Dateline Rice for April 1, 2016

FEATURED ITEM

Nanoscale solutions to a very large problem
Pedro Alvarez, the George R. Brown Professor of Materials Science and NanoEngineering, is interviewed about the NSF-funded Nanotechnology Enabled Water Treatment (NEWT) Center, a consortium based at Rice University and led by Alvarez.
National Science Foundation (This also appeared in Foreign Affairs and Environment Guru.)
http://1.usa.gov/21V5XeE
Nanoscale solutions to water shortages
Phys Org
http://bit.ly/1M6ciCy
Nanoscale solutions to a very large problem: NSF-funded Nanosystems Engineering Research Center to enable deployment of mobile, efficient water treatment and desalination systems
Nanotechnology Now
http://bit.ly/1pQKac7

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

42 teams and over $1M at stake: It’s Rice’s ‘Super Bowl’ of business plan competitions
Forty-two teams hailing from some of the world’s top universities will vie for more than $1 million in prizes at the 16th annual Rice Business Plan Competition at Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business April 14-16.
Forbes
http://onforb.es/1M6bYDJ
6 semi-finalists set to pitch at NH Startup Challenge … and more
NH Business Review
http://bit.ly/1opaOaU
Student startup to compete in Rice University competition
Texas A&M Today
http://bit.ly/1q9AF8B
2 student teams from the University of Michigan selected to vie for more than $1M in prizes at Rice Business Plan Competition
Fox 14 (This also appeared in Fox Wilmington, ABC 7, KFVE, KOAM, WLTZ, WAND and MS News Now.)
http://bit.ly/1M6mJ8U
UT student/alumni startup team to vie for $1M in business plan competition
The University of Tampa News
http://bit.ly/1VYiEWH

I (wish I) voted
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 the Texas vote ID law and the presidential primaries.
U.S. News & World Report
http://bit.ly/1oq8cJW
Kasich blasts Obama on Brussels: ‘I would be going back to Washington’
Wingate Wire
http://bit.ly/1UxwgIX
Obama attends Cuban baseball game, does the wave with Raul Castro
Abruzzo
http://bit.ly/1UHILSz
Obama thrills Cubans with call for change
State of the State Ks
http://bit.ly/1M6drty
Do I really need to worry about Hillary Clinton’s emails?
India Currents
http://bit.ly/1PKfYo7

An energy agency’s forecasting flaws
Daniel Cohan, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, co-authored an op-ed about the Energy Information Administration.
The Hill
http://bit.ly/1UYF7TU

Embattled Erdogan visits US as mysterious nemesis watches from compound in Pa. mountains
Kadir Yildirim, research scholar at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted about Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan.
Fox News (This also appeared in Local News, A Breaking News and Daily News 724.)
http://fxn.ws/1MX5MIT

Environmental policy, nuclear power, carbon tax and a portfolio approach to reduce CO2 emissions
Ken Medlock, the James A. Baker III and Susan Baker Fellow in Energy and Resource Economics and senior director of the Center for Energy Studies at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and lecturer of economics, and research associate Elsie Hung co-authored an op-ed about the Clean Power Plan.
Forbes
http://onforb.es/1qmrUHX

You’ll never guess the biggest factor in graduate salaries
Researchers analyzed more than half a million variables to conclude that the single biggest factor in determining a graduate’s earnings is their parents’ income. Rice is mentioned.
Forbes
http://onforb.es/1RuhD6N

When heartbreak is fatal: Researchers examine the biology of bereavement
Christopher Fagundes, assistant professor of psychology, is leading a five-year study to examine how bereaved individuals physically respond to the death of someone close to them. Fagundes is quoted.
The Globe and Mail
http://bit.ly/1M47ptD

The rise in robotics: It’s time for a shift in debate
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.
Real Business UK
http://bit.ly/1qmlf0C

Sterile Box offers safer surgeries by minimizing risk of infections anywhere in the world
Rice students and their mentors have created a sterilization station for surgical instruments that can help minimize the risk of infections to patients anywhere in the world. Maria Oden, director of Rice’s Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen and a professor in the practice of engineering education, and Douglas Schuler, associate professor of business and public policy in Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business, are quoted in the Innovation Toronto article.
Innovation Toronto
http://bit.ly/1MH4R4v
Solar-powered sterilization box facility allows for safer surgeries in developing countries
Healthcare Facilities Today
http://bit.ly/1TnXHUt

