Dateline Rice for Oct. 25, 2016

FEATURED ITEM

Thumbs up, down
The Houston Chronicle’s editorial board gave Rice President David Leebron a thumbs-up for becoming chair of the Association of American Universities and noted that as “one of Houston’s deepest thinkers and most savvy problem solvers,” he is the “right man” to help the association of 62 prestigious research universities face the complex issues in higher education.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/2eKGGDM

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Could Hillary Clinton win Texas? Some democrats say maybe
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 presidential and local elections.
The New York Times (This also appeared in MSN News.)
http://nyti.ms/2f4Ca6U
In some Texas counties, long lines complicate early voting
The Texas Tribune (This also appeared in KERA News.)
http://bit.ly/2eCyRj9
Politics expert says Devon Anderson ‘needs a miracle’ to win DA election
KRIV (This also appeared in Houston News Info.)
http://bit.ly/2eC2dTd
Early voting, day 1: Hope you didn’t mind waiting on line
Off the Kuff
http://bit.ly/2f4MawW
Texas sues President Obama’s administration dozens of times
KSAT
http://bit.ly/2dSSJ34
http://bit.ly/2f4JKi6
East Texans rush to vote early
Longview News-Journal
http://bit.ly/2eBD2QT
Texas coquetea con los demócratas como nunca en los últimos 40 años a causa de Trump
Univision (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/2eO9WcR

Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad al-Thani, former Emir of Qatar, dies at 84
Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, fellow for the Middle East at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted about the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad al-Thani.
The New York Times
http://nyti.ms/2eBqvLq

Growing entrepreneurs in the era of Keynes’ great-grandchildren
Jones College sophomore Alex Amari authored an op-ed about entrepreneurship.
Forbes
http://bit.ly/2er8dfv

People can tell if they are voting on a secure system
“Rigged” election rhetoric in the headlines aims to cast doubt about the security of the American voting system; however, people have a sense of whether a voting system is secure, according to new research from Rice. Postdoctoral fellow Claudia Ziegler Acemyan is quoted and Philip Kortum, assistant professor of psychology, is mentioned.
Eurasia Review
http://bit.ly/2eFI1Nz
Study: Voters can tell if election system is secure
KTSA
http://bit.ly/2eHPs66

Top colleges in the South for academic resources
Rice is ranked No. 1 on the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education’s “top schools for resources in the South” list, which is based on academic spending, student-faculty ratios and research output, and is No. 4 on the “top 10 midsize colleges in the South” list.
The Wall Street Journal
http://on.wsj.com/2eCCwxE
Top colleges in the South ranked by size
The Wall Street Journal
http://on.wsj.com/2eNLur6

Awaiting next US president: A splintered Middle East in ‘free fall’
Ambassador Edward Djerejian, director of Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted in an article about the Middle East.
MSN News
http://bit.ly/2erbFa7

HOUSTON/TEXAS

ACA exchange to offer fewer, and more expensive, plans locally
Vivian Ho, the James A. Baker III Institute Chair in Health Economics at the Baker Institute and professor of economics, is quoted about the Affordable Care Act’s fourth enrollment season.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required. This article appeared on the front page of the Oct. 25 print edition with a different headline, “Pricier plans, fewer options.”)
http://bit.ly/2f4Bu1z

Lives of the homeless
The Rice Media Center will screen “Quiet Storms of Reform” Oct. 26.
Houston Chronicle (This appeared in the Chronicle’s “Gray Matters” online magazine. Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/2dFIb4b
http://bit.ly/2eCCaqz

The Ike Dike is gaining support, but will it really save us?
Phil Bedient, the Herman Brown Professor of Engineering and director of the Severe Storm Prediction, Education and Evacuation from Disasters (SSPEED) Center, and Jim Blackburn, professor in the practice of environmental law and co-director of the SSPEED Center, are quoted about Houston’s hurricane preparedness.
Houston Press
http://bit.ly/2eNjHab
Ike Dike could be hidden by dunes
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/2dFms0W

