Dateline Rice for Dec. 11, 2015

FEATURED ITEM

What’s happening in the world of nanotechnology in Houston?
James Tour, the T.T. and W.F. Chao Professor of Chemistry, professor of computer science and of materials science and nanoengineering, is interviewed about nanotechnology developments at Rice.
Houston Public Media’s “Houston Matters” (Scroll down to the bottom of the article to play the audio featuring Tour.)
http://bit.ly/1RHHbgp

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

This nontoxic material is a spray-on water repellent
A new superhydrophobic material developed by scientists at Rice University and the University of Swansea is nontoxic, economical and shows promise to replace more expensive and hazardous materials used for waterproofing. Andrew Barron, the Charles W. Duncan Jr.-Welch Professor of Chemistry and a professor of materials science and nanoengineering, is quoted.
Futurity
http://bit.ly/1UacbFa
Researchers develop new class of superhydrophobic materials
AZO Materials (This article also appeared in Innovation Report, Electronic Component Report, 2015 Tech, SciTechDaily, My Informs and DirectorsTalk.)
http://bit.ly/1QiTall
Superhydrophobic coating protects without the price
ChemEurope.com
http://bit.ly/1OX5qol

Latest study finds most scientists in the world are religious
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 Dec. 3 by researchers at Rice University. Elaine Howard Ecklund, the Herbert S. Autrey Chair of Social Sciences, professor of sociology and director of Rice’s Religion and Public Life Program, is quoted.
World Religion News
http://bit.ly/1Q5vS2p
Groups fight for women’s religious rights at Jerusalem’s Western Wall and other religion news
Herald Democrat
http://bit.ly/1OW0ou8
KFBK-AM (Sacramento, Calif.)
http://bit.ly/1Y8bmwZ (Click on the audio button to listen to the broadcast. This also aired on WHBL-AM and WTOP-AM.)

Bun B becomes the latest rapper to endorse Bernie Sanders for president
Bernard “Bun B” Freeman is among the hip-hop artists who have endorsed Bernie Sanders for president. The article notes that Freeman teaches at Rice. He is the Center for Engaged Research and Collaborative Learning’s Distinguished Lecturer.
Washington Post
http://wapo.st/1Z1P7eG

Young liberal Dominic Lee says party needs to make changes
Alumnus Dominic Lee Tsz-king ’06 explains the need for reform of the liberal party in China.
South China Morning Post
http://bit.ly/1lzdYZ2

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Winds of emerging climate policy inevitably will blow through Houston
An article about the effect oil regulations and mandates can have on Texas quotes Kenneth Medlock, senior director of the Center for Energy Studies and the James A. Baker III and Susan Baker Fellow in Energy and Resource Economics at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and lecturer of economics.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/21Tmvqj

UT panel: Ban guns in dorms and offices, but not classrooms
The University of Texas at San Antonio is considering allowing concealed-carry permit holders to carry guns in classrooms, but not at sporting events or shared dorms. Rice is mentioned for opting out of the campus-carry law.
Houston Chronicle (This appeared on the front page and also in San Antonio Express-News. Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1Y6Qkin
Second amendment activists to stage fake mass shooting at UT Austin
Fox 47 News
http://bit.ly/1HYB713

For Abbott, a balancing act of religion and politics
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 the close runoff in the Houston mayoral election. Jones also comments on the Catholic Church’s plea for Gov. Greg Abbott to reconsider letting Syrian refugees into the state. Jones also comments on the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to hear challenges on how state legislative districts are drawn.
Texas Public Radio (This article also appeared in My High Plains, T-SPAN, Gilmer Mirror, KGNS.tv and High Plains Daily News.)
http://bit.ly/1M7fUwJ
Mayoral candidate Turner says opponent King will raise property taxes
Fox 26
http://bit.ly/1UcEliN
Texas case could change how the country votes
Gainesville Daily Register
http://bit.ly/1RedSTk

Several Fort Bend nonprofits help in the fight against homelessness
An article about nonprofit facilities in Fort Bend mentions that a study conducted by Rice influenced the decision to place the Catholic Charities Mamie George Community Center in Richmond.
Fort Bend Star
http://bit.ly/1IZPDAu

Human Rights Walk and Festival scheduled for Saturday at Town Green Park
Rice is mentioned as a collaborator for the Human Rights Walk and Festival.
Woodlands Villager
http://bit.ly/1HXHnpZ

BROADCAST

Poll: Houston term-limit change referendum might have failed if voters had more information
A poll revealed that Houstonians are still most likely to vote against the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance even if it didn’t include transgender rights, and that the ballot was unclear about changing term limits. Bob Stein, the Lena Gohlman Fox Professor of Political Science, is quoted about the poll, which he supervised.
Houston Public Media
http://bit.ly/1NKpX0m
Poll suggests HERO now triggers reflexive, transphobic panic in Houston voters
Towleroad
http://bit.ly/1RdkZLO

KPRC-TV
During final exam days, Rice University students have had the opportunity to mingle, de-stress and share hugs with dogs and cats of various breeds.
http://bit.ly/1M7oLyB

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Graphene super caps: Coming soon?
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.
Hackaday.com
http://bit.ly/1mdOWP9

Why nanotubes now have their own alphabet
Rice University researchers tested the stiffness of individual nanotube junctions and found different characteristics based upon their “letter” forms. Materials built with particular letters may be useful as building blocks in the construction of macroscale structures. Pulickel Ajayan, the Benjamin M. and Mary Greenwood Anderson Professor in Materials Science and NanoEngineering and of chemistry; research scientist Evgeni Penev; and postdoctoral researcher Chandra Sekhar Tiwary are quoted.
Printed Electronics World
http://bit.ly/1OWijil

Obstacles not always a hindrance to proteins
Rice researchers model how proteins deal with obstacles as they seek genetic targets and find that these obstacles sometimes speed the process along. Anatoly Kolomeisky, professor of chemistry and of chemical and biomolecular engineering, is quoted. Postdoctoral researcher Alexey Shvets and graduate student Maria Kochugaeva are mentioned.
Bioscience Technology (This article appeared in Phys.org, My Informs and ScienceNewsline.)
http://bit.ly/1Q71THk

SPORTS

Leaving the gridiron for the hardwood
Rice football player Jeremy Jones is featured.
The Gonzaga Bulletin
http://bit.ly/1Y0D8kk

NFL
Alumnus Luke Willson ’12 is mentioned.
http://bit.ly/1RIu4M1

NEWS RELEASE

Rice men’s basketball to host 4,000 grade-schoolers for ‘School House Mania’
Rice men’s basketball will host 4,000 grade-schoolers for ‘School House Mania’ at Tudor Fieldhouse Dec. 17.
http://bit.ly/1TEfGD7