Dateline Rice for May 18, 2016

FEATURED ITEMS

Texas uninsured rate falls to 16.8 percent; national rate now in single digits
Elena Marks, a nonresident health policy fellow at the Baker Institute and president and CEO of the Episcopal Health Foundation, is quoted in an article about the uninsured in Texas.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required. This article appeared on the front of the Business section in the May 18 print edition with a different headline, “Percentage of uninsured Texans sinks.”)
http://bit.ly/24ZD3NS

Tour of cistern becomes ultimate underground movement
Stephen Fox, lecturer of architecture, is quoted in an article about the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1TYotyc

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

‘Magnetopause’ mission to help predict space storms
New findings from NASA’s orbiting Magnetospheric Multiscale mission could help Rice physicists and their colleagues better predict “space weather” – the magnetic storms high above Earth that can damage satellites and terrestrial power grids. Patricia Reiff, professor of physics and astronomy, is quoted and alumnus James Burch ’68 is mentioned.
Futurity (This also appeared in Epoch Times.)
http://bit.ly/1XjQd5U
NASA probe results help improve space weather forecasts
Laboratory Equipment
http://bit.ly/1WCDYmu

Study finds answer to why Earth’s atmosphere became oxygenated
Earth scientists from Rice, Yale University and the University of Tokyo are offering a new answer to the long-standing question of how our planet acquired its oxygenated atmosphere. Cin-Ty Lee, professor of Earth science, is quoted.
Gizmodo India (This also appeared in Big News Network, The Siasat Daily, The Financial Express and Sify News.)
http://bit.ly/1OHRWjS
Revealed: How Earth got its oxygen
The Free Press Journal (This also appeared in Web India 123, Can-India, Jagran Post, The Peninsula, Sify News, Business Standard, New Kerala, Net India 123, Yahoo! News and India Online.)
http://bit.ly/205O4da
New model shows how Earth got atmospheric oxygen
The Financial Express (This also appeared in Business Standard.)
http://bit.ly/1TjHLPi
This is how Earth got its oxygen
I4U
http://bit.ly/1qtBIzs
Explained: The Earth got its oxygen
The Statesman
http://bit.ly/1TntDGN
Earth’s atmosphere: Oxygen inevitable
FARS
http://bit.ly/1TZgGmF
Rice-led study offers new answer to why Earth’s atmosphere became oxygenated
Science Codex (This also appeared in Terra Daily, Innovations Report and Bright Surf.)
http://bit.ly/1OIg85P

Who’s winning the battle to replace coal?
Anna Mikulska, nonresident scholar in energy studies at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and lecturer in political science, and Michael Maher, senior program adviser for the Center for Energy Studies at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, co-authored an op-ed about the future of electricity in the U.S.
Forbes
http://onforb.es/22fllV6

Artist’s interpretation of protoplanetary disk
An article mentions that researchers from Rice used the Hubble telescope’s direct imagery to examine newborn stars in the Orion Nebula in 1994.
Popular Mechanics
http://bit.ly/22g9p5u

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Allegations of fearmongering in education board runoff
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 State Board of Education primary runoff race and the economic situation in Venezuela.
KERA News (This appeared in Tyler Morning Telegraph, The Gilmer Mirror, My High Plains and DFWLiving.)
http://bit.ly/1svquMB
‘Obama was a gay prostitute’ candidate invokes Hitler to defend her fearmongering
New Civil Rights Movement
http://bit.ly/1Nx4Eln
State Board of Education runoff pits chiropractor against conservative activist
4 Valley Central
http://bit.ly/1TidvnG
Texas Board of Education hopeful invokes Hitler after rival calls out her bizarre fearmongering
Raw Story
http://bit.ly/1XkwLpD
Venezuela’s president declares state of emergency as economy worsens
51VOA
http://bit.ly/1Tfvy3i
Venezuela declares state of emergency as economy worsens
Daily Sun
http://bit.ly/25b9BIi

