Dateline Rice for Jan. 14, 2016

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

World’s most international universities 2016
Rice is listed among the top 200 most international universities in the world in the Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings for 2016. The rankings are based on each institution’s proportion of international staff, proportion of international students and proportion of research papers published with at least one co-author from another country.
Times Higher Education
http://bit.ly/1SQmvn3

Weizmann professor among 7 Wolf Prize laureates 
K.C. Nicolaou, the Harry C. and Olga K. Wiess Professor of Chemistry, is a recipient of the Wolf Prize in Chemistry for advancing the field of chemical synthesis to the extremes of molecular complexity.
Jerusalem Post
http://bit.ly/1ORhBof
Die Sieger stehen fest
Jüdische Allgemeine (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/1PdEpKH

This self-healing ‘gel’ is stiff like a sugar cube
Rice scientists have invented an adaptive material that heals itself and bounces back from extraordinary compression. The material may be useful for tissue engineering or lightweight structural applications. Postdoctoral researcher Pei Dong and Jun Lou, associate professor of materials science and nanoengineering, are quoted.
Futurity
http://bit.ly/1Ot9iLv
Self-adaptive material heals itself, stays tough
ChemEurope (This article also appeared on the Financial Express.)
http://bit.ly/1n2s0Df
Self-adaptive composite heals itself and returns to its original shape
Gizmag
http://bit.ly/1ZmAZuE
Self-adaptive material that heals itself while staying tough may be useful for tissue engineering
Tech Times
http://bit.ly/1TXLAe4
Self-healing material has role as defect-tolerant structural component
The Engineer
http://bit.ly/1n2sr0k
Self-adaptive composite: A new material holds promise for tissue engineering
MedGadget
http://bit.ly/1TXOZtp
US scientists create self-healing putty-like material
Daily Sabah
http://bit.ly/1ZmI3Yp

Racial makeup of labor markets affects who gets job leads
The racial composition of a labor market plays a significant role in whether workers find out about job leads — regardless of the race of the worker, according to new research from Rice University and North Carolina State University. James Elliot, associate professor of sociology, is quoted.
Bloomberg Business (This article also appeared in Phys.Org, ScienceNewsline, e!ScienceNews and Science Codex.)
http://bit.ly/1OR9Aj8

US exports 1st freely traded oil in 40 years
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, is quoted in an article about crude oil prices and LNG exports.
Yahoo! Finance (This article was also appeared in Yahoo! Business & Finance New Zealand, Yahoo! Finance Australia, MSN News, Bunker Ports News Worldwide, First Enercast Financial and Hellenic Shipping News.)
http://yhoo.it/1RHjHK2
Crude oil price hits 12-year low
The Daily Croton
http://bit.ly/1P2LJ1T
New study examines outcome of increasing US LNG exports
Downstream Business
http://bit.ly/1PdC1Dw

Cancer proposal shows special bond 
Douglas Brinkley, professor of history, is quoted about President Barack Obama’s final State of the Union address and the relationship between Obama and Vice President Joe Biden.
The Bulletin
http://bit.ly/1P2Fmf1
Obama-Biden rapport transcends the office
Watertown Daily Times
http://bit.ly/1mYlc9e

Experts have doubts about Sean Penn’s story about ‘El Chapo’
Not all experts are convinced by actor Sean Penn’s account of his encounter with Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman. Nathan Jones, the Alfred C. Glassell III Postdoctoral Fellow in Drug Policy at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
ThinkProgess
http://bit.ly/1Q0fayJ

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Ted Cruz again enters debate feeling frontrunner’s heat
Robert Stein, the Lena Gohlman Fox Professor of Political Science, and 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, discuss predictions for the Jan. 14 Republican presidential debate.
Texas Tribune
http://bit.ly/231zpTI
Cruz, Trump spar ahead of GOP debate
KTRH-AM
http://bit.ly/1Ot4Uw4
http://bit.ly/1nlh0AV (Click on the audio button to listen to the broadcast.)