The perfect party: Cause-and-effect edition
Rebecca Richards-Kortum, the Malcolm Gillis University Professor, professor of bioengineering and of electrical and computer engineering and director of Rice 360° Institute for Global Health, was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship.
Houstonia
http://bit.ly/2dFmoyt

Those million mattress firms aren’t going anywhere — for now
Gustavo Grullon, the Jesse H. Jones Chair of Finance at Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business, is quoted in an article about mattress stores.
Houstonia
http://bit.ly/2f4Erzg

The 10 best ways to entertain yourself for free around town
The Rice Gallery is mentioned.
Houstonia
http://bit.ly/2eNqbpn

Where’s your sign?
Valhalla on Rice’s campus is mentioned.
Houstonia
http://bit.ly/2eBr489

King High School student gets perfect AP test score
Students who will apply to Rice are mentioned.
KRIS
http://bit.ly/2eCC6al
http://bit.ly/2eG1q11
Latino superintendents lead the way in Texas’ largest school districts
Dallas Morning News
http://bit.ly/2er23ft

Hirasaki awarded Lucas Gold Medal
George Hirasaki ’67, the A. J. Harsook Professor Emeritus and research professor, was awarded the SPE Anthony F. Lucas Gold Medal at SPE’s Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition.
The Examiner
http://bit.ly/2eNjMe4

Biologist discusses human evolution at LSC-Kingwood
Scott Solomon, professor in the practice of ecology and evolutionary biology, will speak at Lone Star College-Kingwood Nov. 9.
The Tribune
http://bit.ly/2er1X9S

Let rap genius walk you through Glasstire’s 1st ever review
An article discusses a 2001 review of Karim Rashid’s show “Pleasurscape” at the Rice Gallery.
Glasstire
http://bit.ly/2e7joap

My top 5: Genevieve Keeney of The National Museum of Funeral History
Genevieve Keeney, president of the National Museum of Funeral History, mentions that she likes to run the Rice outer-loop trail.
365 Things To Do in Houston
http://bit.ly/2dFR9hO

Shepherd School Opera to present ‘Trouble in Tahiti’ and ‘Gianni Schicchi’
Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music’s Opera Department and Chamber Orchestra will present Leonard Bernstein’s “Trouble in Tahiti” and Giacomo Puccini’s “Gianni Schicchi” Nov. 4-10 in Alice Pratt Brown Hall.
Houston Style Magazine
http://bit.ly/2eCWiZz

BROADCAST

Harris County jail issues loom large in race for sheriff
Bob Stein, the Lena Gohlman Fox Professor of Political Science, is quoted about the 2016 presidential and local elections.
Houston Public Media
http://bit.ly/2eNh9sv
KPEJ
http://bit.ly/2er9hmb

3 Texas schools place in top 100 of the best universities in the world
Rice is No. 61 on U.S. News and World Report’s list of best global universities.
KERA News
http://bit.ly/2dFCd38

New app monitors concussions, may benefit athletes
An article mentions that a few Rice athletes have teamed up with a local startup company called BrainCheck to help diagnose brain injuries and concussions on the spot. Sid Richardson junior Scott Filip is quoted.
KPRC
http://bit.ly/2eHD8CF

‘Imus in the Morning’
Radio host Don Imus mentions that his son is a freshman at Rice.
WABC (Click on the audio button to listen to the broadcast. This also aired on 66 other stations.)

http://bit.ly/2eI7HIs

‘The Doctors’
A temporary tattoo to help control a chronic disease might someday be possible, according to scientists at Baylor College of Medicine who tested antioxidant nanoparticles created at Rice.
WJAX
http://bit.ly/2e7hkPn

