Dateline Rice for Jan. 25, 2018

FEATURED ITEMS

If I knew then …
President David Leebron is featured in a series asking executives, entrepreneurs and business leaders about mistakes that have shaped their philosophy.
Crain’s
http://bit.ly/2ner8gy

Sam McGuffie: Once an NFL hopeful, now an Olympic bobsledder
Former Rice football and track and field athlete Sam McGuffie ’14 was named to the U.S. men’s bobsled team that will compete in the Winter Olympics in South Korea.
New York Times (This Associated Press article appeared in more than 100 media outlets.)
http://nyti.ms/2naisYd

Exhibit explores comic-book curiosities known as microcuentos
“Between Love and Madness,” an exhibition of “micro-cuentos” (small comic books) organized by Christopher Sperandio, associate professor of visual and dramatic arts, in collaboration with Rice students is featured. Jane Grande-Allen, professor of bioengineering, and the Comic Art Teaching and Study Workshop at Rice are mentioned.
Houston Chronicle (This article also appeared in the Beaumont Enterprise and was the cover story on the Preview Houston section in the Jan. 25 print edition of the Chronicle. It was included in a previous edition of Dateline when it was posted online.)
http://bit.ly/2BpF9wR
http://bit.ly/2BqHYh9

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Beads from sub-Saharan Africa upend history of glassmaking
Scholars from Rice, University College London and the Field Museum have found the first direct evidence that glass was produced in sub-Saharan Africa centuries before the arrival of Europeans, a finding that the researchers said represents a “new chapter in the history of glass technology.” Alumnus Abidemi Babatunde Babalola ’14, lead author of the study, is quoted.
Futurity (This article was featured in the Jan. 25 edition of the Futurity Today newsletter, and similar articles appeared in more than 10 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/2nceFKd

These are the hardest colleges to get into in 2018
A slideshow mentions Rice is No. 17 on Niche’s “2018 Hardest Colleges To Get Into in America” list.
Seattle Post-Intelligencer (This article appeared in more than 10 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/2ndTyXE

Report: 50 Cent ‘forgot’ he was paid in bitcoin in 2014. It’s now worth about $8M.
A photo of Bernard “Bun B” Freeman, former distinguished lecturer at Rice, is included in a slideshow accompanying an article on rapper Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson.
San Francisco Chronicle (This article also appeared in more than 10 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/2nbQQSH

Descenso en la producción petrolera carcome lo cimientos de una insolvente Venezuela
Francisco Monaldi, a fellow in Latin American energy policy at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted in an article on Venezuela’s decline in oil production.
Venezuela al Día (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/2ncNGy5

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Turner proposes stricter development rules to boost flood control in Houston
Jim Blackburn, a professor in the practice of environmental law and the co-director of Rice’s Severe Storm Prediction, Education and Evacuation from Disasters Center, is quoted in an article on Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner proposing higher elevation requirements for new building.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required. This article also appeared in the Laredo Morning Times, and it appeared on the front page of the Jan. 25 print edition of the Chronicle with a different headline, “Flood control steps floated.”)
http://bit.ly/2nclmM3
http://bit.ly/2n7zaaO

Adele Hedges, former chief justice of 14th Court of Appeals, dies at 70
Alumna Adele Hedges ’71, who spent a decade as chief justice of the 14th Court of Appeals in Houston, died Jan. 24. She was 70.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required. This article also appeared in the San Antonio Express-News, and it appeared in the Jan. 25 print edition of the Chronicle with a different headline, “Retired chief justice an ‘ethical compass.’ ”)
http://bit.ly/2ndLk1I
http://bit.ly/2nbydOR

Retail Wrap: Ashley HomeStore opens 3 stores
A roundup of retail news mentions Rice Athletics will open a store in Rice Village in February to sell Rice-branded merchandise.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required.)
http://bit.ly/2na19GO
http://bit.ly/2na1Wrg

A home library built for 10,000 (or so) books
An article on Austinites Ted and Melba Whatley’s home library mentions it was designed by Carlos Jimenez, professor of architecture.
Texas Monthly
http://bit.ly/2nbMon3

‘Religion vs. Science: What Religious People Really Think’
The official Jan. 30 release of “Religion vs. Science: What Religious People Really Think,” a book co-authored by Elaine Howard Ecklund, founding director of the Religion and Public Life Program and the Herbert S. Autrey Chair in Social Sciences, will be held at Rice’s Fondren Library.
TMC News
http://bit.ly/2n9MF9U

Reading series announces spring lineup of authors
Lacy Johnson, assistant professor of creative writing, opened the University of Houston-Victoria/American Book Review Reading Series Jan. 25.
University of Houston at Victoria Newsroom
http://bit.ly/2nb6ayV

Here’s this year’s Majestic Court at Deer Park High
An article mentions a student plans to attend Rice.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required. This article also appeared in the San Antonio Express-News.)
http://bit.ly/2nc9CJH
http://bit.ly/2nez1ma

Cambia dinámica de los cruces ilegales
Tony Payan, the Françoise and Edward Djerejian Fellow for Mexico Studies at the Baker Institute and director of the institute’s Mexico Center, is quoted in an article on a decline in illegal border crossings into the El Paso sector by Mexicans.
El Diario de El Paso (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/2ndi0IN

BROADCAST

KRLD-AM (Dallas)
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, discusses the state of national politics amid immigration reform negotiations.
http://bit.ly/2nexbSi (Click the audio button to listen to the broadcast.)