District leaders graduate from Rice REEP program
An article mentions that six Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District principals and administrators graduated May 11 from the Rice University Education Entrepreneurship Program.
Cypress Creek Mirror
http://bit.ly/1R73ZSf

Why the Houston area is among the best summer travel destinations
James Turrell’s “Twilight Epiphany” Skyspace on the Suzanne Deal Booth Centennial Pavilion on the Rice campus and the “Mirror” sculpture by Herring Hall are featured in a slideshow of Houston attractions.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1TnTyzx
http://bit.ly/1Nyd3oC

Historic Sterling house, built in 1905, converted into midtown bar and restaurant
An article mentions that Rice football fans visit El Patio, a Houston restaurant.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/24ZC9ks
http://bit.ly/1qtzoIM

Declassified photos show how Soviet space program competed with Houston in the Space Race
President John F. Kennedy’s famous “Moon Speech” delivered at Rice Sept. 12, 1962, is discussed.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/205I3x6
http://bit.ly/1TnqJll
Lake Wilderness groundbreaking
Voice of the Valley
http://bit.ly/1qr8Yr3

NFL player returns to his roots to huddle with high school students
NFL Offensive Tackle Tony Hills will be a featured speaker at the “Kickoff To College” celebration at Rice May 20.
Houston Style Magazine
http://bit.ly/1W2mHlT

BROADCAST

KKFT
A prediction about automation and the economy by an unidentified Rice professor is mentioned.
http://bit.ly/22g97vj (Click on the audio button to listen to the broadcast. This also aired on KFBK.)

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Remember Obamacare’s big selling points?
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.
Health Zette
http://bit.ly/22ffUFw

Evolutionary ‘probables’ a positive step
Rice scientists have advanced their method for determining the most likely ways genes have evolved over eons, both within and across species. Luay Nakhleh, associate professor of computer science and assistant professor of biochemistry and cell biology, is quoted and graduate student Dingqiao Wen and postdoctoral researcher Yun Yu are mentioned.
R&D (This also appeared in eScience News.)
http://bit.ly/2039K9J

Graphene nanoribbons help to plug gaps in wellbores
Wellbores drilled to extract oil and gas can be dramatically reinforced with a small amount of modified graphene nanoribbons added to a polymer and microwaved, according to Rice University researchers. James Tour, the T.T. and W.F. Chao Professor of Chemistry, professor of computer science and of materials science and nanoengineering, and Rouzbeh Shahsavari, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, are quoted.
The Engineer (This also appeared in Environment Guru.)
http://bit.ly/1WE4TgU

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

How to best take advantage of tiny spaces
Ryan Holeywell, senior editor at Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, authored an op-ed about the ideas presented at the Next City Vanguard 2016 conference. As a part of the conference, the institute tasked the conference fellows who visited Houston to think of ways to revamp five underutilized pieces of land across the city, and will spend $10,000 to make one of the ideas a reality.
Gov Tech
http://bit.ly/22fv6Tc

Amherst College gets $1M Cooke Prize
An article mentions that Rice was one of five finalists for the $1 million Cooke Prize for Equity in Educational Excellence, which goes to a selective college or university with an excellent record of admitting, supporting and graduating outstanding low-income students.
University Business
http://bit.ly/1WE4ifp

OpenStax, Knewton introduce adaptive learning into OER
Rice University-based publisher OpenStax and Knewton announced a partnership that will personalize the learning experience for college students using open source digital textbooks. Richard Baraniuk, the Victor E. Cameron Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, is quoted.
eCampus News
http://bit.ly/1WE1fnp

‘Campus Carry’ law raises concerns across University of Texas
Rice is mentioned for opting out of the Texas “campus carry” law.
University Herald
http://bit.ly/1rSrVUO

Orange County will recognize ‘super scholars’
An article mentions students who will attend Rice.
Orlando Sentinel
http://bit.ly/1XxC6Kv

