Dateline Rice for Dec. 14, 2015 (Weekend Edition)

FEATURED ITEMS

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 in several articles about Houston’s mayoral runoff election. He is also quoted in an article about the Houston controller race and Donald Trump’s stance on immigrants and Trump’s relationship with the GOP.
Businessman, veteran lawmaker seek to be Houston’s mayor in Saturday vote
The New York Times Online (This Reuters article also appeared in Business Insider, Yahoo News, Philly.com and more than 30 other media outlets.)
http://nyti.ms/1m1mPT6
Houston lawyer takes small lead in mayor’s race
The New York Times (This Reuters article also appeared on Yahoo! News, Philly.com and more than 50 news outlets.)
http://nyti.ms/1UoWmKR
Voter mobilization, black turnout drive Turner win
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1NZPi2a
Analisis: Al nuevo alcalde de Houston le esperan desfios en finanzas, infraestructura y seguridad
La Voz
http://bit.ly/1I4dG6s
In close race, Houston elects Democratic Mayor Sylvester Turner
Governing
http://bit.ly/1QhhBjl
Bad weather can affect voter turnout but there are nuances for local elections
Houston Public Media
http://bit.ly/21W6HTy
Winning was easy part compared to what awaits Turner
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required. This appeared on the front page.)
http://bit.ly/1P39GTl
‘Houston Newsmakers’
KPRC-TV
http://bit.ly/1lIud6l
Brown beats Frazer in controller race
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1O4YCIm
Fears of terrorism fueled by new waves of immigration
San Francisco Chronicle (This article also appeared in Alaska Dispatch News.)
http://sfchron.cl/221V8KE
Experts: Brokered GOP convention possible
KTSA-AM (San Antonio)
http://bit.ly/1NPsh69
Fox 26 ‘Morning News Weekends’
KRIV-TV (Click the thumbnail to view the broadcast.)
http://bit.ly/1jYp08t
‘KPFT News’
KPFT.org (This aired Dec. 11 at 4 p.m.)
http://kpft.org/archive/

1-molecule vehicles to compete in NanoCar Race
Rice University will send an entry to the first international NanoCar Race. James Tour, the T.T. and W.F. Chao Chair in Chemistry and a professor of computer science and of materials science and nanoengineering, is quoted. 
Futurity (This is currently the top story on the home page.)
http://www.futurity.org/nanocar-race-1069012-2/

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Get carried away with vertical transportation
An op-ed by William Fulton and Kyle Shelton at Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research discusses cable-propelled transit. Fulton is director of the Kinder Institute; Shelton is a postdoctoral fellow at the institute.
Los Angeles Times
http://lat.ms/1QoGEk3

6 creativity habits for people who think they’re not creative
An article offers tips to create a workplace culture where everyone’s creativity is stoked. A 2015 study by researchers at Rice is cited.
Fast Company
http://bit.ly/1mjTELv

One millennial’s take on the new generational divide
Sid Richardson College junior Zara Khan wrote an article about “the Founders.”
Huffington Post
http://huff.to/1RJgojT

ASIE honor engineers, architects and students
An article mentions that students from Rice performed at a recent event held by the American Society of Indian Engineers and Architects.
Indo American News
http://bit.ly/1NlefYw

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Mayor’s race could affect Houston’s political identity
Bob Stein, the Lena Gohlman Fox Professor of Political Science, comments on the Houston mayoral runoff election.
The Texas Tribune
http://bit.ly/1Z7WtNI
Houston’s future hinges in razor-close races
Houston Style Magazine
http://bit.ly/1NsCB0o
Storms on Election Day may impact tight mayor’s race
KHOU.com
http://bit.ly/1QGSDYS

Would voters approve a HERO without gender identity protections?
In the wake of the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance’s definitive defeat in last month’s general election, political scientists, supporters and opponents of the law agreed that the “bathroom issue” critics pushed doomed the law at the polls. A survey conducted by Bob Stein, the Lena Gohlman Fox Professor of Political Science, is cited. 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.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1J73y7Z

$750K in grants awarded to Medical Center
The Texas Medical Center’s Health Policy Institute has awarded $750,000 in grants aimed at promoting collaboration between TMC institutions and improving the lives of Texans. Vivian Ho, the James A. Baker III Institute Chair in Health Economics at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and professor of economics, is leading one of the four one-year projects the grants will fund. Â
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1SX8RfH

