eagleman,” features the Rice alum who is a neuroscientist, New York Times best-selling author and director of Baylor College of Medicine’s Laboratory for Perception and Action and Baylor’s Initiative on Neuroscience and Law. Eagleman ’93 is author and presenter of the six-episode series about the inner workings of the brain. The program will air on Wednesdays from Oct. 14 to Nov. 18 at 9 p.m. Central time.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1Mn7eDh

‘Octet’ is heart of ensemble’s repertoire
The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble will perform tomorrow at Rice’s Stude Concert Hall.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1K4lXBk

Students, professionals join for conference on diversity at Rice University
Students and media professionals took over Rice University for a daylong journalism conference Oct. 3, “News Gathering: Diversity in the Digital Age.” The Office of Public Affairs’ Multicultural Community Relations sponsored the event.
KPRC-TV
http://bit.ly/1FUKZYk

Asteroid misses planet Earth
Patricia Reiff, professor of physics and astronomy, comments on the asteroid that narrowly missed hitting Earth last weekend.
KTRH-AM
http://bit.ly/1OtHFX7

Hawking: Al could wipe out humanity
Devika Subramanian, professor of computer science and of electrical and computer engineering, is quoted about astrophysicist Stephen Hawking’s prediction that artificial intelligence will wipe out humanity.
KTRH-AM
http://bit.ly/1N8I7XJ

Project aims to help brain fix itself
A Rice University project to decipher how neurons form networks aims to help injured brains heal themselves. Amina Qutub, assistant professor of bioengineering; Jacob Robinson, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering; and Daniel Wagner, associate professor of biosciences, are quoted.
TMC Today
http://bit.ly/1WXulM6

Imaging software could speed breast cancer diagnosis
New software developed by Rice University bioengineers could speed up the diagnosis of breast cancer with 90 percent accuracy and without the need for a specialist, according to research published in the open-access journal Breast Cancer Research. Rebecca Richards-Kortum, the Malcolm Gillis University Professor, director of the Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineering and of Rice 360°: Institute for Global Health Technologies, is quoted.
Bellaire Examiner (This article also appeared in Fort Bend Sun, Sugar Land Sun and Memorial Examiner.)
http://bit.ly/1LqVOSw

College Night shatters previous attendance record
Rice participated in the Houston Independent School District’s Top-Tier College Night.
Cypress Creek Mirror (This article also appeared in the Sugar Land Sun.)
http://bit.ly/1G92qVi

‘Bunnicula’ the vampire rabbit opens this week at Blinn College in Brenham
Alumna Jennifer Leshnower ’89 will perform in “Bunnicula” at Blinn College.
The Eagle
http://bit.ly/1VNZnsI

Area, region lose brave pioneer
Kathleen DeSilva ’77, a longtime advocate for the disabled population of Houston who died Aug. 7, is featured.
Shreveport Times
http://bit.ly/1jklyFY

BROADCAST

House votes to repeal US crude oil export ban
The bill to end the export ban on crude passed the House on Friday, and Republicans are urging for Democratic support. Jim Krane, the Wallace S. Wilson Fellow in Energy Studies at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
Houston Public Media
http://bit.ly/1jscwpO
House votes to lift crude export ban
Forex Report Daily (This article also appeared in Investors.com.)
http://bit.ly/1OwOd5H

Ep 23: Bach’s materials — the world inside an invention with Kurt Stallmann
Kurt Stallmann, associate professor of composition and theory, discusses Bach’s Invention No. 1.
Houston Public Media
http://bit.ly/1RCNSP6

People+Nature Conference
The People+Nature Conference will be held Oct. 21 at Rice’s BioScience Research Collaborative.
KPRC-TV
http://bit.ly/1PaB83G

WNYW-TV (New York)
Alumnus Elliot Weissbluth ’89 is interviewed.
http://bit.ly/1js70U3

KTRH-AM
A commentator says academics’ predictions of Democrats winning the Texas elections have often been wrong.
http://bit.ly/1js7t8H

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Variance spectroscopy method from Rice University advances nanoparticle analysis
Variance spectroscopy, invented at Rice, lets researchers learn more about mixed batches of fluorescent nanotubes by focusing on small areas of samples and comparing their contents. Bruce Weisman, professor of chemistry and of materials science and nanoengineering, is quoted.
Laser Focus World
http://bit.ly/1LqBX5P

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

BWW review: Rice Theatre Program’s ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ is something special
Writer Natalie de la Garza reviews Rice Theatre’s performance of “Much Ado About Nothing.”
Broadway World
http://bit.ly/1VOce98

In our opinion: Manned mission to Mars would be inspiring, unifying challenge
President John F. Kennedy’s famous “Moon Speech” delivered at Rice Sept. 12, 1962, is mentioned.
Deseret News
http://bit.ly/1LqQq1Q

Daryl Robinson performs Oct. 18
Alumnus Daryl Robinson ’14 will perform at St. Paul Roman Catholic Church in Princeton, N.J., Oct. 18.
Rider.edu
http://bit.ly/1PpNofP

SPORTS

Rice football beat Florida Atlantic University 27-26 at FAU Stadium.
Rice’s 4th-quarter surge tops Florida Atlantic
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required. Similar articles and broadcasts appeared in over 150 media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/1LgMtcp
College football week in review
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1N8QEtG
Rice rallies from 12 down in 4th for 27-26 win over FAU
KHOU.com
http://bit.ly/1jseJ4o
Football: Battle of the Owls: FAU loses 27-26 to Rice
University Press
http://bit.ly/1N8NUfX
KTRH-AM
http://bit.ly/1LEV8ET
http://bit.ly/1VOkeqA
WPTV-TV (West Palm Beach, Fla.)
http://bit.ly/1hAuAwL

Bun B drops incredible Houston Astros playoff song
Bernard “Bun B” Freeman, the Center for Engaged Research and Collaborative Learning’s Distinguished Lecturer, wrote a tribute song for the Houston Astros.
Fansided
http://bit.ly/1VOok1M

Women’s tennis looks to gain insight, rankings in Dallas
Rice women’s tennis competed at the Southern Methodist University Invitational.
The Shorthorn
http://bit.ly/1QlqRz3

WCSH-TV (Portland, Maine)
Former Rice basketball player Dajuan Eubanks is interviewed.
http://bit.ly/1GEsylL

NEWS RELEASE

Rice Business Plan Competition to ring Nasdaq closing bell Oct. 14
The 2015 winner of the Rice University Business Plan Competition will ring the Nasdaq stock market closing bell Oct. 14.
http://bit.ly/1G9u8Bb