Dateline Rice for June 6, 2016 (Weekend Edition)

FEATURED ITEMS

The vision of William Marsh Rice becomes a university after his untimely death in 1900
An article recaps the murder of William Marsh Rice and the establishment of Rice University. Rice President David Leebron; John Boles, the William P. Hobby Professor of History; and Centennial historian Melissa Kean are quoted.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required. This also appeared in My San Antonio.)
http://bit.ly/1Um1Sw5
http://bit.ly/1X6SsdY

Commencement 2016: Our annual salute to the year’s graduating class
Rice graduates are pictured in a montage of commencement scenes at universities around the country at :45 and 2:58 in the video.
NBC Nightly News
http://nbcnews.to/1r68YNt

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Strange but true: World’s tiniest car race
Rice University researchers who developed the first nanocars and colleagues at North Carolina State University found in recent tests that driving their vehicles in ambient conditions – exposed to open air, rather than a vacuum – got dicey after a time because the hydrophobic single-molecule cars stuck to the “road” and created what amounted to large speed bumps. James Tour, the T.T. and W.F. Chao Professor of Chemistry, professor of computer science and of materials science and nanoengineering, is quoted.
The New Zealand Herald
http://bit.ly/1ZksUbk
Researchers take nanocars out for an open-air test drive
Engadget
http://engt.co/1r5TSHH
Scientists test drive single-molecule nanocars in open air
Tech Times
http://bit.ly/1sucqmk
Researchers test drive single-molecule nanocars in open air
The Marshalltown
http://bit.ly/1r9NSxP

Rice study decodes genetic circuitry for bacterial spore formation
A team led by Rice bioengineering researchers has decoded the mechanism that some bacteria use to make life-or-death decisions during extremely tough times. Oleg Igoshin, assistant professor of bioengineering, is quoted and graduate student Jatin Narula is mentioned.
National Science Foundation
http://1.usa.gov/1OawF2m

Barbershop: What does it mean to be ‘presidential’?
Douglas Brinkley, professor of history, participated in a discussion about what it means to be presidential.
National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered” (This broadcast also aired on 707 other stations.)
http://n.pr/25II4hO

Robots will take over most jobs in the world by 2045
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.
The Economic Times
http://bit.ly/1Ybc54c
Can teachers be replaced by algorithms?
IDG
http://bit.ly/22JtCRg

Criminal injustice in Texas: Thousands stay jailed in just 1 county because they can’t pay bail — and it’s happening all over the US
Graduate student Biko Mandela Gray is quoted about racial discrimination in Houston.
Salon (This also appeared in MSN News.)
http://bit.ly/1U3Vuw8

Controversy flares over ‘alien megastructure’ star
An image is credited to Rice and researchers Robert O’Dell, the Andrew Hays Buchanan Professor Emeritus of Astrophysics and former chief scientist on the Hubble Space Telescope, and Kerry Handron ’96.
AOL
http://aol.it/1X37m4Y

We have a moral duty to go to Mars
President John F. Kennedy’s famous “Moon Speech” delivered at Rice Sept. 12, 1962, is discussed.
Varsity
http://bit.ly/2133H5G

Why all the fuss over commencement speeches?
An article mentions Rice commencement speaker Sheryl WuDunn.
Our Windsor (This also appeared in Our Perth, Almaguin News, The Star, The Mississauga News, Brampton Guardian and Flamborough Review.)
http://bit.ly/1Ybd1W5

Houston y su doble amenaza de inundaciones severas
Phil Bedient, the Herman Brown Professor of Engineering and director of the Severe Storm Prediction, Education and Evacuation from Disasters Center, is quoted.
Univision Noticias (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/1UtQHkG

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Venezuela’s troubles lap at Houston’s shores
Francisco Monaldi, a fellow in Latin American energy policy at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted in an article about Venezuela’s economy.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required. This article appeared on the front of the Business section in the June 4 print edition with a different headline, “Venezuela’s woes ripple all the way to Houston.” The online version of this article previously appeared in Dateline June 3.)
http://bit.ly/1XVKOSJ

