Dateline Rice for March 10, 2016

FEATURED ITEM

Touching everything
Sarah Whiting, dean of the Rice School of Architecture, the William Ward Watkin Professor of Architecture and fellow at Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, is profiled.
Texas Architect (This appeared in the March/April 2016 issue of the print magazine.)
http://bit.ly/1paXWWA

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

The science of President Trump
Neal Lane, the Malcolm Gillis University Professor Emeritus, senior fellow in science and technology policy at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and professor emeritus of physics and astronomy, comments on the potential repercussions of cutting funding to the Environmental Protection Agency, which Donald Trump said he would do if elected president.
Scientific American (This also appeared in Business Insider and Daily News.)
http://bit.ly/1LRwiYZ

Why Trump has it backwards on minority groups
Steve Murdock, the Allyn and Gladys Cline Professor of Sociology and director of Rice’s Hobby Center for the Study of Texas, is quoted about the millennial population in The Woodlands area. Murdock’s research on the changing demographics of the United States is also mentioned.
The Atlantic (This also appeared in Yahoo! News.)
http://theatln.tc/1P1HWeK
More millennials calling The Woodlands home
Community Impact Newspaper
http://bit.ly/1U3ZUEZ

‘We’re sitting ducks’
An investigative report published by ProPublica and the Texas Tribune argues that Houston is not well-prepared for a major hurricane. Phil Bedient, the Herman Brown Professor of Engineering, is quoted.
ProPublica
http://bit.ly/1pasibN
Mighty Ike: A monster storm in the making
Reveal News
http://bit.ly/1py2zdQ

Why the triumph of moderates is a setback to Iranian democracy
Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar, fellow for the Middle East at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, authored an op-ed about Iran’s Feb. 26 elections.
The Washington Post
http://wapo.st/1pgwpUg

Havikoro celebrates 17th anniversary with hip-hop competition and culture panel
Houston-based B-Boy group Havikoro was inducted into the Hip-Hop Archival Collection housed at the Woodson Research Center Special Collections and University Archives in Rice’s Fondren Library as part of a three-day celebration. Rice’s Center for Engaged Research and Collaborative Learning; Anthony Pinn, the Agnes Cullen Arnold Professor of Humanities and professor of religion and fellow at Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research; and Bernard “Bun B” Freeman, former distinguished lecturer at Rice, are mentioned.
HuffPost Arts & Culture
http://huff.to/1SA8iLo

How lifestyle brands Life Is Good and Yee Yee reveal the hidden value of reading and reacting
Alumnus Tyler Smith ’11 and his company Yee Yee Brands are profiled.
Entrepreneur (This also appeared in the Houston Chronicle, Greenwich Time, News Times, the Stamford Advocate, the CT Post and My San Antonio.)
http://entm.ag/1Tts7oJ

FAA reauthorization bill gets held up with last-minute quibbles
Rice researchers have determined a more effective way to use natural gas to reduce climate-warming emissions would be in the replacement of existing coal-fired power plants and fuel-oil furnaces rather than burning it in cars and buses. Daniel Cohan, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, and alumnus Shayak Sengupta ’15 are mentioned in some of the articles.
Politico
http://politi.co/1M6XP3F
After Michigan Berns, Dem debate got exciting
Politico
http://politi.co/1RAcTZ7
Pitching gas against coal
Science Codex (This also appeared in Science 2.0.)
http://bit.ly/1R7oyOG
Natural gas fundamental forecast — March 11
FX Empire
http://bit.ly/1UhXiCm
Electricity, heating most climate-friendly uses for natural gas
Chem Europe
http://bit.ly/1QJKzXW

Treatment plants fail to kill superbugs from hospital sewage
Scientists at the Environmental Protection Agency recently announced they had discovered a lethal superbug in California sewage plants. Pedro Alvarez, the George R. Brown Professor and chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, is quoted.
The Seattle Times
http://bit.ly/1QJKTWL
Sewage plants are failing to kill lethal superbugs unleashed from hospitals
The Bellingham Herald (This also appeared in Centre Daily Times, the Tribune, the News & Observer, the Merced Sun-Star, AcraMax and Hamodia.)
http://bit.ly/1QJTTLt
Southern California hospitals releasing CRE into municipal sewers
Healthcare Facilities Today
http://bit.ly/1U57Ndx
‘Superbug’ thrives in treatment plants in Los Angeles
Our Weekly
http://bit.ly/1Xfc5x2