Tapping gas resources for energy mix
An article mentions a talk that was given at Rice in 2006.
Punch (This also appeared in The Citizen Online.)
http://bit.ly/1V9gaVJ

Is Obama’s World War T losing even the media?
The author of an op-ed mentions a College Bowl quiz team contest at Rice that she participated in back in 1979.
Vdare
http://bit.ly/1THBhcy

Gwynne Dyer addresses assembled crowd at PRHS
Rice alumnus Gwynne Dyer ’66 spoke at Peace River High School.
KIX106
http://bit.ly/1TYEIeO

De indocumentada a talento Harvard
Alumna Norma Torres Mendoza ’13 is featured. She drove 3,000 miles round-trip from Boston to Houston to pick up her mother, who cannot fly because of her status as an undocumented immigrant, so that she could attend Mendoza’s commencement ceremony at Harvard University.
El Notre (Subscription required. An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/1THB6Oc

Opaca, la fortuna incautada al narcotráfico
Gary Hale, a nonresident fellow in drug policy at the Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
Excelsior (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/1qtTQsZ

SPORTS

Cougars win Silver Glove Series with dominating victory over Rice
Rice baseball was defeated by the University of Houston 24-6. Head coach Wayne Graham and players Austin Solecitto, Ryan Chandler, Grayson Lewis, Tristan Gray, Willy Amador, Zach Esquivel, Charlie Warren, Hunter Kopycinski, Dane Myers, Ford Proctor and Ben Schragger are mentioned.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/27za7P2
http://bit.ly/25b6oZi
UH routs Rice 24-6
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/25b6uA0
May 17: UH 24, Rice 6
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1Xzs4so
College roundup: Midweek madness
Baseball America
http://bit.ly/1YBXFYX
Nicholls State sweeps season series against Tulane … thanks in part to a great catch
The Advocate
http://bit.ly/1NyggV4

College baseball postseason profile: Florida Atlantic Owls
Rice baseball is mentioned. Players Jon Duplantier and Glenn Otto are mentioned.
College Baseball Central
http://bit.ly/1WBMu5d
Cougars host Gonzaga Tuesday in Pasco
Washington State Athletics
http://bit.ly/1Tiy2Zs
Texas wrapping up one of its worst baseball seasons ever
Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/22g7PAz
Strained rotation
FAU Owl Access
http://bit.ly/1TjKgkp

Where does UAB fit in C-USA upon its return? Will the Blazers be a thorn in UNT’s side?
Rice football is mentioned.
Mean Green Sports
http://bit.ly/1TmhmCF
North Texas is oozing with potential
SB Nation
http://bit.ly/1qrZdsH
Re-ranking UNT’s players Nos. 16-21 (linemen featured on countdown)
Mean Green Sports
http://bit.ly/205SOiX

Sports Briefs
An article mentions that David Bosley has coached basketball camps at Rice.
The Pasadena Citizen
http://bit.ly/1sw8xxu

Warriors improve times, marks at Last Chance Meet
An article mentions that Mike Girardi coached at Rice.
Turlock Journal
http://bit.ly/1NyfIyA

Recruiting Trail: Mainland grad Rodriguez looks to resurrect career at Arizona Western
A photo from the 2015 Rice-Florida Atlantic University football game is included.
The Daytona Beach News-Journal
http://bit.ly/1YBY2Tg

BC-Transactions, Writethru
Former Rice basketball player Brent Scott ’04 has joined the Rice basketball team as an assistant coach.
The Post Star
http://bit.ly/1WE1D5n

Colleges that produce the most MLB players
Rice is No. 23 in a slideshow of colleges that produce the most MLB players. Former Rice baseball players Tony Cingrani, Tyler Duffey, Brock Holt, Paul Janish and Anthony Rendon are mentioned.
MSN Sports
http://bit.ly/22g9ypl