Hermann Park, a gem that needed polishing
Jack Mitchell, former dean of architecture, is mentioned.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required. This also appeared in My San Antonio. This article was featured in the June 6 issue of TMC Today.) 
http://bit.ly/1PzUUY4
http://bit.ly/1Zrsqjs

Little magic to be found in ‘Saint Joan’
Joseph Campana, the Alan Dugald McKillop Chair in English and associate professor of English literature, authored a review of Stark Naked Theatre’s “Saint Joan.”
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1XwVOry

Low turnout fuels debate on killing runoffs
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.
El Paso Times
http://bit.ly/1Pex3ro

UTSA hosts the top biomaterials experts in the state
An article mentions that Jeffrey Jacot, assistant professor of bioengineering, is on the Texas Biomaterials Day program organizing committee.
UTSA Today
http://bit.ly/1TNSktZ

BROADCAST

WOR
A broadcast discusses reactions of unnamed Rice professors to the possibility of intelligent design being introduced into school textbooks.
http://bit.ly/1tchsEI (Click on the audio button to listen to the broadcast. This broadcast also aired on 31 other stations.)

KTRK
A team of researchers at Rice created a storm risk calculator for residents in Harris County. Bob Stein, the Lena Gohlman Fox Professor of Political Science, is quoted.
http://bit.ly/1suhRlp

KNOW
Douglas Brinkley, professor of history, discusses Franklin D. Roosevelt.
http://bit.ly/1tcgyrT (Click on the audio button to listen to the broadcast.)
http://bit.ly/1suhDui (Click on the audio button to listen to the broadcast.)

KTRH
The CFP Program at Rice is mentioned.
http://bit.ly/1tcgVCL (Click on the audio button to listen to the broadcast.)

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

A Silicon Valley CEO and the fundraiser that wasn’t
Douglas Schuler, associate professor of business and public policy in Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business, is quoted about the lack of presidential endorsements by major companies.
Gadgets 360 (This also appeared in Standard Examiner.)
http://bit.ly/1U9rIr0

Microsoft’s FlashBack could bring VR to low-end phones
An article mentions that Rice collaborated on a Microsoft Research paper.
Gadgets 360
http://bit.ly/1U453Lo

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Ann Arbor startup excites investors with technology that uses brain activity to control software, objects
Alumnus Robert Winter ’79 and the Rice Business Plan Competition are mentioned.
Crain’s
http://bit.ly/1tc2KxE

Are scientists nonbelievers?
A Rice study on scientists and spirituality is mentioned.
Vision
http://bit.ly/1TWmEbs

Waterloo Schools’ grads complete International Baccalaureate program
Rice is mentioned.
The Courier
http://bit.ly/1UtJr8l

Who’s news: June 6
Duncan college senior Ethan Jahn has been awarded the James L. Knak Engineering Memorial Scholarship.
The Daily Star
http://bit.ly/1UCHaL9

College of Arts and Science Dean Michael O’Brien to leave MU
Alumnus Michael O’Brien ’72 is featured.
The Maneater
http://bit.ly/1Y3dtp1

Executive Q&A: Oklahoma City entrepreneur capitalizes on fearsome deed … the cold call
Alumna Catherine Brown ‘94 is mentioned.
News OK
http://bit.ly/24tr0Gw

