Dateline Rice for June 13, 2017

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Sticky mussel feet help make hydrogel strings
The Rice lab of chemist Jeffrey Hartgerink had already figured out how to make biocompatible nanofibers out of synthetic peptides. In new work, the lab is using an amino acid found in the sticky feet of mussels to make those fibers line up into strong hydrogel strings. Hartgerink is a professor of chemistry and of bioengineering and the associate department chair for graduate studies. Graduate student I-Che Li is also mentioned.
Futurity
http://bit.ly/2re5sSc
Rice researchers create hydrogel strings using compound found in mussels
AZO Materials
http://bit.ly/2re2X2j
Mussels add muscle to biocompatible fibers
Science & Technology Research News (This also appeared in Domain B.)
http://bit.ly/2rWBipF

Water, water, everywhere: A tool to predict floods
A new tool created by Rice geologists that helps predict floods in China’s Yellow River is featured in a video that the National Science Foundation edited from a video produced by Rice’s Brandon Martin. Jeffrey Nittrouer, assistant professor of Earth science, is cited in the credits.
Science 360 News (This is featured as “Today’s Video” on the Science 360 News home page.)
http://bit.ly/2rejYcG

Qatar: The Gulf’s problem child
Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, fellow for the Middle East at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, authored an op-ed about Qatar. Ulrichsen is also quoted in other articles about Qatar.
The Atlantic
http://theatln.tc/2sjC8wX
Natural gas built Qatar, now may protect it in Gulf dispute
Chem.Info (This also appeared in Bozeman Daily Chronicle, Financial Express and Metro News Canada.)
http://bit.ly/2swKsKp
Qatar’s history of agitating its neighbors
Gulf News
http://bit.ly/2swZwrv
Kristian Coates Ulrichsen discusses Qatar on Sirius/XM
http://bit.ly/2rrk0x2

Cities take Texas to court over immigration, sanctuary cities law
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.
USA Today
https://usat.ly/2rWzZHi
KTRH
http://bit.ly/2sxfvpA (Click on the audio button to listen to the broadcast.) 
http://bit.ly/2sxfvpA (Click on the audio button to listen to the broadcast.) 
http://bit.ly/2sorW7i (Click on the audio button to listen to the broadcast.) 

Opinión: Mientras la ley está ausente, los ‘diablitos’ están en todos lados
Miriam Grunstein, contributing expert and scholar in the Mexico Center at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, authored an op-ed.
Expansion (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/2sXHCvt

HOUSTON/TEXAS

High turnout in Pearland runoff might have doomed change agents
Bob Stein, the Lena Gohlman Fox Professor of Political Science, is quoted about recent local election results.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/2sok4Te
Proponents of change come up short in Pasadena elections
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/2rWD4Hm
Jeff Wagner wins Pasadena mayoral runoff election
Houston Public Media
http://bit.ly/2sjEqMN

Why don’t more people marry outside their race in diverse Houston?
Leah Binkovitz, staff writer for Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, authored an op-ed about interracial marriage. Jenifer Bratter, associate professor of sociology, is quoted.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required. This appeared in the Chronicle’s “Gray Matters” online magazine.)
http://bit.ly/2s6tlfY

So … how about that Houston Open Air lineup?
The author description for an article by Kristy Loye mentions that she attended Rice.
Houston Press
http://bit.ly/2sYfGYu

Humble to receive flood relief; sidewalk improvements in Kingwood: 4 things to know in Humble, Kingwood, Atascocita this week, June 12-16
The Kinder Houston Area Survey, produced by Rice’s Kinder Institute of Urban Research, is mentioned.
Community Impact
http://bit.ly/2sjFf8q

UP earns 5 awards at HPC
An article mentions that the Houston Press Club’s Lone Star Awards were hosted at Rice.
University Press
http://bit.ly/2sjHd8M

BROADCAST

New study finds intersections with stoplights more likely to see deadly crashes
Traffic accidents involving pedestrians and bicyclists have increased both in Houston and nationally in recent years, and a new report from Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research found that intersections with traffic lights are nine times more likely to see fatal car crashes with pedestrians and bicyclists. Yujie Hu, development, transportation, and placemaking research fellow at the institute, is quoted. The article mentions Marjorie Corcoran, a professor of physics and astronomy who was killed Feb. 3 in a train-cyclist accident.
KTRK
http://abc13.co/2s6jeaK
http://bit.ly/2rn8O9S
http://bit.ly/2reeTkL
Rice study finds Houston intersections with traffic lights 9x more likely to see fatal pedestrian- and bicyclist-automobile crashes
Green Car Congress
http://bit.ly/2sjG154
Traffic-light-controlled intersections found to attract fatal accidents
Medical Xpress
http://bit.ly/2re3am2

KPFT
Richard Stoll, the Albert Thomas Chair in Political Science and scholar at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, discusses the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals rejecting President Donald Trump’s travel ban.
http://bit.ly/2sYb1FG

Celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
Rice University Representative Y. Ping Sun participated in a panel hosted by the Asian Chamber of Commerce to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.
KTRK
http://abc13.co/2rWvvQQ

WTOP2
Alumnus Michael Wellman ’88 is featured.
http://bit.ly/2swFDB2 (Click on the audio button to listen to the broadcast.) 

