Dateline Rice for Jan. 15, 2016

FEATURED ITEMS

Baylor honors Rice professor with award for great teaching
Baylor University has named Michelle “Mikki” Hebl, professor of psychology and management, the 2016 recipient of the Robert Foster Cherry Award for Great Teaching.
Memorial Examiner (This article also appeared in Bellaire Examiner.)
http://bit.ly/1RK9NqU
Baylor honors Rice University psychology professor with $250,000 Robert Foster Cherry Award for Great Teaching
Baylor Media Communications
http://bit.ly/1TZPmUt

References to Islam in school textbooks stir up a fight
Language about Islamic history in school textbooks is spurring battles across the nation, with some parents’ groups and lawmakers objecting to what they see as an overly benign portrayal of the religion’s spread and its teachings. David Cook, associate professor of religion, is quoted.
Wall Street Journal
http://on.wsj.com/1RpzcFZ

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

The IPO aimed at Iran
Jim Krane, the Wallace S. Wilson Fellow in Energy Studies at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted about the possibility of Saudi Aramco going public.
Bloomberg Business
http://bloom.bg/1We66sv

A bond beyond politics: Obama offered money to Biden when he struggled to support dying son’s family
Douglas Brinkley, professor of history, is quoted about the relationship between President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden.
National Post (Similar articles appeared in the Vancouver Sun, Canada.com, Leader Post, Ottawa Citizen, Calgary Herald, Province Online and Star Phoenix.)
http://bit.ly/1RT0qTZ

Meet 15 of the brightest college entrepreneurs and their innovative startups
Ziel Solutions, a startup company formed by Rice students, is included in a list of the 15 most innovative startups from colleges in America. The company develops wearable devices for reducing the risk of injury from repetitive physical activity.
Forbes
http://onforb.es/1Ov1wRA

Die Sieger stehen fest
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.
Jüdische Allgemeine (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/1Nbdm17

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Student blog: The empty homes of Rio’s 2016 Olympics
Will Rice College sophomore Anna Figueroa authored a blog post about Brazil’s anger towards their federal government’s spending on the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1OuRwrn

How Alexander Hamilton became a 21st-century hit
Douglas Brinkley, professor of history, is quoted on Alexander Hamilton’s rise to fame in recent pop culture.
Houston Chronicle (This appeared on the front of the Star Living section in the Jan. 15 print edition. The article was posted online earlier in the week and was cited in the Jan. 14 issue of Dateline. That Dateline blurb incorrectly identified Hamilton. He was a Founding Father of the United States and did not serve as president. We regret the error. Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1RHm4MX

HISD board votes to rename 4 schools named after Confederate loyalists
A slideshow includes a photo from Rice University archives of Richard Dowling, a Confederate army officer and namesake of Dowling Middle School.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1P4dPK4

Ted Cruz again enters debate feeling frontrunner’s heat
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 the scrutiny of presidential candidate Ted Cruz’s finances, the first GOP debate of 2016 and Democrat Trey Martinez Fischer’s fundraising for the Senate District 26 seat. Jones is also mentioned for his conservative rating of Texas state Sen. Don Huffines.
Texas Tribune (This article also appeared in Fort Worth Business, My High Plains, My Informs and DFWLiving.com.)
http://bit.ly/1nnguSK
Loan issues put asterisk on Ted Cruz’s US senate victory
Texas Tribune
http://bit.ly/1SREKIM
NBC poll: Trump leads hypothetical head-to-head race with Rubio
PopHerald.com
http://bit.ly/1J6D3VX
Democrats girding for another expensive SD 26 battle
San Antonio Express-News
http://bit.ly/1Om94Ij
KPFT.org
http://kpft.org/archive/ (The story aired on the 4 p.m. news at the 4:01 mark.)
84th legislative honors and awards
DonHuffines.com
http://bit.ly/1nnoOlJ

No campus carry at Trinity University
Trinity University opted out of Texas’ new “campus carry” law. Rice is mentioned for also opting out of the law.
San Antonio Express-News
http://bit.ly/1SRDhCb