High demand for Powerball tickets causes technical difficulties
Philip Ernst, assistant professor of statistics, discusses the statistics behind winning the Powerball.
KHOU
http://bit.ly/1PtIfQ9

Embracing the faded glory of Houston’s Astrodome
Ryan Holeywell, senior editor at Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, authored an op-ed in favor of repurposing the Astrodome.
Texas Standard
http://bit.ly/1Wb8j7R

How Alexander Hamilton became a 21st-century hit
Douglas Brinkley, professor of history, is quoted on Founding Father Alexander Hamilton’s rise to fame in recent pop culture.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1RHm4MX

Technology helps keep kids focused in classroom
Beneke Elementary math and science teacher Natalie Johnson is featured for her innovative teaching approach. The article mentions that Johnson has participated in programs offered by Rice’s Office of STEM Engagement for three years.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required. This article appeared on the front of the Spring Klein Tomball Community Extra section in the Jan. 14 print edition; the article appeared online earlier in the week and was in the Jan. 12 issue of Dateline.) 
http://bit.ly/1Rk5h1M
http://bit.ly/1SMoCIv

UTSA, SwRI host the Conferences for Undergraduate Women in Physics
Patricia Reiff, professor of physics and astronomy, will speak at the Conferences for Undergraduate Women in Physics hosted by The University of Texas at San Antonio and the Southwest Research Institute Jan. 15-17.
UTSA Today
http://bit.ly/1PdiymB

New music storage website launches
Startup company LoveTech announced the release of its unlimited free music storage website, MyMusi.cc, which is “a collection of former Rice students with a common goal of revolutionizing online music storage.”
The Spring Observer
http://bit.ly/202l4Uv

Honor Dr. King during a weekend celebrating MLK Day 2016
Anthony Pinn, the Agnes Cullen Arnold Professor of Humanities and professor of religion, will participate in a discussion at the “Still Dreaming: Black Lives Matter, Hip Hop and MLK’s Legacy” event presented by Rice’s Center for Engaged Research and Collaborative Learning.
365 Things To Do In Houston
http://bit.ly/1Q0u4oo

A number of articles in My Gay Houston promoting tourism in Houston reference Rice events, the university’s convenient location to MetroRail and Hermann Park, and James Turrell’s “Twilight Epiphany” Skyspace.
Picture perfect: 6 great photo spots in Houston
My Gay Houston
http://bit.ly/1RPMWsm
Houston without the car
My Gay Houston
http://bit.ly/1ZxJ4lB
Get outside!
My Gay Houston
http://bit.ly/1nlj4c5
Locals in Houston’s GLBT community: Emma
My Gay Houston
http://bit.ly/202oA1l
Locals in Houston’s GLBT community: Christin
My Gay Houston
http://bit.ly/231QInx
Locals in Houston’s GLBT community: Dennis
My Gay Houston
http://bit.ly/1Q8pS8g
Tour it up
My Gay Houston
http://bit.ly/1mYu4LZ

BROADCAST

Colleges should give admissions preference to poor students, group says 
The National Public Radio station in Dallas reports on a new study by the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation that found a low percentage of students from low-income families are enrolled at elite universities. Chris Muñoz, Rice’s vice president for enrollment, cites higher numbers for Rice and notes the university’s generous financial aid policy for students from families who make less than $80,000.
KERA News (Click on the audio button to listen to the broadcast.)
http://bit.ly/231qQs5

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Nano-hybrid materials create magnetic effect
A Rice University and Montreal Polytechnic theoretical study defines the electromagnetic properties of graphene and boron nitride hybrids. The results provide a road map for new nano-engineered applications. Rouzbeh Shahsavari, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, is quoted.
Phys.Org (This article also appeared in Controlled Environments, Science Codex, R&D Magazine, Houston Style Online, ScienceNewsline, DPA on the Net and ECN.)
http://bit.ly/1OR7tf4

West Texas resources: Fort Worth Star-Telegram Bud Kennedy column
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 about Empower Texans Chairman Tim Dunn’s contribution to the NE Tarrant Tea Party.
4-Traders
http://bit.ly/1RPYmfD

Cómo la variación de precios afecta a los retailers
Utpal Dholakia, the George R. Brown Chair of Marketing and professor of management at Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business, is mentioned.
InformaBTL (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/1N9Bbq1