HOUSTON/TEXAS

It’s a horse, of course … but better
Some patients who could benefit from hippotherapy might not have access to a horse, due to geographic location, weather or affordability. Rice University engineering students have developed an alternative with their horse simulator, a robotic steed that can be ridden indoors anytime. Matthew Elliott, lecturer in mechanical engineering, undergraduate students Amy Ryu, Erik Hansen, Jaime Gomez and Brett Berger and alumna Carolyn Huff ’63 are mentioned.
TMC News
http://bit.ly/1pQX1Ld
Robotic steed lets patients undergo hippotherapy indoors
MDT
http://bit.ly/1SrVAdi

Influential Houston art dealer Crystal dies
Alumna Joan Crystal ’49, whose Louisiana Gallery spotlighted international art, died March 26.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1RAvc13

UT tower shooting survivor calls campus carry law ‘grotesque insult’
Rice is mentioned for opting out of the Texas “campus carry” law.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/22USadO
http://bit.ly/1UYsDeQ

Early decision admission gives affluent students the upper hand
A photo from Rice’s 2004 commencement is included with two articles about universities. The caption with the second article mentions that former U.S. Attorney General and Rice alumnus Alberto R. Gonzales ’79 was the commencement speaker.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1X2KEqi
Which ZIP code in Houston has the highest percentage of college graduates?
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1RsBnrx

George Strait helps a Texas teen get a prom date
Photos from a George Strait concert at Rice Stadium are included.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/236foKX
http://bit.ly/1UxrdIC

Here’s what NASA’s Mars mission is finding out about teamwork
Eduardo Salas, the Allyn R. and Gladys M. Cline Chair of Psychology and professor of psychology, is studying “team dynamics” and “team effectiveness” as part of the Human Exploration Research Analog Mars project.
Austin Inno (This also appeared in DC Inno.)
http://bit.ly/1UvNzds

Foundation for India Studies celebrates 10th anniversary, 50 oral histories
Stephen Klineberg, professor of sociology and founding director of Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, delivered a keynote at the Foundation for India Studies’ 10th anniversary celebration March 26.
Indo-American News
http://bit.ly/1q9eu2i

Exclusive: Rice University startup expands to retail, moves HQ
A-76 Technologies, a company that finished second in the 2014 Rice Business Plan Competition, is expanding. The dates of the 2016 competition are mentioned.
Houston Business Journal (Subscription required. This also appeared in Houston Mirror.)
http://bit.ly/1Uxwa3Y

Former scholarship winner coming back home to speak at NAACP banquet
An article mentions that Dr. Steven Levingston did a clinical rotation with the athletics department at Rice.
The Huntsville Item
http://bit.ly/1RPRXx4

Savor the flavor: Food for thought on trendy wedding reception menu items
An article about catering mentions wedding receptions at Rice.
OutSmart
http://bit.ly/25AMaG4

The taste of a good book: Pairing wine and words
Alumna Manning Wolfe ’80 authored a guest post about pairing wine with books.
Deep South
http://bit.ly/236mRcI

LU to host physics conference today through Saturday
Thomas Killian, professor and department chair of physics and astronomy, will speak at Lamar University at the Joint Spring 2016 Meeting of the Texas sections of the American Physical Society, American Association of Physics Teachers and Zone 13 of the Society of Physics Students.
University Press
http://bit.ly/1RQ9Goa