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Photos: Houston’s Emancipation Park reborn after $33.5M renovation
An article mentions that William Ward Watkin helped design the master plan for Rice.
Curbed
http://bit.ly/2re5Hg4

AAAS’ new S&T policy fellowships program head comes full circle
An article mentions that Jennifer Pearl worked at Rice.
AAAS
http://bit.ly/2regF5g

Electric evolution calls for ‘more eyes’ on the grid
An article mentions a webcast that was hosted by Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.
Energy Wire
http://bit.ly/2rmYT46

5 questions for … Mercury Fund co-founder Blair Garrou
Rice is mentioned.
Xconomy
http://bit.ly/2reiRdh

Nothing boring about the thinnest boron ever
Rice research on boron is mentioned.
Nanowerk
http://bit.ly/2re6wW9

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Study: Texas residential rates cheaper in some competitive areas compared to noncompetitive zones
Residential electricity rates in competitive areas in Texas have declined relative to wholesale electricity prices, which suggests that Texas electricity providers are minimizing costs to meet market demands, according to a new paper by Ken Medlock, the James A. Baker III and Susan Baker Fellow in Energy and Resource Economics and senior director of the Center for Energy Studies at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and lecturer of economics.
Utility Dive
http://bit.ly/2s6JjXo

Syros Pharmaceuticals appoints Srinivas Akkaraju to board
Alumnus Srinivas Akkaraju ’90 is featured.
Post Online Media
http://bit.ly/2rnggBE

Researchers develop battery-less and wireless pacemaker
A wireless, battery-less pacemaker that can be implanted directly into a patient’s heart was introduced by researchers from Rice and their colleagues at the Texas Heart Institute at the IEEE’s International Microwave Symposium in Honolulu June 4-9. Aydin Babakhani, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering; graduate student Yuxiang Sun; Behnaam Aazhang, the J.S. Abercrombie Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering; and Joseph Cavallaro, professor of electrical and computer engineering and computer science, are mentioned.
Gineers Now
http://bit.ly/2rmW6rz
Battery-free pacemaker successfully powers the heart
Mass Device
http://bit.ly/2sjEhca

A Mexican illustrator’s map is starting an important conversation about unbalanced responses to international tragedies
An article mentions a tweet by Craig Considine, lecturer of sociology.
A Plus
http://bit.ly/2s6pTC2

SPORTS

Astros draft pitcher J.B. Bukauskas in 1st round
Former Rice baseball player Lance Berkman is mentioned.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/2thy3a8
http://bit.ly/2rWxMvj

Inside look at Clemson’s visit to the White House
Rice baseball is mentioned.
Rivals
http://rvls.co/2rrif30
Draft and follow
FAU Owl Access
http://bit.ly/2soycfy

Pac-12 scheduling: USC ranks a clear No. 1
Rice and Stanford will open the 2017 football season Aug. 26 at the Sydney Cup at Allianz Stadium in Sydney.
NewsOK
http://bit.ly/2thhkDF

Louisville 2-way star is Rays’ top draft pick
Former Rice baseball players Wade Townsend and Jeff Nieman are mentioned.
Montgomery Advertiser
http://on.mgmadv.com/2rdHwyp

College basketball coaching changes tracker: Milwaukee’s LaVall Jordan to Butler
Rice men’s basketball head coach Scott Pera and former Rice coach Mike Rhoades are mentioned.
NCAA
http://cbsprt.co/2rr6w4K

Tigers preparing for College World Series
Rice baseball’s season ended with a 5-0 NCAA Regional loss to Louisiana State University.
WWL
http://bit.ly/2sjZ7Z5
LSU right-handers Zack Hess and Eric Walker earn Freshman All-America honors
The Advocate
http://bit.ly/2soxT4i
Nationals ‘comfortable’ Romero’s maturity won’t be an issue
MASN
http://bit.ly/2rmWlTF
LSU to play Florida State in World Series; Oregon St., Cal St. Fullerton also in bracket
WWL
http://bit.ly/2thRmzM

Islanders release 2017 soccer schedule
Rice soccer is mentioned.
Corpus Christi Caller-Times
http://bit.ly/2swTvew

LSU football countdown day 82: Leonard Fournette rumbles the Raiders
Rice baseball is mentioned.
The Times-Picayune
http://bit.ly/2rWA5P7