Learn to grow with the annual fruit tree sale at Rice University
The 16th annual Urban Harvest fruit tree sale will be Jan. 16 at Rice Stadium.
365 Things To Do In Houston
http://bit.ly/1RpLpKR

BROADCAST

KUT 90.5 (Austin, Texas)
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.
http://bit.ly/1UUeThN

Rethinking why men and women choose certain professions
Despite decades of efforts to banish the idea of “jobs for men” — construction worker, firefighter, mechanic — and “jobs for women” — teacher, flight attendant, registered nurse — almost 69 percent of workers are in occupations that are dominated by one gender or the other, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Erin Cech, assistant professor of sociology, discusses the statistics.
Houston Public Media’s “Houston Matters”
http://bit.ly/1KhjHZ8

‘After War’ upends the image of the heroic wounded vet
Zoë Wool, assistant professor of anthropology and author of the book “After War,” discusses her study of what life is like for veterans and their families.
Houston Public Media’s “Houston Matters”
http://bit.ly/1ZAdCDf

Video: New Houston orchestra takes less conventional approach to performing
Shepherd School of Music graduate students Natalie Lin and Max Geissler are featured for their conductorless group, KINETIC Ensemble.
Houston Public Media
http://bit.ly/1nnfVZ8

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

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. George Phillips, the Ralph and Dorothy Looney Professor of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, is quoted.
Biomass Magazine
http://bit.ly/1n5bX7K

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.
ChemEurope.com (This article also appeared in Space Daily, Innovation Report, Electronic Component News, Photonics Online and iConnect007.)
http://bit.ly/1RpDm0H
Nano-hybrid materials create magnetic effect: Rice, Montreal Polytechnic study details electromagnetic properties of graphene-boron nitride materials
Nanotechnology Now
http://bit.ly/1TZW3G4

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

2014 ArtPrize winner ‘Intersections’ heading to Boston, featured by National Geographic
Anila Quayyum Agha’s installation titled “Intersections,” which was on display at Rice Art Gallery, will be featured at Peabody Essex Museum.
RiverGrandRapids.com
http://bit.ly/1OmhbVd

We (chose) to go to the moon …
President John F. Kennedy’s famous “Moon Speech” delivered at Rice Sept. 12, 1962, is discussed.
Malibu Patch
http://bit.ly/1KhhMDP

SPORTS

Rice charges back to beat W. Kentucky 83-73
Rice men’s basketball beat Western Kentucky University 83-73 at Tudor Fieldhouse. The team will play against Middle Tennessee University Jan. 24.
CBS Sports
http://cbsprt.co/1RT104b
Underclassmen grow up fast in Rice’s win over Western Kentucky
Houston Chronicle (This also appeared in My Informs. Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1NbftlM
http://bit.ly/1Zp6Bjn
Hilltoppers fall to Rice after losing late lead
WKUHerald.com
http://bit.ly/1J6BKGh
Blue Raiders versus Rice Owls game to benefit American Cancer Society
MTSU Sidelines (This also appeared in Individual.com.)
http://bit.ly/1JOei0I

College basketball: Iowa overwhelms Michigan St. to complete sweep
Rice women’s basketball fell to Western Kentucky University 49-52. Player Shani Rainey is mentioned.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1n0obxK

NEWS RELEASES

Rice, local Jain community join forces to further global understanding of ancient Indian religion
Rice University representatives and leaders of the local Jain community will sign a memorandum of understanding Jan. 17 to mark the community’s gift of $80,000 to support a new postdoctoral fellowship at Rice. The fellowship will help deepen the global understanding of Jainism as religion and culture and will contribute to the Transnational Asia Research Initiative at Rice’s Chao Center for Asian Studies.
http://bit.ly/1WeLiku

Self-adaptive material heals itself, stays tough
Rice University scientists invent an adaptive material that heals itself and bounces back from extraordinary compression. The material may be useful for tissue engineering or lightweight structural applications.
http://bit.ly/2041yqM

Rice movie expert available to comment on Oscar nominations
Charles Dove, director of Rice Cinema, professor in the practice and film program director in the School of Humanities’ Department of Visual and Dramatic Arts, is available to comment on this year’s Oscar nominees.
http://bit.ly/1NbeOAz