Dateline Rice for Sept. 15, 2016

FEATURED ITEM

Congressman Lamar Smith: US election systems vulnerable to Russian cyberattack
Dan Wallach, professor of computer science and of electrical and computer engineering, is quoted about election security.
Texas Standard (This also aired on 24 other stations.)
http://bit.ly/2caIZxi
Can the 2016 election be hacked or disrupted? Congress listens to tech experts
Alternet
http://bit.ly/2d2DeX6
American election systems face ‘credible cyber-threats’ expert tells Congress
Before It’s News
http://bit.ly/2cpXK06

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

US News college rankings: Princeton, Williams and UC-Berkeley at the top, again
Rice University moved up to No. 15 among the best national universities and remained the highest-ranked among universities in Texas in the 2017 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Colleges” guidebook. Ranked No. 18 last year, Rice is now tied for No. 15 with Cornell University, University of Notre Dame and Vanderbilt University.
The Washington Post (Similar articles appeared in seven other media outlets.)
http://wapo.st/2cazFcJ

The White House may soon help you avoid crummy colleges
A slideshow mentions that Rice is ranked No. 4 nationally and the best college in Texas by Money magazine.
Money
http://ti.me/2cy9jU1

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Mayor unveils tentative pension reform deal
Bill Fulton, director of Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, is quoted about the new Houston pension reform deal.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required. This article appeared on the front page of the Sept. 15 print edition with a different headline, “Mayor unveils pension deal.”)
http://bit.ly/2cHNx2j
Mayor aims to fully fund Houston’s pension plan within 30 years
KPRC
http://bit.ly/2ctOhXq

Machines are coming for your job. Is our economy ready?
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.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/2dnrGgP

Groups go on offensive against Brays Bayou invasive fish
An article mentions that Rice is part of the Carp and Armored-catfish Removal Plan Task Force.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/2cpILmC
http://bit.ly/2cAD3hM

Income up, poverty down: Texas exceeding US in key economic numbers
Michael Cline, associate director of Rice’s Hobby Center for the Study of Texas, is quoted.
The Dallas Morning News
http://bit.ly/2d2CnFW

Scrutiny of Clinton’s health puts new focus on Kaine
Douglas Brinkley, professor of history, is quoted about the 2016 elections.
Austin American-Statesman
http://atxne.ws/2cAOWnU
Mientras Clinton se recupera, sus aliados más poderosos hacen campaña por ella. ¿Será suficiente?
Univision (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/2cybQh1

Iconic tower in Medical Center sold
Rice University founder William Marsh Rice is mentioned.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/2cHOwzD

Lone Star College-Kingwood faculty members’ art shown through annual showcase
Alumnus Aaron Bielish ’95 is mentioned.
The Humble Observer (This also appeared in The Kingwood Observer, The Lake Houston Observer, The East Montgomery Observer and The Atascocita Observer.)
http://bit.ly/2cqd16d

State of the University touts A&M-CC growth, research
An article mentions that Rice is among several Texas schools designated as having highest research activity by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
Corpus Christi Caller-Times
http://bit.ly/2cACzb6

BROADCAST

Will there be a World War III
Richard Stoll, the Albert Thomas Chair in Political Science and scholar at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is interviewed about the possibility of World War III.
KTRH
http://bit.ly/2caISlm
http://bit.ly/2ch1d3o

Climate change: The EPA has gone overboard
Charles McConnell, executive director of Rice’s Energy and Environment Initiative, discusses the Environmental Protection Agency and climate change.
WNYC
http://bit.ly/2ccNH2v

Houston filmmaker Greg Carter on making movies in the Bayou City
The Southwest Alternate Media Project is holding its annual Business of Film Conference at Rice Sept. 16-17.
Houston Public Media’s “Houston Matters”
http://bit.ly/2ccOU9Q

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Improved microendoscope brings cervical cancer into focus
Rice University researchers have added a clever spin — a rotating grating that removes out-of-focus light — to a cutting-edge, minimally invasive fiber-optic microscope that lets oncologists and surgeons zoom in on cancer tumors prior to surgery. Rebecca Richards-Kortum, the Malcolm Gillis University Professor, director of the Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineering and of Rice 360° Institute for Global Health, and graduate student Pelham Keahey are quoted.
Phys Org (This also appeared in R&D.)
http://bit.ly/2d2CDVm

Report urges Trump, Clinton to make room for science in the White House
Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy announced recommendations for how science and technology policy should be dealt with in the White House for the presidential transition teams. 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, is quoted.
Science
http://bit.ly/2d2yBfW
Scholars: Science advisor should be Trump, Clinton priority
Diverse
http://bit.ly/2d2Fq14

Blog: What happens to oil, gas if GOP loses Congress?
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 2016 elections.
Rig Zone (This also appeared in Oil News Center.)
http://bit.ly/2ctGPf7

Asphalt-based carbon-capture material advances
A Rice University laboratory has improved its method to turn plain asphalt into a porous material that can capture greenhouse gases from natural gas. James Tour, the T.T. and W.F. Chao Professor of Chemistry, professor of computer science and of materials science and nanoengineering, is quoted.
ECN (This also appeared in Space Daily, Materialsgate and Geology Page.)
http://bit.ly/2cHMOy7

Opinion: Turkey’s scientists under pressure
Elaine Howard Ecklund, the Herbert S. Autrey Chair and professor of sociology and director of the Religion and Public Life Program, and Kirstin Matthews, a fellow in science and technology policy at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, co-authored an op-ed about Turkey.
The Scientist
http://bit.ly/2cgNOsh

