Dateline Rice for Aug. 8, 2017

FEATURED ITEM

Rice President David Leebron talks research at meeting with VP Pence
University presidents — including Rice University President David Leebron — discussed the impact of campus research with Vice President Mike Pence at the White House last month. The coalition of university presidents who attended lead institutions that are part of the Association of American Universities, of which Leebron is board chair.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/2um9JsI

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Trump has escaped Washington, but don’t call it a vacation
Douglas Brinkley, professor of history, is quoted.
New York Times (This Associated Press article also appeared in the Chicago Tribune, MSN and more than 330 other publications.)
http://nyti.ms/2wquFfn

There’s an environmental case for genetic engineering
Scientists at Rice and the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have predicted and created new two-dimensional electrocatalysts to extract hydrogen from water with high performance and low cost.
Time
http://ti.me/2vgdVsN
Another new water-splitting catalyst
New Energy and Fuel
http://bit.ly/2ulHYvZ

Being single will kill you faster than obesity, study says
Loneliness is deadlier than obesity and should be considered a public health risk, experts have warned. A study by Rice found that while lonely adults were no more likely to catch a cold, they felt far worse when they did.
New York Post (This also appeared on True Viral News.) 
http://nyp.st/2wq3PDV

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Yale scientists developing method to distill seawater
Rice is mentioned.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required. This also appeared in San Antonio Express-News, My San Antonio and more than 29 other publications.)
http://bit.ly/2uCFwk1
http://bit.ly/2vi09nW

Zachary Ball to lead Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineering
Rice University chemist Zachary Ball has been named director of Rice’s Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineering. Yousif Shamoo, professor of biochemistry and cell biology and Rice’s vice provost for research, is quoted.
TMC News
http://bit.ly/2wEkAuu

The impact of Venezuelan turmoil on Houston’s oil and gas industry
Francisco Monaldi, a fellow in Latin American energy policy at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
Houston Public Media
http://bit.ly/2viTz0t

21 best things to do in Houston this week: Selena tribute and Rod Stewart
Rice Cinema is mentioned.
Houston Press
http://bit.ly/2ulwU6o

UT, A&M are breeding grounds for highest-paid grads
In July, Money magazine ranked the University of Texas, Texas A&M and Rice among the Best Colleges for Your Money in 2017. Rice was 12th on the list, UT 31st and A&M 34th.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
http://bit.ly/2vLiwEv

Diana Thater: ‘The Starry Messenger’ at the Moody Center
Rice’s Moody Center for the Arts will present Dana Thater’s “The Starry Messenger” through Feb. 1.
Glasstire
http://bit.ly/2vJDm6q

More details on Seguin man’s Colorado hiking death
Alumnus Barney Cruz ’11 died July 29 in a hiking accident.
Seguin Gazette
http://bit.ly/2uC6Ajw

C.T. Bauer Tech Entrepreneurs to pitch startup ideas at Bayou Startup Showcase
The RED Labs accelerator program at the University of Houston – C.T. Bauer College of Business will partner with Rice’s OwlSpark to host the annual Bayou Startup Showcase this month.
Houston News Info
http://bit.ly/2vAODXc

BROADCAST

C-SPAN radio
Joe Barnes, the Bonner Means Baker Research Fellow at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, discusses a debate in Congress to review the authorization for the use of military force under which the U.S. has waged war for 16 years.
http://bit.ly/2vJcVOk

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Revolutionary vote security – if government will allow
Dan Wallach, professor of computer science and of electrical and computer engineering and a Rice Faculty Scholar at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
Red State
http://bit.ly/2vJVey3

Mineral rights start gushing cash for colleges
An article mentions that Rice invests in Black Stone Minerals LP.
Hellenic Shipping News
http://bit.ly/2ull4cv

New dual-surface graphene electrode helps split water into hydrogen and oxygen
Rice chemists have produced a catalyst based on laser-induced graphene that splits water into hydrogen on one side and oxygen on the other side. They said the inexpensive material may be a practical component in generating the hydrogen for use in future fuel cells. James Tour, the T.T. and W.F. Chao Professor of Chemistry, professor of computer science and of materials science and nanoengineering, is quoted.
AZO Nano
http://bit.ly/2wEbGgq

Laser-induced graphene from wood
Rice University scientists have made wood into an electrical conductor by turning its surface into graphene. Rice chemist James Tour and his colleagues used a laser to blacken a thin film pattern onto a block of pine. Tour, the T.T. and W.F. Chao Professor of Chemistry, professor of computer science and of materials science and nanoengineering, is quoted.
MyInforms
http://bit.ly/2umdKgo