HOUSTON/TEXAS

‘Big data’ drills down into metabolic details
Rice bioengineers have introduced a fast computational method to model tissue-specific metabolic pathways. Their algorithm may help researchers find new therapeutic targets for cancer and other diseases. Amina Qutub, assistant professor of bioengineering, and graduate student Andre Schultz are quoted.
TMC News (This also appeared in Phys Org, Science Codex, Science 2.0, eScience News, Biology News Net, Biocompare, Medical News Today, Science Newsline and Science Daily.)
http://bit.ly/1UVvUL5
Bioengineers introduce CORDA algorithm to find new therapeutic targets for cancer
News Medical
http://bit.ly/1R9j3Fo

Venture capital investment on a Texas slowdown
Dallas, Houston and San Antonio are drastically underperforming in entrepreneurship compared with other major U.S. cities, according to a new report by Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. Edward Egan, fellow of the Baker Institute and director of the institute’s McNair Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, is quoted in the Houston Business Journal article.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1W9onqx
Houston not a viable entrepreneurship hub, report shows
Houston Business Journal (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1Wc1OkY

Turner gets bike crowd moving, on its feet
The Electric Bike Expo will be at Rice March 11-13.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1TtzZa1

Pavilion patrons set for annual fundraising event
KTRU is mentioned.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required. This also appeared in My San Antonio.)
http://bit.ly/1LRPMwM
http://bit.ly/1U43SO4

What’s showing outside the megaplex
Rice Cinema will be showing “When a Tree Falls” March 10 at 7 p.m., “Nothing in Return” March 11 at 7 p.m. and “Easy Sex, Sad Movies” March 13 at 4 p.m.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1QEm9xW
http://bit.ly/1USYWek

Houston’s impossibly earnest city song
A 1911 photo of the Rice Institute Board of Trustees and 1912 photos of the administration building and the Rice Institute dedication ceremony are part of a slideshow. Pictured are Benjamin Botts Rice, former Rice President Edgar Odell Lovett, Emanuel Raphael and William Marsh Rice II.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1pzelVd

Historical commission seeks to preserve Jefferson Co.’s smaller towns
A photo of Dick Dowling from the Battle of Sabine Pass is credited to Rice.
Houston Chronicle (This also appeared in the Beaumont Enterprise.)
http://bit.ly/1YBwLAL
Texas Historical Markers in Jefferson County
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1LTFRXn

Texas ranks low in primary turnout
Mark Jones, the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies, professor of political science, fellow in political science at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and fellow at Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, is quoted about low voter turnout in Texas and the presidential race.
KTRH
http://bit.ly/1UT9hXJ
Texas near bottom among states in primary turnout this year
El Paso Herald-Post
http://bit.ly/1R7H75p
Crucial debate ahead of Florida primary
KTSA
http://bit.ly/1pzkuRm
Why Texas democrats haven’t shown up at the polls
Texas Standard (This broadcast also aired on 24 other stations.)
http://bit.ly/1RSOX5W
Despite record numbers, Texas near bottom in 2016 primary turnout
Waco Trib
http://bit.ly/1R9FJ29

Fall in border pot seizures shows troubles facing Mexican drug gangs
Tony Payan, the Baker Institute for Public Policy’s Françoise and Edward Djerejian Fellow for Mexico Studies and director of the institute’s Mexico Center, discusses marijuana policies in Texas.
WOAI
http://bit.ly/1RBONNL
http://bit.ly/1M9aKls (Click on the audio button to listen to the broadcast.)

One of Houston’s most important music groups gets its own podcast: Insider access starts now
The Houston Symphony’s “Musically Speaking” series at Rice is mentioned.
Paper City Magazine
http://bit.ly/222U9fQ

Spring Branch ISD volunteer promotes coding, computer science
An article mentions that a retired teacher in the Spring Branch school district secured a grant in partnership with Rice to teach teachers the connections among coding, art and math.
My San Antonio
http://bit.ly/1QJUdtC

Run on: The Brays Bayou trails offer the best of many worlds
Rice is mentioned.
Houstonia
http://bit.ly/1TteyWD

Actors From The London Stage Star in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ at Rice University, beginning today
Actors From The London Stage, an international touring theater troupe based in London and the University of Notre Dame in the United States, will be in residency at Rice University March 10-12.
Broadway World Houston
http://bit.ly/1WbOSvj

Lone Star College to host world-class book festival
The article mentions that a panel at the Lone Star Book Festival will include professors from Rice.
Cypress Creek Mirror (This also appeared in the Spring Observer.)
http://bit.ly/1RBJ3Ul

