Dateline Rice for May 12, 2016

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Justin Cronin wraps up ‘The Passage’ trilogy with ‘The City of Mirrors’
Justin Cronin, writer-in-residence at Rice, is featured.
The Wall Street Journal (This also appeared in Canmua.)
http://on.wsj.com/1Tbs92d

Minimally invasive prototype device monitors fetal oxygen levels
Rice engineering students have created a minimally invasive device to monitor the pulse and oxygen levels of a fetus undergoing endoscopic surgery in a mother’s womb, and recently carried out proof-of-concept testing at Texas Children’s Hospital. Eric Richardson, lecturer in bioengineering; Baker College seniors Claudia Iriondo and Thomas Loughlin; and Duncan College seniors Samir Saidi and Kathryn Wallace are mentioned.
EDN Asia
http://bit.ly/1R06LZo
Students design device to monitor fetal oxygen levels
iConnect007 (This also appeared in Medical Product Outsourcing.)
http://bit.ly/1TQMyJW

Enso it goes: Young Americans have a date in Hamilton
An article mentions that the Enso String Quartet was Rice’s Quartet-in-Residence.
Stuff (This also appeared in The Press, Taranaki Daily News, The Southland Times and Waikato Times.)
http://bit.ly/1TFNvCe

Nanocars rev up for the world’s biggest small race
James Tour, the T.T. and W.F. Chao Professor of Chemistry, professor of computer science and of materials science and nanoengineering, is quoted in an article about nanocars.
Newcastle Herald
http://bit.ly/1qfYnz8

HOUSTON/TEXAS

HCC to sell some unused land after study finds properties unneeded
An article mentions a study performed by Bob Stein, the Lena Gohlman Fox Professor of Political Science. Stein is also quoted about the presidential primaries.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1seoXdU
Cruz mum on Trump support
KTRH (This also appeared in KPRC.)
http://bit.ly/220lBHn
http://bit.ly/1X3SamT (Click on the audio button to listen to the broadcast.)
http://bit.ly/1WstyFp (Click on the audio button to listen to the broadcast.)
http://bit.ly/1T9LsfH (Click on the audio button to listen to the broadcast.)

Chronicle critics offer entertainment suggestions
The Houston Palestine Film Festival will be held at the Rice Cinema May 18-22 and May 26-28.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1serRzj
http://bit.ly/1rGH2R2

Museum and galleries: May 12-18
German artist Thorsten Brinkmann’s exhibit “The Great Cape Rinderhorn” is open through May 15 at the Rice Gallery.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1OiS2yn
http://bit.ly/1Wqnhdl

Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy
Kenneth Evans, postdoctoral fellow in science and technology policy at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, authored an op-ed about the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1Wqo6CJ

Get in touch with nature at these centers and preserves
An article mentions that Lynn R. Lowrey Arboretum is at Rice.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1seGSkx
Nature preserves and gardens beautify the city
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1T9HCmy

Group threatens to sue HISD over plan to rename schools
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/24NY0v2
http://bit.ly/1T8jYSi

Walking tours showcase best of Houston
A slideshow features a photo from a walking tour offered during Rice’s Centennial Celebration.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1qfPoOo

Running events, trails and associations in Houston
An article mentions Rice’s running trail as one of the places to run in Houston.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/24NYeTa

If we’re renaming schools named after Confederates, take a hard look at their replacements
Stephen Fox, lecturer of architecture, is quoted in an article about Houston Independent School District’s “de-Confederatizing” process.
Texas Monthly
http://bit.ly/21Y2CwX

Education and civic leaders commit to improving Hispanic student success
Carolina Avendano, director of operations for Rice’s Office of STEM Engagement, is mentioned.
The Potpourri Tomball Edition (This also appeared in Cypress Creek Mirror and Houston Style Magazine.)
http://bit.ly/1ZGhdeV

Study: Air pollution at ‘dangerous’ levels along Southwest Freeway
An article mentions that Rice students are collecting air samples in Houston to study air pollution. Jones College senior Ryan Saathoff is interviewed.
KHOU
http://bit.ly/1QZ4GwU
http://bit.ly/27gyfG0
http://bit.ly/1qfTG8x
http://bit.ly/1YnISRv

Warfield Center announces spring exhibition in the new gallery
The newly renovated art gallery at the John L. Warfield Center for African and African-American Studies will have its opening reception May 12 in Austin, Texas. Anthony Pinn, the Agnes Cullen Arnold Professor of Humanities and professor of religion and fellow at Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research and curator of the gallery, is quoted.
UT College of Liberal Arts News
http://bit.ly/21XQImJ