Nanoindentation benefits crystals in concrete: Study
Rice University scientists have determined that no matter how large or small a piece of tobermorite is, it will respond to loading forces in precisely the same way. But poking it with a sharp point will change its strength.
The Master Builder
http://bit.ly/2vLZMoF

Is graphene harder than diamond?
A team from Rice University have successfully created carbyne, a form of carbon bond that resembles diamond but is 40 times stronger.
New York City High Tech
http://bit.ly/2wELKkS

Houston COPRI Conference in October
The Houston Chapter of the Coasts, Oceans, Ports and Rivers Institute’s (HTX-COPRI) second annual conference will take place Oct. 5 at Rice.
Dredging Today
http://bit.ly/2vj5lI8

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

PC ranked most-segregated college by Princeton Review
Rice’s No. 1 rank for lots of race/class interaction in the Princeton Review’s 2018 edition of “The Best 382 Colleges” is cited. The slideshow that accompanies the MRT article lists all of Rice rankings in the Princeton Review’s new college guide.
Go Local Prov
http://bit.ly/2vAQlHU
Princeton Review releases Best Colleges list, 2018 edition
MRT.com
http://bit.ly/2hGP6Bu

Legal scholars dispute whether monuments are permanent
Douglas Brinkley, professor of history, is quoted.
NM Political Report
http://bit.ly/2uleQFb

Doctor misstated dangers of medical cannabis
An op-ed mentions a study by Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.
The Eagle
http://bit.ly/2ulTjMJ

SPORTS

Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor fight to be shown live at Allianz Stadium college football event
Rice and Stanford will open the 2017 football season Aug. 26 at the Sydney Cup at Allianz Stadium in Sydney.
Fox Sports AU
http://bit.ly/2ulewWX

Highlands’ Wilson learns about a different teamwork
An article mentions a high school athlete who recently attended a Rice academic camp named for Richard Tapia, University Professor, the Maxfield-Oshman Professor in Engineering and a professor of computational and applied mathematics.
Houston Chronicle (This also appeared in My San Antonio.)
http://bit.ly/2wpK6o7

College football legends who shaped Texas programs
Former Rice football player Tommy Kramer is featured in a slideshow.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/2fpcMcT
http://bit.ly/2hGcNKj

Westfield’s Keondre Coburn commits to Longhorns
A Rice commit is mentioned.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/2wpoMPn
http://bit.ly/2wpyaTf

Vikings finally settled at strong safety spot with Sendejo
Former Rice football player Andrew Sendejo is featured. Head football coach David Bailiff is mentioned.
Washington Post (This also appeared in USA Today, FOX Sports, Fairbault County Register, Bismarck Tribune and more than 100 other publications.)  
http://wapo.st/2uC3Y5p
Sendejo survives by doing things right 
Mankato Free Press
http://bit.ly/2vJ7YoV
Sendejo’s consistency has Vikings sold, finally
SC Times
http://on.sctimes.com/2vJga8D
‘A true professional’: Vikings finally settled at strong safety spot with Sendejo
CBS Minnesota
http://cbsloc.al/2vfE2jz
Vikings satisfied with Sendejo at strong safety
Fox Sports
http://foxs.pt/2fpjaAP

Southern Miss men’s basketball unveils 2017-18 schedule
Rice basketball is mentioned.
WTOK
http://bit.ly/2uCUTJu
Southern Miss releases 2017-18 men’s basketball schedule
MS News Now
http://bit.ly/2wEa1aX

Islanders picked to win Southland
Rice volleyball is mentioned.
Corpus Christi Caller-Times
http://bit.ly/2fpvQI5

LSU football countdown Day 26: 2 Tigers have kicked game-winning field goals vs. Texas teams
Rice football is mentioned.
Times-Picayune
http://bit.ly/2vAKJNZ

Roundup: No. 1 WVU women’s soccer tops Michigan in exhibition
Rice soccer is mentioned.
Charleston Gazette-Mail
http://bit.ly/2hFkUXh

Coaches hold and fold when recruiting in Vegas
Rice men’s basketball coach Scott Pera is quoted.
Arkansas Online
http://bit.ly/2ulemyP
NAU’s Murphy, other D-I basketball coaches flock to Vegas recruiting grounds
Daily Courier
http://bit.ly/2vLfrog

Out of the tunnel
Rice football player Peter Godber is mentioned.
RodPedersen.com
http://bit.ly/2hGFSVC