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Scientists say boron nitride-graphene hybrid may be right for next-gen green cars
Layers of graphene separated by nanotube pillars of boron nitride may be a suitable material to store hydrogen fuel in cars, according to Rice scientists. Rouzbeh Shahsavari, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, is quoted.
Scicasts (This also appeared in Phys Org.)
http://bit.ly/2eO5yuJ
Hybrid nanostructures hold hydrogen well
Nanotechnology Now (This also appeared in Nanowerk, Domain-B, Scienmag and Science Newsline.)
http://bit.ly/2eNnRio
Graphene and boron nitride structure holds promise for fuel cells
Before It’s News
http://bit.ly/2eBZU2A
Hybrid nanostructures may be right for next-gen green cars
New Electronics
http://bit.ly/2eFIS0B
Hybrid boron nitride-graphene nanostructures could enable fuel cell cars
Next Big Future
http://bit.ly/2dFQBIG

Study explains strength gap between graphene and carbon fiber
Carbon fiber, a pillar of strength in materials manufacturing for decades, isn’t as good as it could be, but there are ways to improve it, according to Rice scientists. Research scientist Evgeni Penev; Boris Yakobson, the Karl F. Hasselmann Professor of Materials Science and NanoEngineering and professor of chemistry; graduate student Nitant Gupta; and Vasilii Artyukhov, a former postdoctoral researcher, are mentioned.
Materialsgate
http://bit.ly/2e7lHKl
Bad ‘zipper’ explains trouble with carbon fibers
Value Walk (This also appeared in The Exception.)
http://bit.ly/2eHEPQF

Smashing metallic cubes toughens them up
Scientists at Rice are smashing metallic microcubes to make them ultrastrong and tough by rearranging their nanostructures upon impact. Edwin Thomas, the William and Stephanie Sick Dean of the George R. Brown School of Engineering and professor of materials science and nanoengineering and of chemical and biomolecular engineering; postdoctoral research associate Ramathasan Thevamaran; graduate student Olawale Lawal; research scientist Sadegh Yazdi; alumni Seog-Jin Jeon and Jae-Hwang Lee are mentioned.
R&D (This also papered in Science Daily.)
http://bit.ly/2eOriGu

Congratulations 2016 BMES award recipients
The BMES Student Chapter at Rice won third place in the BMES Undergraduate Design Competition.
BMES
http://bit.ly/2eOrkOL

TPP: The final countdown
An article mentions that U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman spoke at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy Sept. 19.
FX Street
http://bit.ly/2f4L4l8

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Our roads could hold the secret to sucking carbon out of natural gas
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.
Proactive Investors
http://bit.ly/2e70yQt

Mexico fights illegal immigration on its own southern border
A study by Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy is mentioned.
Tucson Sentinel (This also appeared in El Paso Proud and KGBT/4Valley Central.)
http://bit.ly/2eHAlcP

American scientist Peter Wolynes elected to Indian National Science Academy
Peter Wolynes, the D.R.Bullard-Welch Foundation Professor of Science, professor of chemistry, of biochemistry and cell biology, of physics and astronomy and of materials science and nanoengineering, has been elected a foreign fellow of the Indian National Science Academy.
The Indian Panorama
http://bit.ly/2eqZV7f

Rice U, SXSWedu open Rather Prize to improve Texas education
An article discusses the Rather Prize, which is being offered in partnership with Rice’s Center for Civic Leadership.
Campus Technology
http://bit.ly/2fcDunP

How Wichita Falls, Texas caters to restaurants that are loved by Democrats and Republicans
Rice is mentioned.
The Exception
http://bit.ly/2e777Td

Verona Quartet opens 2016-2017 recital series at Center for the Arts
The Verona Quartet is the Graduate Resident String Quartet and Lisa Arnhold Fellows at The Juilliard School. The article mentions that a member of the quartet is a Rice alum.
Broadway World
http://bit.ly/2er7xGR

Where to feel the love on a romantic Houston getaway
James Turrell’s “Twilight Epiphany” Skyspace on the Suzanne Deal Booth Centennial Pavilion on the Rice campus is mentioned.
Traveler
http://bit.ly/2eNuGAk

Do your homework before giving to charities
Kristen Schlatre, director of the Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership at Rice’s Glasscock School Continuing Studies, is quoted in an article about researching charity organizations.
Two River Times
http://bit.ly/2eBqOWI