Famous former Rice University Owls
A slideshow highlights a number of famous Rice alumni.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1OobCDV

College of Architecture announces new dean
An article mentions that Jim Williamson, the new dean of the Texas Tech College of Architecture, has taught at Rice.
Daily Toreador
http://bit.ly/1XmVwSu
Texas Tech names alumnus as new dean of College of Architecture
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
http://bit.ly/1YnGXwf

‘Baseball for Babies’ benefit kicks off this weekend
An article mentions that the fundraiser “Baseball for Babies” will take place at Reckling Park May 14. Alumnus Vincent Sinisi ’05 is featured.
KRIV
http://bit.ly/1TAX0CR
http://bit.ly/1Ws2feJ
http://bit.ly/1TcIC6l
http://bit.ly/1T9LrZ2
http://bit.ly/1sgYkFf

Desperado: The best of the week
An article mentions that Houston artist Fat Tony will perform at Valhalla on Rice’s campus for the KTRU Senior Week Show.
Free Press Houston
http://bit.ly/24RXX58

The Donald is spurring people to register to vote
Findings from the 2016 Kinder Houston Area Survey are reported. Stephen Klineberg, founding director of Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research and a professor of sociology, is mentioned and 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 the Kinder Institute, is quoted.
Off the Kuff
http://bit.ly/1TB1kCb

BROADCAST

Teacher evaluations back in spotlight
Linda McSpadden McNeil, director of Rice’s Center for Education and professor of education, is interviewed about teacher evaluation systems.
Houston Public Media’s “Houston Matters”
http://bit.ly/1THFqgj

Former Mayor Annise Parker looks back
Rice University alumna Annise Parker ’78 reflects on her years as Houston’s mayor. The program mentions that she has returned to Rice to teach.
Houston Public Media’s “Houston Matters”
http://bit.ly/1R08yh1

‘NBC 5 Today at 11’
Vivian Ho, the James A. Baker III Institute Chair in Health Economics at the Baker Institute and professor of economics, is quoted about price transparency for patients in health care.
KXAS
http://bit.ly/1X3QHNf

KJAC
Five Rice seniors are trying to make sure grill masters never undercook or overcook their steaks again. The team, Five Guys & Ribeyes, has designed and constructed a functional prototype seven-sensor meat thermometer for the students’ senior engineering design project. Baker College senior Rico Marquez is mentioned.
http://bit.ly/1TAXqsW (This broadcast also aired on KYTX and KBMT.)

Illuminati and conspiracies; Aliens among us
Jeffrey Kripal, the J. Newton Rayzor Professor of Religion, is mentioned in a discussion of the book he co-authored, “The Super Natural: A New Vision of the Unexplained.”
Coast to Coast AM (This broadcast also aired on 527 stations.)
http://bit.ly/1Ws5H9l

WABC
A radio host mentions that his son was accepted to Rice.
http://bit.ly/1Opo0Um (Click on the audio button to listen to the broadcast.)

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Photosynthetic bacteria give biologists a cool new tool
Photosynthetic bacteria that have lived on Earth for 2.7 billion years are the source of a new and valuable biological regulatory tool being developed by Rice bioengineers. Jeff Tabor, assistant professor of bioengineering, and graduate student Prabha Ramakrishnan are quoted.
Science Codex (This also appeared in Bright Surf, Science Newsline and Science Daily.)
http://bit.ly/1T6IPFU

Study probes heart of synthetic heart valves
Rice researchers are studying the characteristics of hydrogels that may be used as a tunable bioscaffold for new spongiosa, the middle tissue layer in the leaflets of heart valves. The ultimate goal is to develop synthetic replacement heart valves that mimic natural ones. Jane Grande-Allen, the Isabel C. Cameron Professor of Bioengineering, and graduate student Dan Puperi are quoted.
Science Codex (This also appeared in Medical Xpress, MNT, Science Newsline, Sci24H and Health Canal.)
http://bit.ly/1T5MKGG

Houston’s Adhesys Medical forms partnership with German pharma firm
An article mentions that Adhesys won the Rice Business Plan Competition in 2014.
Xconomy
http://bit.ly/1qfRPAC

Rice experts unveil submicroscopic tunable, optical amplifier
Rice photonics researchers have unveiled a new nanoparticle amplifier that can generate infrared light and boost the output of one light by capturing and converting energy from a second light. Naomi Halas, the Stanley C. Moore Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and a professor of chemistry, and alumnus Yu Zhang ’11 are quoted.
Space Daily
http://bit.ly/24RZVlR
Nanopartícula amplifica luz
Inovacao Tecnologica (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/1NrB9RH