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Boron: Physics’ latest superconducting material
Rice University scientists have determined that two-dimensional boron is a natural low-temperature superconductor. In fact, it may be the only 2-D material with such potential. Boris Yakobson, the Karl F. Hasselmann Professor of Materials Science and NanoEngineering and professor of chemistry, research scientist Evgeni Penev and postdoctoral researcher Alex Kutana are quoted.
Silicon Republic
http://bit.ly/1VcdIfX
Flat boron is a superconductor
Science Codex (This also appeared in eScience News, Science 2.0, Science Newsline, Fresh Ghana and Nano Werk.)
http://bit.ly/1qlq8a3
Flat boron is a unique superconductor
Controlled Environments
http://bit.ly/1SCyrHK
Flat boron is a superconductor Rice University scientists predict 2-D material — no longer theoretical — has unique properties
Nanotechnology Now
http://bit.ly/1M66Bob
Flat boron has superconductor potential
R&D
http://bit.ly/1UHM9gi
Scientists predict 2-D material — no longer theoretical — has unique properties
Daily Me
http://bit.ly/1MH4dUJ

Rice University professor to be honored with 2 coveted nanotechnology awards
Pulickel Ajayan, the Benjamin M. and Mary Greenwood Anderson Professor in Engineering and founding chair of the Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering, has been chosen to receive two major honors in his field: the 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award in Nanotechnology from the Houston Technology Center and the 2016 NANOSMAT Prize.
AZO Nano
http://bit.ly/1MZV84d

Bio coding language makes it easier to hack living cells
Matthew Bennett, assistant professor of biochemistry and cell biology, is quoted in an article about synthetic biology.
New Scientist
http://bit.ly/1MX6o1d

Of ice cores and isotopes
Rice scientists are pioneering a technique that takes oxygen isotope analysis one step further to trace the Earth’s atmosphere’s history. Laurence Yeung, assistant professor of Earth science, is quoted.
Physics Central
http://bit.ly/1RsBqDB

Why politics has no place on pension boards
An article mentions research that Yael Hochberg, the Ralph S. O’Connor Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship, participated in. The research found public pension board composition had a strong impact on the fund’s private equity performance.
Chief Investment Officer
http://bit.ly/1VYjP8B

You bought into the cloud: Now what?
Alumna Ellie Fields ’98 authored an op-ed about cloud services.
Data Informed
http://bit.ly/1M68WiM

Battling the emperor of maladies
Herbert Levine, the Karl F. Hasselmann Professor of Bioengineering, is mentioned.
American Physical Society News
http://bit.ly/1UxxFz5

OTC: Adapting to new realities
The Offshore Technology Conference d5 event will be held at Rice May 6.
Offshore Engineer
http://bit.ly/1UHUHDY

Subsea Systems Institute: Restoring faith in offshore oil and gas
An article mentions that the Subsea Systems Institute is led by the University of Houston in collaboration with Rice and the NASA Johnson Space Center.
Offshore Technology
http://bit.ly/236mCi1

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Historian to speak on FDR’s conservation
Douglas Brinkley, professor of history, will be the keynote speaker at Eastern Kentucky University’s Earth Day celebration April 7.
Eastern Progress
http://bit.ly/1Y2EN4I

Obama commutes sentences, dines with ex-convicts
Katharine Neill, the Alfred C. Glassell III Postdoctoral Fellow in Drug Policy at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted about the clemency President Barack Obama has granted to nearly 250 people.
Bills Insider
http://bit.ly/1M6a7yI
Obama cuts prison sentences of 61 drug offenders
Sacred Heart
http://bit.ly/1RPSD5z
Man’s 27-year drug sentence shortened by President Obama
The Waltonian
http://bit.ly/1To4kGk

Not always smooth ride for cities adding streetcars
Leah Binkovitz, staff writer for Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, authored an op-ed about lessons that can be learned from recent streetcar stumbles in Houston and Atlanta.
Gov Tech
http://bit.ly/1qmkggE

The failure of Wisconsin’s voter ID law
Rice research about the primary reason people gave for not voting in a 2014 Texas congressional district is mentioned.
Pacific Standard
http://bit.ly/1UHPyLY

Border states spend to root out smuggling
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, is quoted about border apprehensions.
ArcaMax (This also appeared in NewsOK.)
http://bit.ly/1N0deTK

Ted Cruz surges ahead in Wisconsin primary, reveals secret weapon
Sen. Ted Cruz’s mother, alumna Eleanor Darragh ’56, is mentioned.
Alternet
http://bit.ly/1RO7de0
‘Varney & Company’
Fox Business Network
http://bit.ly/1SrTaeM

