Dateline Rice for Jan. 7, 2016

FEATURED ITEM

Rice researcher awarded $1.5M from Kauffman Foundation to study effects of entrepreneurship education
A leading researcher at Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business has received a $1.5 million grant from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation to study the effects of entrepreneurship education on entrepreneurial success. The five-year project will work with leading startup support organizations in the United States to track the outcomes of a group of startups receiving a free, concentrated entrepreneurship curriculum. Yael Hochberg, the Ralph S. O’Connor Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship, is quoted. Eric Floyd, assistant professor of accounting, is mentioned.
Texas Medical Center News
http://bit.ly/1JZjpG6
Rice to study effectiveness of entrepreneurship education
Houston Chronicle (This also appeared in San Francisco Chronicle. Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1MVAdhc
http://bit.ly/1VLTqc1

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

An army of data just joined the war on poverty
Andrew Keatts, content editor for Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, authored an op-ed about the Salvation Army’s Human Needs Index, which better measures the needs of poor Americans.
Huffington Post
http://huff.to/1PgCLIs

Vladimir Putin’s global warming fix: Carbon nanotubes
James Tour, the T.T. and W.F. Chao Professor of Chemistry, professor of computer science and of materials science and nanoengineering, is quoted about Vladimir Putin’s suggestion to use carbon nanotubes to cut down carbon pollution.
Climate Change News
http://bit.ly/1TGRlg0

TiE Hyderabad declares TiE International Startup Competition finalists
The Indus Entrepreneurs Hyderabad announced the finalists of its international startup competition, who will have the opportunity to win a spot in the finals at Rice’s Business Plan Competition.
Financial Express (This also appeared in Yahoo! India Business.)
http://bit.ly/1SBZAMa

Ted Cruz, natural born citizen
Sen. Ted Cruz’s mother, alumna Eleanor Darragh ’56, is mentioned.
National Review
http://bit.ly/1PPHRAb
Ted Cruz: The law is clear that I’m a natural-born citizen
Hot Air
http://bit.ly/1ZPq4fg

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Rice ranks among Niche’s top colleges in the US
Rice is No. 5 on Niche’s list of the best colleges in the U.S. The list is based on academics, cost, student surveys, diversity, student life and safety, among other criteria, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1VM00iH
http://bit.ly/1OcGsik
Houston school claims top-5 spot on best colleges list
Houston Business Journal
http://bit.ly/1JwFUap

These diseases could make news in Texas in 2016
Peter Hotez, a fellow in disease and poverty at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, authored an op-ed about the infectious diseases that could make headlines this year.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1PgF6Dd

Even with insurance, medical debt can be a burden
According to a new study by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the New York Times, one in five insured adults under the age of 65 had problems paying medical bills in 2015. Rice is cited for its study on the uninsured in Texas.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1VLNK1K

Couple expands Heights ‘pumpkin’ home to accommodate triplets
A slideshow mentions Karin Broker, professor of visual arts, for her art piece that hangs in a home in the Heights.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1RbJucJ

‘The Other Mozart’
The new show “The Other Mozart” will feature new music from alumnus Nathan Davis ’96.
Houston Press
http://bit.ly/1UyOeqG

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Bacteria attack lignin with enzymatic tag team
A study from Rice University, the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Joint BioEnergy Institute at Emeryville, Calif., shows how bacterial enzymes team up to attack lignin. The findings could lead to more efficient processes for creating biofuels from wood, grass and agricultural waste. George Phillips, the Ralph and Dorothy Looney Professor of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, is quoted.
Phys.org (This article also appeared in Science Newsline, Health Canal, Science Codex and e! Science News.)
http://bit.ly/1Z7Iky9
Study: Bacteria attack lignin with enzymatic tag team
Science Codex
http://bit.ly/1Z7J3iI

Aluminum nanoparticles could improve electronic displays
Researchers developed a method using aluminum nanostructure pixels to make the blue end of the color spectrum more vibrant. Rice helped fund the research.
Science Daily (This article also appeared in ACS.)
http://bit.ly/1ZbBQDS

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

UMW’s popular ‘Great Lives’ series returns with another crop of famous faces
Douglas Brinkley, professor of history, will speak at the Chappell “Great Lives” Lecture Series at the University of Mary Washington.
Fredericksburg.com
http://bit.ly/22MBuml

SPORTS

UT sells $1.8 million worth of alcohol in first wet football season
Rice football’s game against University of Texas at Austin is mentioned in a slideshow of fans enjoying the first year of alcohol being sold at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.
Houston Chronicle (This appeared on the front page. Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1mI523D

Mark Quinn to be named Orioles assistant hitting coach (plus Hall of Fame ballot)
Former Rice baseball player Mark Quinn was named assistant hitting coach for the Baltimore Orioles.
MASNSports.com
http://bit.ly/1OOtwF1

NEWS RELEASES

Study: Bacteria attack lignin with enzymatic tag team
A study from Rice University, the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Joint BioEnergy Institute at Emeryville, Calif., shows how bacterial enzymes team up to attack lignin. The findings could lead to more efficient processes for creating biofuels from wood, grass and agricultural waste.
http://bit.ly/1mI2QZU

Rice researcher awarded $1.5M from Kauffman Foundation to study effects of entrepreneurship education
A leading researcher at Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business has received a $1.5 million grant from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation to study the effects of entrepreneurship education on entrepreneurial success. The five-year project will work with leading startup support organizations in the United States to track the outcomes of a group of startups receiving a free, concentrated entrepreneurship curriculum.
http://bit.ly/1OOuH7C