Articles report on universities’ decisions regarding the state’s new campus-carry law. Rice is mentioned for also opting out of the law.
Southwestern University opts out of campus carry
Community Impact Newspaper
http://bit.ly/1Orz3eC
UT committee unveils recommendations for implementing campus carry law 
Seating Chair
http://bit.ly/1O4YXul

The 10 most popular free online courses for professionals
Rice University’s online course An Introduction to Interactive Programming in Python (Part 1) is among the most popular free online courses for professionals. Computer Science faculty members Joe Warren, Scott Rixner, John Greiner and Stephen Wong are listed as instructors.
Houston Chronicle (This article also appeared in the Connecticut Post, San Francisco Chronicle, Seattle Post Intelligencer and eight other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/1NZPZby

Maybe it’s not the economy
A poll from CBS News says terrorism ranks higher than the economy as a top concern for 14 percent of Americans; the economy is the top concern for 12 percent. Richard Stoll, the Albert Thomas Chair in Political Science and scholar at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
KTRH-AM 740
http://bit.ly/221VHUI

HISD board incumbents keep seats
An article about Houston Independent School District board member elections mentions alumna Juliet Stipeche ’96, associate director of Rice’s Richard Tapia Center for Excellence and Equity.
Houston Press
http://bit.ly/1J73Ify

Realtor of the week: Arts degree, previous teaching key in realtor’s business success
Rice alumna Texas Anderson ’85 is featured.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1J73IMK

Phoenicia Specialty Foods presents YUMMY! Wonderland International Festival and Brunch 2015
A preview of a Dec. 12 event mentions that among the performers will be Natalie Lin, a graduate student at Rice’s Shepherd School of Music.
CultureMap
http://bit.ly/1Md6nV7

Partnerships key to counter concerns, post-San Bernardino, post-Paris
Fort Bend County officials, law enforcement, and Muslim leaders held a press conference Dec. 10 to address fears after recent terroristic attacks. A study by Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research calling Fort Bend County the most diverse county in the U.S. is cited.
The Katy Rancher
http://bit.ly/1Md6orW

BROADCAST

‘This morning with Alex Jensen’
Bill Arnold, professor in the practice of management at Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business, discusses falling oil prices. The segment is titled “1214 News Focus with Prof. Bill Arnold.”
Tbs eFM
http://apple.co/1TL8V2m

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Atomically flat tunnel transistor overcomes fundamental power challenge
One of the greatest challenges in the evolution of electronics has been to reduce power consumption during transistor switching operation. In a study recently reported in Nature, engineers at University of California, Santa Barbara, in collaboration with Rice University, have demonstrated a new transistor that switches at only 0.1 volts and reduces power dissipation by over 90 percent compared with state-of-the-art silicon transistors. Pulickel Ajayan, the Benjamin M. and Mary Greenwood Anderson Professor in Materials Science and NanoEngineering and of chemistry, is quoted.
One News Page (This article also appeared in News R and Space Daily.)
http://bit.ly/1NsDlCD
Overcoming a fundamental power challenge of electronics
PowerPulse.net
http://bit.ly/1SX9buZ
Engineers develop transistor that overcomes fundamental power limitations
Power Electronics World (This article also appeared in Silicon Semiconductor.)
http://bit.ly/1OrzDsR
MoS2 TFET transistor operates at voltages as low as 0.1V
Hexus
http://bit.ly/1lTW9U5

Laser-induced graphene produces micro-supercapacitor
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.
Materials Today
http://bit.ly/221W6Xu

Rice University to construct new office building and parking garage
Construction will begin soon on a new office building and parking garage south of Allen Center. Kathy Jones, associate vice president for Facilities Engineering and Planning, is mentioned.
AZO Build
http://bit.ly/1I4epVd

People News — Dec. 11, 2015
Karen Nelson, the Harmon Whittington Professor of Accounting at the Jones Graduate School of Business, as been named to the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Standing Advisory Group.
Accounting Today
http://bit.ly/1YfdYcy

Congress wants to give oil markets exactly what they don’t need — more oil
A yearslong push to get rid of the U.S. ban on exporting crude oil may be bearing fruit, just as the market for that crude is in a nosedive. Jim Krane, the Wallace S. Wilson Fellow in Energy Studies at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
Vice News
http://bit.ly/1RNtaOv

