Dateline Rice for Dec. 4, 2015

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

More than half of Indian scientists religious: Study
Are all scientists atheists? Do they believe religion and science can coexist? These questions and others were addressed in the first worldwide survey of how scientists view religion, released today by researchers at Rice University. Elaine Howard Ecklund, the Herbert S. Autrey Chair and Professor of Sociology and director of Rice’s Religion and Public Life Program, is quoted. Kirstin Matthews, an adjunct lecturer of sociology and a fellow in science and technology policy at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, and Steven Lewis, the C.V. Starr Transnational China Fellow at Rice’s Baker Institute and professor in the practice and associate director of the Chao Center for Asian Studies, are mentioned.
Yahoo! News India (This article also appeared in Siasat Daily and New Kerala.)
http://bit.ly/1NvjRk9
Science and religion can coexist: Not all scientists are atheists, survey finds
Medical Daily (This article also appeared in Medical News Today, Measurement Devices, Phys.org, Science Codex, Measure News, My Informs, Science Newsline and e! Science News.)
http://bit.ly/1NuXThr
Only 29 percent of US scientists see science and religion in conflict
Science 2.0
http://bit.ly/1RtoWLz
More than half of Indian scientists religious: Study
Madhyaman.com
http://bit.ly/1TGfwM9

Gollum tweet could send Turkish doctor to jail
Bilgin Ciftci, a doctor in Turkey’s public health service, is facing up to two years in prison for allegedly comparing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the character Gollum from the “Lord of the Rings” movies. A. Kadir Yildirim, research scholar at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is mentioned.
The Star (This article also appeared in Our Windsor, Inside Halton and the Cambridge Times.)
http://on.thestar.com/1QkdaT2

Arthur Kaptainis: Competition winners are everywhere — in Montreal
Kathleen Winkler, the Dorothy Richard Starling Professor of Classical Violin, will serve as a juror for the 2016 Montreal International Musical Competition.
Montreal Gazette
http://bit.ly/1OCEPyx

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Rice contest for entrepreneurs puts $1.5 million on the table
Applications opened Dec. 2 for the 16th annual Rice Business Plan Competition (RBPC) at Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business April 14-16. Forty-two teams from the world’s top universities will be selected from the applicants to vie for more than $1.5 million in prizes in the RBPC, which in November was named the No. 1 business plan competition for offering “serious cash” by the Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine. Brad Burke, managing director of the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship, is quoted
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1HLcIfl

Parker cites Turner’s budget experience in endorsement
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 Houston Mayor Annise Parker’s endorsement for Sylvester Turner as her potential successor.
Houston Chronicle (This appeared on the front of the City & State section. Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1OKOVLP

Rice makes thoughtful decision on campus carry
Ryan Kirksey, director of operations and finance at the Baker Institute, authored a blog post for the Houston Chronicle about Rice’s announcement to continue its current weapons prohibition policy and exercise the opt-out provision of the new Texas state law that permits individuals with concealed handgun licenses to carry a weapon on college campuses. Additional stories reported on Rice’s decision.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1lzH0ap
Mass-shooting gun control debate – campus edition
Houston Press
http://bit.ly/1lf1KEW
St. Mary’s University in San Antonio has joined five other Texas schools in opting-out of a concealed carry law for college campuses.
Campus Reform
http://bit.ly/1N83qXt
Kansas Republicans tell anti-gun professors: We support campus carry
Red Alert Politics
http://redalert.io/1NLNNdU

If done right, the second half of life is about wisdom and understanding
Cristina Giliberti, lecturer of Italian, is quoted in an article about midlife spiritual questioning.
Houston Chronicle (This appeared on the front of the Star Home section. Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1NJzxCA

Fencing students lunge toward Olympic goals in the Woodlands
Olympic medalists and sisters Kelley and Courtney Hurley are featured for their success in fencing. The article mentions that their parents met through a fencing club at Rice.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1IJ3Y47
http://bit.ly/1jDrOI9

BROADCAST

As Saudi Arabia battles its oil rivals, prices are expected to stay low
Saudi Arabia and other OPEC countries will decide to either keep oil flowing or limit supply to boost prices. Jim Krane, the Wallace S. Wilson Fellow in Energy Studies at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is interviewed.
National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered” (This broadcast appeared on more than 100 other media outlets.)
http://n.pr/1HJext9
Crashing investment, not Saudi market manipulation, will drive the next oil spike
Forbes
http://onforb.es/1jBnCZt
US crude climbs on weaker dollar ahead of OPEC meeting
The Inside Korea
http://bit.ly/1lBXoY2

WPGH-TV (Pittsburgh)
President John F. Kennedy’s famous “Moon Speech” delivered at Rice Sept. 12, 1962, is mentioned.
http://bit.ly/1LSM8f2

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Scientists see the light on microsupercapacitors: Rice University’s laser-induced graphene makes simple, powerful energy storage possible
Rice researchers who pioneered the development of laser-induced graphene have configured their discovery into flexible, solid-state microsupercapacitors that rival the best available for energy storage and delivery. James Tour, the T.T. and W.F. Chao Professor of Chemistry, professor of computer science and of materials science and nanoengineering, is quoted. Rice graduate students Lei Li and Jibo Zhang and alumnus Zhiwei Peng are lead authors of the paper. Co-authors are Rice postdoctoral researchers Yongsung Ji, Nam Dong Kim, Gedeng Ruan and Yang Yang and graduate students Yilun Li, Ruquan Ye and Huilong Fei.
Nanotechnology Now (This article also appeared on Phys.org, Science Codex, Science Newsline, Electronic Component News, My Informs, e! Science News, U.S. Official News and RichardDawkins.net.)
http://bit.ly/1SCkYPa
Graphene microsupercapacitors make simple, powerful energy storage possible
New Electronics
http://bit.ly/1PEgwSb
Rice University’s laser-induced graphene makes simple, powerful energy storage possible
Investor Intel
http://bit.ly/1QkfxoN

Process could be white lightning to electronics industry
Rice is cited for its three-dimensional structures of boron nitride sheets and nanotubes that may offer a way to keep small electronic devices cool.
Lab Manager
http://bit.ly/1Q5gqDf

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

College radio watch: FM revival in Texas, Nevada Public Radio eyes KUNV, KJZC donated to Chadron State College & more news
Rice University’s student-run radio station, KTRU, is mentioned.
Radio Survivor
http://bit.ly/1ItCm8w

SPORTS

The top 10 Division I schools for women’s soccer
Rice’s women’s soccer team is ranked No. 3 for the best overall quality of the school and academic success for athletes based on methodology from College Factual. Head coach Nicky Adams is mentioned.
USA Today
http://usat.ly/1TpDVVi

NEWS RELEASES

First worldwide survey of religion and science: No, not all scientists are atheists
Are all scientists atheists? Do they believe religion and science can coexist? These questions and others were addressed in the first worldwide survey of how scientists view religion, released today by researchers at Rice University.
http://bit.ly/1RtzY3x

Rice expert: ‘Green’ concrete can cut carbon emissions
Meetings in Paris this week on the climate brought forth a call for more environmentally friendly construction from a new alliance of nations and organizations, the Lima-Paris Action Agenda Focus on Building.
http://bit.ly/1NwyW0H

Middle East and North African women’s advancement in STEM professions is topic at Rice’s Baker Institute Dec. 7
A conference gathering leading local and international experts at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy Dec. 7 will identify and address the structural and cultural barriers preventing the entry and advancement of women in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) professions in the Middle East and North Africa region.
http://bit.ly/1N1c3oW