SPORTS

Rice loses to LSU for split
Rice baseball defeated Southeastern Louisiana University and was defeated by Louisiana State University June 5. The team will play Southeastern Louisiana University again June 6. Head coach Wayne Graham and players Jon Duplantier, Grayson Lewis, Ford Proctor, Dominic DiCaprio, Blake Fox, Tristan Gray, Dayne Wunderlich, Hunter Kopycinski, Ryan Chandler, Evan Kravetz, Glenn Otto, Dane Myers and Charlie Warren are mentioned.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1ZrpF1A
Alex Lange dominates Rice as Owls are sent to elimination game in Baton Rouge regional
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/212Zm2c
http://bit.ly/1Um43zF
A&M advances to super regional to face TCU
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1tbYBJV
Rice baseball picks up win after 23-hour delay
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1YaYRo7
http://bit.ly/1U9puYT
Rice’s postponed regional opener suspended until Sunday; Owls lead 4-1 in 7th inning
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1Zrrrjp
http://bit.ly/1Zrsobs
College baseball: San Jac falls in JUCO title game
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1TRAl5U
Rice baseball’s Baton Rouge regional opener postponed
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1U9pc40
http://bit.ly/1RVmAB8
Deichmann’s grand slam lifts LSU over Rice in NCAA Regional
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required. This also appeared in Sun Herald and Austin American-Statesman.)
http://bit.ly/1Umbnew
http://bit.ly/25HnL0A
5 of top 6 national seeds earn spots in NCAA super regionals
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required. This also appeared in The San Diego Union-Tribune.)
http://bit.ly/28fqoZP
http://bit.ly/1OakRNy
Baton Rouge regional: Rice versus Southeastern Louisiana
Houston Chronicle (Similar articles appeared in 108 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/1r9MZ8n
Rice tops Southeastern Louisiana 7-2 in Baton Rouge regional
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1TWk6Kj
http://bit.ly/25Hn0Vw

KTRK
Rice football players are mentioned for helping with care packages for troops overseas.
http://bit.ly/1OavVu0

KFXK
Rice football head coach David Bailiff and alumnus Christian Covington ’15 are mentioned.
http://bit.ly/25IQwxq (This broadcast also aired on KTRK, KDBC, KPEJ, KIDY, KXVA, KZTV and KGBT.)

Ranking Houston’s best and worst all-time coaching hires
An article mentions that Bill Peterson coached at Rice.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1UCFJMt
http://bit.ly/1r9MevV
Houston’s best and worst coach hires
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1WBUyT1

Larry Izzo back in a special place with Texans
Alumnus Larry Izzo ’96 is featured.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1TWfljR

Behind the scenes of Eclipse’s national title
Rice’s Ultimate Frisbee team is mentioned.
Carleton Now
http://bit.ly/1X37y4e

Still up for discussion: Turn Astrodome into a water park
An article mentions that the Houston Oilers played at Rice Stadium.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1OaleHQ

Cajuns club and its fans: Roots of the relationship
Rice baseball is mentioned.
The Advertiser
http://bit.ly/1ZrCzN8

Rutgers preview, this time from the ‘World Wide Leader’
An article mentions that Tom Herman coached at Rice.
SB Nation
http://bit.ly/1UtQduR

UCF in top 6 for Texas QB
Rice football is mentioned.
247Sports
http://bit.ly/1UmccUT
Sherrington: Interim coach Jim Grobe needed 5 minutes to succeed where Art Briles, Ken Starr and former Baylor AD failed
Sports Day
http://bit.ly/25IMmWo

Investors plan $20M athletic complex in Southwest Austin
Alumnus Bill Stone ’90 is mentioned.
Austin American-Statesman
http://atxne.ws/1Yb7QFJ

Prospect profile: Jamal Murray
Brown College sophomore Marcus Evans is mentioned.
NBA
http://on.nba.com/25IMIwi

Ali’s connections to Mahanoy City stir memories
Rice men’s basketball head coach Mike Rhoades is mentioned.
Standard Speaker
http://bit.ly/1Oax2Ki

NEWS RELEASES

Rice study details stress-diabetes link
A Rice University study has found a link between emotional stress and diabetes, with roots in the brain’s ability to control anxiety.
http://bit.ly/28fDiHd

Rice wins award to recruit cancer researcher
Rice University has won a $2 million grant from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas to recruit biomaterials researcher and entrepreneur Omid Veiseh to Rice’s Department of Bioengineering.
http://bit.ly/1tcksRs

Baker Institute paper: Low oil prices provide limited window of opportunity for Arab Gulf states leaders
While low oil prices have created a window of opportunity in Arab Gulf states for “visionary” leaders to think outside the box and push through reforms, this window is not open-ended and must produce results sooner rather than later, according to a new paper from Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.
http://bit.ly/1ZrPvml