Dateline Rice for Feb. 14, 2017

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Graphene foam supports more than 3,000X its weight
A chunk of conductive graphene foam reinforced by carbon nanotubes can support more than 3,000 times its own weight and easily bounce back to its original height, according to Rice University scientists. James Tour, the T.T. and W.F. Chao Professor of Chemistry, professor of computer science and of materials science and nanoengineering, is quoted. Articles also mention postdoctoral researchers Rodrigo Salvatierra, Pei Dong and Yongsung Ji; graduate students Yilun Li, Tuo Wang, Chenhao Zhang and Jibo Zhang; former postdoctoral researcher Seoung-Ki Lee; Pulickel Ajayan, the Benjamin M. and Mary Greenwood Anderson Professor in Engineering and founding chair of the Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering; and Jun Lou, associate professor of materials science and nanoengineering.
Futurity (This article appeared in the Feb. 14 issue of Futurity Today.)
http://bit.ly/2lHmzwF
Graphene foam gets big and tough: Nanotube-reinforced material can be shaped, is highly conductive
Phys Org (This also appeared in Nanotechnology Now and Nanowerk.)
http://bit.ly/2kmQ7zq
‘Rebar graphene’ foam supports 3,000 times its own weight
New Atlas (This also appeared in Last Minute Geek.)
http://bit.ly/2lLW4Tz
Scientists create rebar graphene foam that can support a weight 3,000 times greater than its own
Wonderful Engineering
http://bit.ly/2kGNhBv

Are OPEC’s cuts adding up to lower oil prices?
Jim Krane, the Wallace S. Wilson Fellow for Energy Studies at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted about OPEC.
Wall Street Journal
http://on.wsj.com/2kGLxs1

How to solve the riddle of Venezuela’s economy
Francisco Monaldi, a fellow in Latin American energy policy at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted about the Venezuelan economy.
Bloomberg View (This also appeared in Bloomberg Quint, Yahoo 7 Finance and Times of Oman.)
http://bloom.bg/2lghzxV
Analistas del mercado venezolano necesitan una bola de cristal
Gestion (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/2lGZt9G

The narrative gap
An article mentions that University Professor Emeritus Robert Curl, the late Richard Smalley and alumni James Heath ’88 and Sean O’Brien ’88 discovered fullerenes, popularly known as “buckyballs.”
Huffington Post
http://huff.to/2lcSGUB

Most border residents didn’t vote for Trump’s wall
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 Labor Secretary-designate Andrew Puzder, the responses of states and localities to President Donald Trump’s policies, Latino voting in Texas and the proposed border wall.
Huffington Post
http://huff.to/2lg6o8w
Report: Latino vote in Texas increased 30 percent in last presidential election
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required. This also appeared in Houston News Info.) 
http://bit.ly/2kGit3R
http://bit.ly/2kPcb4k
Report: Number of Latinos who voted in 2016 surged from 2012
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.) 
http://bit.ly/2lfXurx
http://bit.ly/2lLMori
Highlights from in and around the world of Texas politics
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/2kGmJjW
Galveston declares itself a welcoming city, due to concern over some of Trump’s actions
Houston Public Media
http://bit.ly/2kmRFtk
Workers rally against Labor Secretary nominee Carl’s Jr. CEO Andrew Puzder
KRIV
http://bit.ly/2lMdaki
http://bit.ly/2ktPhfp
More Latinos vote in Texas
Denton Record-Chronicle
http://bit.ly/2kGLNXY
Straight-party vote elimination bill gets low number
Texas Elects (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/2l52soZ
Aumenta en Texas el número de hispanos que votaron
Houston Chronicle’s “La Voz” (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/2lM4jyf
Aumenta en Texas número de hispanos que votaron
Houston Chronicle’s “La Voz” (An English translation is not available. This also appeared in the San Diego Union-Tribune.)
http://bit.ly/2lfLo1L

Colonizing Mars could spark a new kind of frightening human evolution
Scott Solomon, professor in the practice of ecology and evolutionary biology, discusses the possible colonization of Mars and evolution.
Business Insider (This also appeared in Houston Chronicle.)
http://read.bi/2lH30V8

The most popular running routes in the 20 biggest US metro areas
Rice’s outer loop is featured on a list of the most popular running routes in the U.S.
Runner’s World
http://bit.ly/2l4pA72

Indonesia’s moderate Islam is slowly crumbling
Kadir Yildirim, research scholar at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted about Indonesia.
Foreign Policy (Subscription required. This also appeared in Yahoo News.)
http://atfp.co/2kGN7tT

HOUSTON/TEXAS

ICYMI: Texas’ oil and gas wells go uninspected; ‘Denied’ follow-up, controversial concrete plants
A news roundup mentions Marjorie Corcoran, a professor of physics and astronomy who was killed Feb. 3 in a train-cyclist accident.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required. This also appeared in My San Antonio and LMT Online.) 
http://bit.ly/2ktfnz9
http://bit.ly/2lcG8MX