Dr. Cristina Villalobos receives national honor for higher education service, teaching
Alumna Cristina Villalobos ’00 has been recognized by the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education to receive the national 2016 Outstanding Latino/a Faculty in Higher Education: Service/Teaching in Higher Education Award.
Texas Border Business
http://bit.ly/1LTWgLv

La escritora Rose Mary Salum reflexiona sobre los niños de la guerra en su nuevo libro de cuentos
Rice is mentioned.
La Voz (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/1pxXmm7

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

25 percent of Texans lack knowledge about health insurance plans
According to a new report, approximately 25 percent of Texans say they lack confidence in understanding some of the most basic terminology about health insurance plans. Vivian Ho, the James A. Baker III Institute Chair in Health Economics at the Baker Institute and professor of economics, and Elena Marks, a nonresident health policy fellow at the Baker Institute, are quoted.
Health Payer Intelligence
http://bit.ly/24SQekw
New report: 25 percent of Texans say they don’t understand basic health insurance terms
Health Canal
http://bit.ly/225M3Q0
25 percent of Texans say they don’t understand basic health insurance terms
Science Daily (This also appeared in Science Newsline.)
http://bit.ly/222PnyW

Huitt-Zollars announces new national director of design
Douglas Oliver, a professor in the practice of architecture, has been announced as the national director of design for Huitt-Zollars Inc.
Architectural Roofing and Waterproofing
http://bit.ly/1XfaebA

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Trump, Cruz turn Ryan’s agenda upside down
Paul Brace, the Clarence L. Carter Professor of Political Science, is quoted about House Speaker Paul Ryan.
Politics in Minnesota Capital Report
http://bit.ly/1YxJog6
Paul Ryan’s House agenda turned upside down by Trump, Cruz dominance
Personal Liberty
http://bit.ly/1R7uCH1

Hybrid compute drives energy efficient oil reservoir modeling
The Rice Oil & Gas Workshop is mentioned.
The Next Platform
http://bit.ly/1R9mTyf
Drilling into the systems at the oil and gas majors
The Next Platform
http://bit.ly/1pznFIQ

Classical: Allentown Symphony, dancers present ‘Petrushka’
A piece by Pierre Jalbert, professor of composition and theory at Rice’s Shepherd School of Music, will be performed at Moravian in Bethlehem, Penn. March 11.
The Morning Call
http://bit.ly/220IuOv

The professor, the abductee, and the aliens
“The Super Natural: A New Vision of the Unexplained,” co-authored by Jeffrey Kripal, the J. Newton Rayzor Professor of Religion, is discussed.
Patheos
http://bit.ly/1RSSGAv

STEM broadens horizons
Erin Cech, assistant professor of sociology, is mentioned.
The Daily Iowan
http://bit.ly/1XfbY4y
Wenn Sinn und Selbstverwirklichung wichtiger sind als Gehalt
Der Standard (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/1P1LaPi

Robots and automation are coming for human jobs — Martin Ford interview
Moshe Vardi, director of Rice’s Ken Kennedy Institute for Information Technology, the Karen Ostrum George Distinguished Service Professor of Computational Engineering and professor of computer science, expects that within 30 years, machines will be capable of doing almost any job that a human can.
VDARE
http://bit.ly/1QPa7Q5

Whaley named AATCC’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Rice’s Business Plan Competition is mentioned.
Textile World
http://bit.ly/1QHNDE1

Harding names new provost, vice provost
Alumnus Floyd “Marty” Spears ’92 will become Harding University’s new provost at the end of the academic year.
Arkansas Business
http://bit.ly/1U46awC

Sons of Serendip to play MPAC April 7
Mason Morton ’11 is mentioned.
Broadway World
http://bit.ly/1LesNMa

Future batteries, coming soon: Charge in seconds, last months and power over the air
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.
Pocket Lint (This also appeared in AIVA net.)
http://bit.ly/1LTXMxk

Changing circumstances: Looking at the future of the planet
Rice is mentioned.
E-Flux
http://bit.ly/225MolL

Learning to think like an engineer
Rice is mentioned.
MIT News
http://bit.ly/1M97kzi

Благодаря покрытию из углеродных нанотрубок коаксиальные кабели становятся лёгче
Rice scientists used carbon nanotubes to make durable, flexible coaxial cables for aerospace applications with half the weight. Matteo Pasquali, the A.J. Hartsook Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, chair of the Department of Chemistry and a professor of materials science and nanoengineering and of chemistry, and alumna Francesca Mirri ’14, a research scientist, are mentioned.
Rus Cable (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/1RSNZqx

Kärnten und Österreich im Heta-Feuer
Alumnus Anton Karl ’03 authored an op-ed.
Der Standard (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/1pzlAwx