Filmmaker crowdfunding documentary about ‘Same God’ flap
Alumna Larycia Hawkins ’94 is mentioned.
Religion News Service
http://bit.ly/1RtLOLq

Classical string group Corde Cantanti to perform at the Ashe Arts Center Saturday, April 2
An article mentions that alumna Corinne Cassini ’98 studied with Paul Katz, former Shepherd School of Music faculty cellist.
HC Press
http://bit.ly/1MX5Et7

Assistant conductor and principal bassist debut at DSO
Alumnus Kevin Brown ’10 will perform with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
The Detroit News
http://detne.ws/1RtPr43

3rd annual Kite Festival at Hermann Park
An article suggests paid parking at Rice as an option for people attending the kite festival in Hermann Park this Sunday.
Examiner
http://exm.nr/21WyS1X

Syracuse in Houston: Enjoying the weather
The Rice outer loop is mentioned as a good place for Final Four visitors to visit.
SB Nation
http://bit.ly/1RRlZa5

Weekly entertainment calendar — March 31-April 7
An article mentions that alumna Junko Garrett ’98 studied music under John Perry, former artist teacher of piano.
Forest Hills/Rego Park Times (This also appeared in Queens Examiner, Brooklyn Downtown Star, Greenpoint Star and The Glendale Register.)
http://bit.ly/1SFpmxL

Petismo e antipetismo: Da para sair dessa?
Sergio Fausto, contributing expert for the Latin America Initiative at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and executive superintendent of Fundação Instituto Fernando Henrique Cardoso, authored an op-ed.
Estado (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/21WAlVZ

SPORTS

‘FOX17 This Morning’
Rice baseball will play Middle Tennessee State University April 1.
WZTV
http://bit.ly/1oq8Irn
Baseball returns to the road this weekend
C-USA
http://bit.ly/1RRnHbp

Rice baseball defeats SHSU for 6th straight win
Rice baseball defeated Sam Houston State University 5-3. Players Dayne Wunderlich, Ford Proctor, Dane Myers, Dominic DiCaprio, Grayson Lewis, Willy Amador, Evan Kravetz, Kendal Jefferies and Connor Teykl are mentioned.
Bellaire, River Oaks and West University Examiner
http://bit.ly/1X2RagX

Jerrod Heard dealing with ‘minor’ shoulder sprain
A photo from the 2015 Rice-University of Texas football game is included.
KXAN
http://bit.ly/1q9jpjM

Men’s tennis: Problems in Houston
Rice men’s tennis is mentioned.
The Times-Delphic
http://bit.ly/1UxyeZX

Packed weekend sees 6 programs in action
The Victor Lopez Classic was hosted at Rice.
The Daily Cougar
http://bit.ly/1q9qbGk
Seven Lakes, Cinco Ranch compete at Lopez Classic
Katy Times
http://bit.ly/1SFma5k
Westwood native breaks school record in long jump
Westwood Patch
http://bit.ly/1oqabha

Baseball opens conference season against ECU on the road
Rice baseball is mentioned.
The Daily Cougar
http://bit.ly/1RtPjBp

Women’s tennis takes to the road against Brown, Yale
Rice women’s tennis is mentioned.
The Daily Princetonian
http://bit.ly/21WwIzk

Golf Preview: Quinn, Delbarton set to tee off
Hanszen College freshman Will Voetsch is mentioned.
Daily Record
http://dailyre.co/21WxE71

SpringSpirit Baseball is a home run for Spring Branch youth
Alumnus Kenneth Baldwin ’80 is mentioned.
Absolutely! Memorial
http://bit.ly/1VfY6Z7

Twins prospect primer: Berrios on the way
Alumnus J.T. Chargois ’13 is mentioned.
MiLB
http://atmilb.com/1Y3ZFIG

NEWS RELEASES

Extreme weather panel April 5 to feature Dutch expert on water
Henk Ovink, the Netherlands’ special envoy for international water affairs, will take part in a roundtable on the effects extreme weather changes could have on Greater Houston Tuesday, April 5, at 7:45 a.m. at Huff House on the Rice University campus.
http://bit.ly/22Vm7e0