Hashim Sarkis and Amale Andraos among DesignIntelligence’s top 25 most admired educators
Dawn Finley, an associate professor of architecture, is among Design Intelligence’s top 25 most-admired educators for 2016.
Archinect
http://bit.ly/1OrzSnO

Nanosubmarine motors powered by light
Rice scientists build light-powered nanoscale submarines with just 244 atoms.
NASA Tech Briefs
http://bit.ly/1OrzXrE

Nanotube letters spell progress
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.
One News Page (This article also appeared on News R.)
http://bit.ly/1lIvOcn

Systematic candidate selection improves Haynesville refracturing economics
Rice alumnus Alejandro Pena ’04 co-authored an article about assessing the economics of refracturing operations.
World Oil
http://bit.ly/1m1olVd

This new nontoxic repellent could help make your clothes waterproof
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.
Science Alert
http://bit.ly/1QGTx7G
New material could lead to waterproof surfaces
Business Standard (This article also appeared in Metro Vaartha.)
http://bit.ly/1NPt3A6

This is what Oliver Stone’s movie about Nixon got right
A review of Oliver Stone’s 1995 movie “Nixon” mentions Douglas Brinkley, professor of history, and his book “The Nixon Tapes.”
History News Network
http://bit.ly/1IQ997H

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Big donor Richard Kinder has power, influence far beyond MU
An article profiles Richard Kinder and notes that Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, which examines issues facing Houston and urban centers around the country, was established in 2010 with a $15 million endowment from the Kinder Foundation. William Fulton, director of the Kinder Institute, is quoted.
Columbia Missourian
http://bit.ly/1J74dGw

Free, open-source textbooks are catching on at colleges
An article about the growing use of open texts by higher-education instructors mentions Rice’s OpenStax.
The Orange County Register
http://bit.ly/1NZQNxd

Education reform efforts compile failing grades
An article about education reform efforts mentions Linda McNeil, professor of education and director of Rice’s Center for Education.
Scranton Times-Tribune
http://bit.ly/1P2uNXM

Concert review: ‘Sounds of the Season’
Joseph Li, artist teacher of opera studies, is the pianist and music director for Opera Birmingham’s “Sounds of the Season” program.
Arts BHAM
http://bit.ly/1RNtEnz

Watch what snake venom does to blood
A hydrogel infused with snake venom may be the best material to stop bleeding quickly, even in the presence of anti-coagulants, according to Rice University scientists. Jeffrey Hartgerink, professor of chemistry and of bioengineering, is quoted.
Upvoted
http://bit.ly/1I4eSqt

SPORTS

Report: Rice, UTEP candidates for Mountain West expansion
Conference USA members Rice and the University of Texas-El Paso are being mentioned as possible Mountain West Conference (MWC) expansion candidates as the MWC begins regularly scheduled meetings.
Sports Illustrated
http://on.si.com/1O5ddTX
Rice, UTEP being mentioned as Mountain West discusses expansion
CBS Sports
http://cbsprt.co/1NsYf4K
Report: Rice, UTEP candidates for Mountain West expansion
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/222cAPa
Mountain West Conference reportedly interested in Rice, UTEP as expansion candidates
SB Nation
http://bit.ly/1SXpat1
Is Mountain West Conference looking for expansion real estate in Texas?
NBC Sports
http://bit.ly/1J7hbE7
Mountain West might consider adding Rice, UTEP
Las Vegas Review-Journal
http://bit.ly/1OrX6dk

Basketball brothers — the Ennis trio
An article profiles three brothers who play college basketball, one of whom, Dylan Ennis, played at Rice.
Brampton Guard (Toronto)
http://bit.ly/1QhJ7gB

’13 Eyewitness News’
Former football standout Chris Boswell kicked four field goals for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
KTRK-TV
http://bit.ly/1P2uUCA

Comcast Sportsnet Mid-Atlantic
A segment features a celebration of Rice alumnus and former football standout O.J. Brigance ’92. (Click the thumbnail to play the clip.)
http://bit.ly/1P2uWKB

NEWS RELEASE

Rice to enter first international nanocar race
Rice University will send an entry to the first international NanoCar Race, which will be held next October at Pico-Lab CEMES-CNRS in Toulouse, France.
http://bit.ly/1NZQYIP