SPORTS

Bring on March Madness
Rice men’s basketball fell to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte 69-79. Head coach Mike Rhoades and players Marcus Evans, Egor Koulechov and Andrew Drone are mentioned. Evans was named Conference USA Freshmen of the Year.
CBS Houston
http://cbsloc.al/223ljzP
No. 5 Old Dominion faces No. 12 FAU in C-USA Tourney
The Best College Sports News Network
http://bit.ly/1QE1IkK
C-USA Tournament primer: What to watch for
The News Star
http://tnsne.ws/1QMfzDk
C-USA Tournament 2016: Bracket, schedule and championship odds
Bleacher Report
http://ble.ac/1QMfMX4
Host UAB favored to win C-USA Tournament
Examiner
http://exm.nr/1R7NvzI
C-USA notebook: Marshall’s Kelly named league’s Newcomer of the Year
Charleston Gazette-Mil
http://bit.ly/1nwT4d6
Tuesday’s local interest college basketball: Boston College ends nightmarish season winless in ACC
Daily Press
http://bit.ly/1QHuK41
C-USA Basketball Tournament 2016: Can anyone beat top-seeded UAB?
ABC 3340
http://bit.ly/1P07jgO
Rice’s big rally fails to prevent final loss
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1pajAdF
Rice comes up short against Charlotte in C-USA tournament
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1WbJQPv
http://bit.ly/1R9cYsx
Davis’ 27 points help Charlotte beat Rice 79-69 in C-USA
Houston Chronicle (Similar articles appeared in 77 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/1R9uIxO
http://bit.ly/1YBxf9Q
Wednesday’s college basketball
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1QGuDEM
Charlotte 49ers beat Rice, advance in C-USA tournament
The Charlotte Observer
http://bit.ly/1paosPS
2016 C-USA Tournament 2nd round recap: WKU continues to roll
SB Nation
http://bit.ly/1XeY4iP
Middle Tennessee versus Charlotte — March 10 college basketball pick, odds and prediction
Sports Chat Place
http://bit.ly/1M97VB5

Lady Raiders begin tourney play Thursday
Rice women’s basketball defeated Louisiana Tech University 72-67. Players Jasmine Goodwine, Shani Rainey, Alyssa Lang and Lauren Grigsby are mentioned. The team will play Middle Tennessee University March 10.
WGNS
http://bit.ly/1nzuKav
Tourney time: Blue Raiders have embraced team concept
Go Blue Raiders
http://bit.ly/1nzuNTZ
What to watch for on Day 3 of the C-USA Tournament in Birmingham
AL.com
http://bit.ly/1TOAR9r
Wednesday’s local interest college basketball: ODU men, women, NSU men advance
Daily Press
http://bit.ly/222Hj11
Game preview: Lady Tops open C-USA Tournament play versus Marshall on Thursday
Bowling Green Daily News
http://bit.ly/1WbR1HB
Lady Toppers open tournament play Thursday
WBKO
http://bit.ly/1QJJboq
LA Tech women’s basketball falls in overtime
LA Tech Sports
http://bit.ly/1WbY8zN

Longhorns hope for good weather against Penn
Rice women’s tennis will play the University of Pennsylvania March 12.
The Daily Texan
http://bit.ly/225K8Lo

Tennis: Women seek more wins on the road while the men play host to home tourney
Rice women’s tennis is mentioned.
Daily Lobo
http://bit.ly/225Lgib

Ranking all 129 college coaches … as players
Head football coach David Bailiff is mentioned.
ESPN (This also appeared in ABC News.)
http://es.pn/1R86OJh

Sorenson: Weak schedules baldcast
Rice baseball is mentioned.
D1 Baseball
http://bit.ly/1WbPUro

Looking forward by looking back (2012 draft)
Alumni J.T. Chargois ’13 and Tyler Duffey ’13 are mentioned.
Twins Daily
http://bit.ly/1M96BOk
http://bit.ly/1RBKjGV

Vikings re-sign Kenrick Ellis
Alumnus Andrew Sendejo ’10 is mentioned.
Sinema Blaze
http://bit.ly/1QOUh85
Vikings agree to terms with safety Andrew Sendejo
Bilbaoya
http://bit.ly/1XeX7aq

NEWS RELEASES

Rice scientists synthesize anti-cancer agent
A team led by Rice University synthetic organic chemist K.C. Nicolaou has developed a new process for the synthesis of a series of potent anti-cancer agents originally found in bacteria.
http://bit.ly/225Z1NS