‘Il Comune ha superato la crisi, ora possiamo sognare.’ Discorso di Sant’Ilario del sindaco Pizzarotti
President Barack Obama alluded to President John F. Kennedy’s famous “Moon Speech” delivered at Rice Sept. 12, 1962.
Teleducato (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/1OthThn
President Obama’s SOTU speech bored Donald Trump 
Pasion Noticias
http://bit.ly/1SkjPyP

Inside the push to get a Texas startup to move to Wilmington
Rice is mentioned for hosting a 12-week course and pitch contest where the creators of the app called “Consul” met.
Technical.ly
http://bit.ly/1Okc73U

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Sky Walker: Birthplace of the stars
A photo from the Steward Observatory at Rice is included in a story about the Orion Nebula.
Harvard Press
http://bit.ly/1KfwafR

Voelkel selected as new Texas A&M Foundation president
Alumnus Tyson Voelkel ’11 has been selected as president of the Texas A&M Foundation’s Board of Trustees.
Dwight Look College of Engineering
http://bit.ly/1ZxEUua

Navy vet built legacy of charitable care
Alumnus Tom Gehring ’75 is profiled as he steps down as executive director of the San Diego Medical Society.
The San Diego Union-Tribune
http://bit.ly/1PdhAGM

Guest commentary: A young man’s hand-to-hand combat for life
Shepherd School of Music student Samuel Waters, who is currently taking time off from Rice, authored an op-ed about his experience with cancer.
Falls Church News-Press
http://bit.ly/1PtC1Qg

Bioethics and the Catholic Church: 21 questions for Janet E. Smith
Janet Smith, a moral theology professor at Sacred Heart Major Seminary, mentions in an interview that she knows a chemistry professor at Rice.
America Magazine
http://bit.ly/1WaUHtf

‘Duck Dynasty’ Phil Robertson endorses Ted Cruz
Sen. Ted Cruz’s mother, alumna Eleanor Darragh ’56, is mentioned.
Inquisitr
http://bit.ly/1SQcs1j

SPORTS

Herman, Saban headline Bear Bryant finalists
Head football coach David Bailiff is mentioned.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1Wb4vne

James Casey reunites with Tom Herman on the University of Houston coaching staff
Alumnus James Casey ’11 has been hired as an offensive analyst for the football team at the University of Houston.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1RPLKFa
Colleges: UH’s Ward wins Earl Campbell Award
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1TXPROD
Former Texans TE James Casey hired by UH football
Fox 26 Sports
http://bit.ly/231NmBc

Rice’s Evans emerging as a top-tier playmaker
Brown College freshman basketball player Marcus Evans is profiled for leading Conference USA in scoring. Head basketball coach Mike Rhoades is also mentioned.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1ZxG1tS

Remember when Rice University hosted Houston’s first Super Bowl
Rice is mentioned for hosting the 1974 Super Bowl VIII game.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required. This article is also featured on Beaumont Enterprise Online and Myinforms.)
http://bit.ly/1RnQdAf
http://bit.ly/1J4Yk20

Rice Owls versus Western Kentucky Hilltoppers: Jan. 14 college basketball pick, odds and prediction
Rice men’s basketball will play against Western Kentucky College at 8 p.m. Jan. 14 at Tudor Fieldhouse.
Sports Chat Place
http://bit.ly/1RnNruV

Jim Harbaugh is going to sleep at a high school player’s house. Here’s the NCAA rule saying that’s ok.
Duncan College freshman football player J.T. Granato is mentioned for committing to Rice after a recruiting letter was sent to his cat.
Stack
http://bit.ly/1OkaJOB

Winter sports: Former YouTube sensation, college RB Sam McGuffie transitions to World Cup bobsled 
Alumnus Sam McGuffie ’13 is profiled for his transition from football player to bobsledder.
The Salt Lake Tribune
http://bit.ly/1RnG5Yq

NEWS RELEASES

Baker Institute paper: Middle East is shifting to nuclear energy
Despite their huge fossil-fuel reserves, Mideast petrostates are turning to nuclear power to reduce their demand for exportable oil and gas while meeting fast-growing needs for electricity, according to a new paper from Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.
http://bit.ly/1RGNL8H

Rice statistician available to discuss Powerball drawing
Philip Ernst, assistant professor of statistics, was available to comment on the $1.5 billion Powerball prior to last night’s drawing.
http://bit.ly/1J4X0w7