19 fun things to do in San Antonio this week
Douglas Brinkley, professor of history, will speak at Trinity University Feb. 15.
Houston Chronicle (This also appeared in My San Antonio.)
http://bit.ly/2lfZrEn
Midweek events Feb. 10
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/2kmIKI9

The state of Texas: Dallasite becomes 1st black woman to star as ‘The Bachelorette’
A news roundup mentions that the group American Vanguard placed posters at Rice.
Texas Monthly
http://bit.ly/2lM99vr
Anti-Muslim posters found on 3 buildings, utility pole at UT
Austin American-Statesman
http://atxne.ws/2lGV1aG
Another hate incident as flyer in Texas says ‘get rid of Indians’
India West
http://bit.ly/2ktoTCE
A white terrorist group is posting chilling anti-Muslim propaganda on college campuses
Muslim Girl
http://bit.ly/2l4UOLs

21 best things to do in Houston this week: Babs, Ol’ Blue Eyes and Broadway’s N’Kenge
The Cuarteto Casals will perform at Rice Feb. 14.
Houston Press
http://bit.ly/2lGCmfp

JeffCo commissioners approve supporting recreation area
Rice-based Severe Storm Prediction, Education and Evacuation from Disasters Center is mentioned.
PA News
http://bit.ly/2lMcYkq

Rice University adds rapper ‘Pimp C’s’ archives to hip-hop collection
The life and legacy of Houston rapper Chad “Pimp C” Butler was the focus of a panel discussion at Rice Jan. 31. Bernard “Bun B” Freeman, former distinguished lecturer at Rice, and Anthony Pinn, the Agnes Cullen Arnold Professor of Humanities and professor of religion and fellow at Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, are quoted. Rice’s Center for Engaged Research and Collaborative Learning, part of Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, and Rice’s Woodson Research Center are also mentioned.
Houstonia
http://bit.ly/2l4GOkI

It’s his last season with the DSO and Jaap’s pulling out all the big German composers
Ken Cowan, associate professor of organ at Rice’s Shepherd School of Music, is mentioned.
Dallas Art Dealers Association
http://bit.ly/2ktGGcH

What to do Valentine’s Day for free in Houston
Rice Gallery is mentioned.
Houston on the Cheap
http://bit.ly/1XtmRAp

Fine arts organization embarks on 4th season in Liberty
Rice is mentioned.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required. This also appeared in My San Antonio and LMT Online.) 
http://bit.ly/2lGuKcw
http://bit.ly/2lLKhol

Pedestrian-friendly plaza is latest part of Rice Village makeover
A parking study in Rice Village by Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research is mentioned. The article notes that Trademark Property manages the property in Rice Village that Rice owns.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.) 
http://bit.ly/2l4AJEX

Enough with Dome dreams. Let’s put money in NRG.
A slideshow mentions Rice.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required. This appeared in the Chronicle’s “Gray Matters” online magazine.)
http://bit.ly/2lfLaYs
http://bit.ly/2ktcJcM

These colleges pay students back, according to the Princeton Review
Rice is No. 13 on Princeton Review’s list of colleges that pay students back.
Houston Chronicle (This also appeared in Beaumont Enterprise.)
http://bit.ly/2ktbMkK

BROADCAST

KPFT
Richard Stoll, the Albert Thomas Chair in Political Science and scholar at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, discusses Michael Flynn’s conversation with the Russian ambassador and the North Korean missile launch.
http://bit.ly/2ldi5xl

How national politics impact Houston’s global economy
Tony Payan, the Baker Institute for Public Policy’s Françoise and Edward Djerejian Fellow for Mexico Studies and director of the institute’s Mexico Center, discusses the effect that national policies have on Houston’s economy.
Houston Public Media’s “Houston Matters”
http://bit.ly/2lMfBTe

Website tells stories of the search for affordable housing in Houston
Leah Binkovitz, staff writer for Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, discusses a new website, HouseofHouston.com, which tells stories of Houstonians in search of housing.
Houston Public Media’s “Houston Matters”
http://bit.ly/2lMe947

KTRH
The third-annual Veterans Business Battle, sponsored by Entrepreneurs’ Organization-Houston and the Rice University Veterans Business Association, will begin Feb. 24.
http://bit.ly/2l4VvV2

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Young architects from around the world participate in ‘Archiprix 2017’ hosted, for the first time, in Ahmedabad
Alumnus Yuan Jin’s ’16 is one of the eight winners of the Archiprix International/Hunter Douglas Awards 2017.
Architectural Digest
http://bit.ly/2lMpFwr

Q&A: John Mackey, Whole Foods
Whole Foods co-founder John Mackey mentions that his father taught at Rice in a Q&A.
Advertising Specialty Institute
http://bit.ly/2ktudFU

Researchers in Singapore and Israel develop the ‘most stretchable’ 3-D printable material
Rice is mentioned.
3D Printing Industry
http://bit.ly/2ktNbw1

New study compares bone-inducing properties of 3-D-printed mineralized scaffolds
An article mentions that Antonios Mikos, the Louis Calder Professor of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and of materials science and nanoengineering, is the co-editor-in-chief of “Tissue Engineering.”
Scienmag
http://bit.ly/2kn6Q5K