Houston’s pension problems: Causes and solutions
An article mentions a study on Houston’s pensions by Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research.
Before It’s News
http://bit.ly/2eG3bel

Space weather: The rarely discussed phenomenon that could paralyze the world
For the first time beginning next month, forecasts of the regional effects of solar storms will help protect the power grid and communications satellites, thanks to a new tool developed by researchers at the University of Michigan and Rice.
The Buffalo News
http://bit.ly/2eBrFqz

Winners of marine sciences project papers announced
McMurtry College senior Rebecca Maher is mentioned.
Infomarine
http://bit.ly/2dFxQu2

SPORTS

Rice report: Temi Alaka steps up as Owls’ top receiving threat
Rice football defeated Prairie View A&M University 65-44. The team will play Louisiana Tech University Oct. 29. Head coach David Bailiff, assistant coach Darrell Patterson, players Temi Alaka, Emmanuel Ellerbee, Haden Tobola, Tyler Stehling, Jack Fox and Samuel Stewart and former Rice football player Jarett Dillard are mentioned.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/2eHBQaM
Temi Alaka healthy and producing for Rice
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/2eCEyxM
http://bit.ly/2er5xP8
Rice kicker Haden Tobola gets back on track
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/2eB9xNm
http://bit.ly/2eCERse
Stomach virus spreading around Rice football players, coaches
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/2eObfZe
http://bit.ly/2eHDrgZ
The Rice Owls get a win, but is that enough to save the season?
Houston Press
http://bit.ly/2eCJBhA
LA Tech Bulldogs versus Rice Owls — Oct. 29 college football pick, odds and prediction
Sports Chat Place
http://bit.ly/2eFKZ4D

Owls women’s teams continue win streaks over weekend
Rice soccer defeated the University of North Carolina at Charlotte 2-0 and will play Florida Atlantic University Oct. 28.
Sun Sentinel
http://bit.ly/2er04u8
Women’s soccer drops 2-0 decision to Rice
Niner Times
http://bit.ly/2eOfN26

Panhandle tennis blog: Spencer wins again; local adult, junior winners; more
The Texas Tamale Houston Cup was held at Rice.
USTA Florida
http://bit.ly/2eFI1No

Gonzaga fans curious to see what they have in Jeremy Jones
A Rice transfer is mentioned.
The Slipper Still Fits/SB Nation
http://bit.ly/2eBGCdz
The most telling statistic for each team in the preseason CBB coaches’ poll
Bleacher Report
http://ble.ac/2eFOQii

Whitt named finalist for Armed Forces Merit Award
An article mentions that Rusty Whitt played football at Rice.
Daily Toreador
http://bit.ly/2eBNCay

NEWS RELEASES

AAU elects Rice University President David Leebron as board chair
Rice University President David W. Leebron was elected today by the Association of American Universities (AAU) to serve as chair of its board of directors..
http://bit.ly/2ergHWp

Why do consumers pay more? Rice research finds the surprising effect of consumer local identity
New research by a Rice University marketing professor debunks a long-held belief by companies that they could charge more for locally produced goods and services because of consumers’ sense of attachment to their community. The study, published in the Journal of Marketing, determined consumers with a local identity will pay more than consumers with a global identity even when a product’s country of origin is unknown.
http://bit.ly/2dFXMkf

Rice U. election experts and watch parties
Rice University experts are available to comment on the 2016 elections now through election week, and two election night viewing parties on campus Nov. 8 will provide photo ops for news media.
http://bit.ly/2dSVC4a

CALEA site visit part of RUPD’s effort to earn national accreditation
The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc. (CALEA) will conduct a site visit at the Rice University Police Department Nov. 6-8 as part of RUPD’s application for national accreditation.
http://bit.ly/2eC7Xws

Hybrid nanostructures hold hydrogen well
Layers of graphene separated by nanotube pillars of boron nitride may be a suitable material to store hydrogen fuel in cars, according to Rice University scientists.
http://bit.ly/2eC79HY