Researchers see the light with molybdenum disulfide
Mechanics know molybdenum disulfide as a useful lubricant in aircraft and motorcycle engines and in the CV and universal joints of trucks and automobiles. Isabell Thomann, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering and of materials science and nanoengineering, knows it as a remarkably light-absorbent substance that holds promise for the development of energy-efficient optoelectronic and photocatalytic devices.
Materials Today
http://bit.ly/1T8ungN

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

15 states wielding new or stricter voter ID laws in run-up to presidential election
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 Republican Convention, the Presidential primaries and voter ID laws.
All Gov 9 (This also appeared in The Voting News.)
http://bit.ly/1SKXzKB
Ted Cruz vuelve a verse la cara con sus enemigos del Senado
Radio Informacion (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/24O6x14
KRLD
http://bit.ly/1rHObAG (Click on the audio button to listen to the broadcast.)
KLBJ
http://bit.ly/1X3RYDZ (Click on the audio button to listen to the broadcast.)

Female Greek-American professor wins 2016 Presidential Award for Mentoring
Lydia Kavraki, the Noah Harding Professor of Computer Science and professor of bioengineering, received a 2016 Presidential Award for Mentoring from Rice University. The award is given to Rice faculty members who demonstrate a strong commitment to mentoring graduate or undergraduate students. Kavraki is quoted.
Greek Reporter
http://bit.ly/1setNI0

Pianist Gabriela Montero to perform with Houston Symphony, May 21
Hector Berlioz’s “Symphonie Fantastique” will be performed at Stude Hall as part of the “Musically Speaking with Andrés” series at 7:30 p.m. May 19.
Broadway World
http://bit.ly/1rXhGhD

How college media is evolving in the digital era
Kelley Lash, director of student publications, is quoted about trends in campus publishing.
Associations Now
http://bit.ly/1WrZN80
As yearbooks die, colleges lose a link to the past
Herald & Review
http://bit.ly/1UVLqqU

Experts, media say Trump wrong, Clinton right about coal industry’s decline
An article mentions an op-ed written by Daniel Cohan, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering.
Media Matters for America
http://mm4a.org/1T5DwtT

La gasolina afecta la salud de los mexicanos, señalan expertos
Miriam Grunstein, contributing expert and scholar in the Mexico Center at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted about gasoline quality in Mexico.
Periodico Enfoque Informativo (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/24RYFiP
La gasolina en México es mala y afecta a recién nacidos: analistas
Percepcion (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/1rHRPdN

SPORTS

Baseball downs another ranked opponent
Rice baseball is mentioned.
The Daily Cougar
http://bit.ly/1TAWtAV
Louisiana college baseball RPI report: Tulane rising, LA Tech on the bubble
Sports NOLA
http://bit.ly/1XmVTw8

Sports on the air — May 12
Rice baseball will play Florida Atlantic University May 13-15.
The Kansas City Star
http://bit.ly/1OphZXC
Buckeye blowout
FAU Owl Access
http://bit.ly/24RN0R4

Wildcats add Baylor to 2018-19 and 2019-20 schedules
Rice men’s basketball is mentioned.
Tuscon.com
http://bit.ly/24MEPSr
49 unforgettable Charlotte 49ers moments from 2015-16
Niner Times
http://bit.ly/27gwNU6

Q&A: Catching up with Coach Langley
Rice women’s basketball head coach Tina Langley is interviewed.
C-USA
http://bit.ly/1NrBFPC

‘5 Eyewitness News at 6’
Rice Athletics Director Joe Karlgaard is mentioned.
KSTP
http://bit.ly/220pLil

‘FOX 7 News Edge at 9’
Rice football head coach David Bailiff is interviewed.
KTBC
http://bit.ly/24RQ0gh

NEWS RELEASES

Rice commencement ceremonies are Friday and Saturday, Pulitzer Prize winner Sheryl WuDunn will give commencement address Saturday
Rice University’s commencement ceremonies will be held May 13 and 14.
http://bit.ly/24T06gH

Study probes heart of synthetic heart valves
Rice University researchers are studying the characteristics of hydrogels that may be used as a tunable bioscaffold for new spongiosa, the middle tissue layer in the leaflets of heart valves. The ultimate goal is to develop synthetic replacement heart valves that mimic natural ones.
http://bit.ly/1YmtgO8