Research from Jones School Dean helps international companies avoid corruption
Peter Rodriguez, dean of Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business, and his study on the effects of corruption on multinational firms are featured.
Metro MBA
http://bit.ly/2ctRiHr

2016 major gifts from Jewish donors: Not very supportive of Jewish organizations … yet!
Rice has received a gift of more than $4.1 million from the estate of the late Samuel W. and Goldye Marian Spain to the university’s Program in Jewish Studies and the Shepherd School of Music.
Jewish Philanthropy
http://bit.ly/2d0JZpR

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Rice Business’ new dean launches online journal
Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business announced the launch of its new online ideas magazine, RiceBusinessWisdom.org. The site delivers peer-reviewed business research in a compelling, quick-to-read package. Peter Rodriguez, dean of Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business, is quoted.
Poets & Quants
http://bit.ly/2cLG2sn

The moon was created when an alien world smashed in Earth
Research by Rice University Earth scientists suggests that virtually all of Earth’s life-giving carbon could have come from a collision about 4.4 billion years ago between Earth and an embryonic planet similar to Mercury. Rajdeep Dasgupta, professor of Earth science, is quoted.
Inquisitr
http://bit.ly/2ccAWF9

Growing number of colleges offer food pantries to help students
An article mentions a pilot program between the Houston Food Bank and researchers from Rice.
The Christian Science Monitor
http://bit.ly/2cABJLJ

Nigeria: Refineries flop after gulping N264 billion
Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy is mentioned.
All Africa
http://bit.ly/2ctJPs1

Barbara Shuler: Cabrillo Festival names Macelaru new musical director
Alumnus Cristian Macelaru ’06 is featured. The article mentions that Macelaru studied with Larry Rachleff, the Walter Kris Hubert Professor of Orchestra Conducting.
Monterey County Herald
http://bit.ly/2cLQHRf

Special guests, events to highlight Rachleff’s last season conducting the R.I. Philharmonic
An article mentions that Larry Rachleff, the Walter Kris Hubert Professor of Orchestra Conducting, is the music director of the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra.
Providence Journal
http://bit.ly/2cpNsNj

Verona Quartet opens 2016-2017 recital series at Center for the Arts
Rice’s Shepherd School of Music is mentioned.
Broadway World
http://bit.ly/2cLtSzZ

Musiqa to present free ‘Right Here, Right Now’ loft concert
Alumna Hilary Purrington ’13 is featured.
Broadway World
http://bit.ly/2d0QzfY

Professionals share their college experiences and advice
Alumna Norma Torres Mendoza ’13 is featured.
The Venture
http://bit.ly/2cgTy53

After oil: Can we power the planet with algae?
A Rice study on algae is mentioned.
Awaken
http://bit.ly/2cQIDgH

Artist of the week: Cecilia Salama
An article mentions that artist Cecilia Salama has exhibited at Rice.
LVL3 Media
http://bit.ly/2cM1avR

SPORTS

Top West Point general: ‘Valid concerns’ raised about prayer after Army football game
Rice football will play Baylor University Sept. 16.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/2cXGPHp
http://bit.ly/2cpJVPi
High 5: Houston’s best sporting events this weekend
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/2cybaZj
Big 12 has only 3 undefeated teams, far cry from last season
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/2caL78k
http://bit.ly/2cAJP6Y

Returned Mormon missionaries in 2016 FBS college football
Will Rice College sophomore Austin Williams and Hanszen College sophomore James Sanft are featured.
Deseret News
http://bit.ly/2ctOV7m

Big 12 Basketball: What could realignment look like?
An article that discusses Big 12 expansion mentions Rice.
Fansided
http://bit.ly/2cI0hWV

Women’s volleyball: Undefeated No. 9 BYU hosts Utah on Thursday
Rice volleyball is mentioned.
The Salt Lake Tribune
http://bit.ly/2ccLpQR

Big 12 expansion ‘not a sure thing,’ OU president David Boren says
An article mentions that Rice is one of the universities making a pitch to Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby to join the Big 12.
ESPN (This also appeared in Campus Sports.)
http://bit.ly/2cXSpSE

KAMC
Rice volleyball fell to Texas Tech University 2-3.
http://bit.ly/2cpW32t

NEWS RELEASES

Rice U. study: Underemployment can lead to creativity and organizational commitment
Having underemployed workers can lead to two outcomes that benefit an organization — creativity and commitment to the organization — according to a new study by management experts at Rice University, Chinese University of Hong Kong at Shenzhen and Chinese University of Hong Kong.
http://bit.ly/2cyoEEm

Improved microendoscope brings cervical cancer into focus
Rice University researchers have added a clever spin — a rotating grating that removes out-of-focus light — to a cutting-edge, minimally invasive fiber-optic microscope that lets oncologists and surgeons zoom in on cancer tumors prior to surgery.
http://bit.ly/2d2Tg3n

Rice expert available to discuss Houston’s proposed plan to address pension issues
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner today announced a plan to address the city’s pension issues. Bill Fulton, director of Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, is available to discuss the mayor’s plan and the Kinder Institute’s recent report highlighting the financial state of Houston’s pensions.
http://bit.ly/2czIgJF

Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden to deliver remarks at Rice, MD Anderson event Sept. 16
Vice President Joe Biden will deliver remarks at Rice University’s Tudor Fieldhouse at 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16, about the White House Cancer Moonshot, an initiative Biden leads.
http://bit.ly/2czIoce