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

California Symphony to perform an all-French program at Leshner Center of the Arts March 19
Pierre Jalbert, professor of composition and theory at Rice’s Shepherd School of Music, is mentioned.
Broadway World
http://bit.ly/2lcHDuq

Presidential space leadership depends on the enabling context (Part 1)
President John F. Kennedy’s famous “Moon Speech” delivered at Rice Sept. 12, 1962, is discussed.
The Space Review
http://bit.ly/2kGoA8k

A new super material has been discovered
A Rice team that simulated one-dimensional forms of boron — both two-atom-wide ribbons and single-atom chains — found they possess unique properties. Boris Yakobson, the Karl F. Hasselmann Professor of Materials Science and NanoEngineering and professor of chemistry, is quoted.
Wall Street Pit (This also appeared in Daily Herald.)
http://bit.ly/2lMekvd

Beware ‘CEO award envy’: Study warns boards of apparent M&A dangers
Rice research is mentioned.
Chief Executive
http://bit.ly/2lMoxIl

Discovering the Houston skyline
James Turrell’s “Twilight Epiphany” Skyspace on the Suzanne Deal Booth Centennial Pavilion on the Rice campus is mentioned.
Photography Life
http://bit.ly/2lcYRrq
Classical Classroom, Ep. 160: There is no spoon, with George E. Lewis
Houston Public Media
http://bit.ly/2kn6r3g

30 most beautiful college campuses in Texas
Rice is No. 3 on a list of the most beautiful college campuses in Texas.
Lend Edu
http://bit.ly/2lGZme5

Sand Springs heads to the polls this Tuesday: A look at the candidates
Alumnus and U.S. Rep. Jim Bridenstine ’97 is mentioned.
Sandite Pride News
http://bit.ly/2l4Qo76

Smoldering coal mine may hold secrets to new drugs
Chemists scouring Appalachia for exotic microorganisms that could yield blockbuster drugs have reported a unique find from the smoldering remains of a coal mine fire that’s burned for nearly a decade in southeastern Kentucky. A research team from Rice, the University of Kentucky and the University of Oklahoma made new — and in some cases more effective — versions of the antibiotic daptomycin using an enzyme from a soil bacterium found in smoke vents of the Ruth Mullins coal fire. George Phillips, the Ralph and Dorothy Looney Professor of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, is quoted.
Kentucky Living
http://bit.ly/2l503uz

Western Gas Partners appoints new CEO
Alumnus Craig Collins ’03 is mentioned.
Post Online Media
http://bit.ly/2ldpJb7

Independizarse de EU no interesa al Gobierno y, por abajo del agua, se somete ante Trump: Analistas
Tony Payan, the Baker Institute for Public Policy’s Françoise and Edward Djerejian Fellow for Mexico Studies and director of the institute’s Mexico Center, is mentioned.
Yancuic (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/2kGCW8s

SPORTS

Cuba trip makes lasting impact on Rice
Rice baseball visited Cuba Nov. 23-Dec. 4 to play exhibition games against teams from the Cuban Baseball Federation. During their trip, Cuba was in a national mourning period after the death of former Cuban leader Fidel Castro. Luis Duno-Gottberg, department chair and associate professor of Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies, and Rice baseball players Cody Staab, Evan Kravetz, Dominic DiCaprio, Dane Myers and Addison Moss are mentioned.
D1Baseball
http://bit.ly/2lLWWXv

C-USA awards stay deep in the heart of Texas with Rice and UNT
Brown College sophomore Marcus Evans was named C-USA Player of the Week and Brown College freshman Gabby Ozoude was named C-USA Freshman of the Week.
The Best College Sports News Network
http://bit.ly/2lg5GIv
C-USA women’s basketball players of the week
Be In Sports
http://bit.ly/2lg4uVv

Nebraska officially hires Bob Elliott as safeties coach
An article mentions assistant football coach Brian Stewart.
Corn Nation (This also appeared in Yahoo Sports.)
http://bit.ly/2kGIUX3
Nebraska makes hiring of Notre Dame staffer, longtime coach official
NBC Sports
http://bit.ly/2kGAyPe

Watch: Get to know Texas strength and conditioning coach Yancy McKnight
Rice head football coach David Bailiff and former Rice coaches Yancy McKnight and Tom Herman are mentioned.
Burnt Orange Nation
http://bit.ly/2kGrZnw

3-point plan
Rice men’s basketball is mentioned.
Owl Access
http://bit.ly/2lMhyQn

NEWS RELEASES

Rice’s Campbell Lecture Series April 3-5 to feature prominent LGBT historian, author George Chauncey
George Chauncey, a professor at Yale University, author and one of the nation’s foremost experts on American LGBT history, will headline Rice University’s Campbell Lecture Series April 3-5.
http://bit.ly/2kucs9r

New Rice U. report shines light on Houston’s streetlights
A new report from Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research is shining light on Houston’s streetlight situation. It found that Houston’s 173,724 streetlights (as of August 2015) are concentrated more heavily in black and Hispanic neighborhoods than white neighborhoods.
http://bit.ly/2lMsQUC