‘Artificial intelligence, like every techonolgy, comes with benefits and risks’ — expert
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, discusses the pros and cons of artificial intelligence.
Radio Sputnik
http://bit.ly/2nfCFfB

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Average GMAT scores at the top 50 business schools
An article mentions Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business had the biggest average GMAT score gains in the country over the last five years.
Poets and Quants
http://bit.ly/2nc8k1j

Endowments rebound, but is it enough?
An article on college and university endowment returns mentions Rice.
Inside Higher Ed
http://bit.ly/2n9F0IT

Scientists develop method to test fluorescent biosensors before they’re synthesized
Rice scientists have effectively quenched a debate over the mechanism behind a fluorescent biosensor that monitors neurons by sensing changes in voltage.
Peter Rossky, the Harry C. and Olga K. Wiess Chair in Natural Sciences, a professor of chemistry and dean of the Wiess School of Natural Sciences, and postdoctoral researcher Lena Simine are quoted. José Onuchic, the Harry C. and Olga K. Wiess Chair of Physics, a professor of physics and astronomy, of chemistry and of biosciences, is mentioned.
Phys.org
http://bit.ly/2nasloU

How the once-struggling Pittsburgh is reinventing itself as an innovation hub
An article mentions AlphaLab was ranked the sixth-best startup accelerator in 2014 by researchers at Rice and other universities.
Next City
http://bit.ly/2nddgCZ

Getting Radeon Vega everywhere: An exclusive media interview at AMD Tech Day with CEO Dr. Lisa Su
An article mentions Rebecca Richards-Kortum, the Malcolm Gillis University Professor, professor of bioengineering and of electrical and computer engineering and director of the Rice 360° Institute for Global Health, was featured in Fortune’s Top 50 World Leaders.
AnandTech (This article also appeared in Tera News.)
http://bit.ly/2nbIPwW

DTN names Jerre Stead and Sheryl von Blucher as co-CEOs
Alumna Sheryl von Blucher ’84 is featured.
New York Business Journal (This article also appeared in more than 40 media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/2nbMmeU

Calculating the ROI of diabetes care improvement
Collaboration between Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business and Texas Children’s Hospital is mentioned.
Health Catalyst
http://bit.ly/2ncSCD1

Vanadium price reached 8-year high today
Alumnus John Lee ’95, chairman of Prophecy Development Corp., authored an article on vanadium.
ValueWalk
http://bit.ly/2naUPio

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Dr. Jeffrey Kripal explores the erotic in the mystical and religious
Jeffrey Kripal, the J. Newton Rayzor Professor of Religion, discusses his book “Secret Body.”
Skeptiko
http://bit.ly/2naIKcR

Heparan sulfate biomaterials retain structure and function after gamma irradiation
Antonios Mikos, the Louis Calder Professor of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, is quoted.
AlphaGalileo
http://bit.ly/2nc01mh

Engineering his steps
An article mentions that Anthony Vysniauskas taught at Rice.
Western News
http://bit.ly/2ndkiaR

SPORTS

Former Rice offensive tackle Calvin Anderson gets top offers
Rice football players Calvin Anderson and Preston Gordon, who plan to transfer for their final season of athletic eligibility after graduating in May, are featured. Rice head coach Mike Bloomgren, offensive line coach Joe Ashfield and player Graysen Schantz are mentioned.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required. This article appeared in the Jan. 25 print edition with a different headline, “Linemen Gordon, Anderson leaving as grad transfers,” and was included in a previous edition of Dateline when it was posted online.)
http://bit.ly/2BqtjCD
http://bit.ly/2Bq6BdP

Alumni notebook: Former Lady Highlander Iademarco finds success at Rice
Rice women’s basketball player Nicole Iademarco is featured.
Houston Chronicle (This article also appeared in the Courier of Montgomery County.)
http://bit.ly/2nf0OD1

2018 college baseball preseason Top 25 capsules: No. 9 Stanford
An article on the Stanford University baseball team mentions it faces Rice this season.
Baseball America
http://bit.ly/2n7ZB02

ODU baseball picked to finish 4th in C-USA; Pasquantino, Battle named all-conference
An article on the Old Dominion University baseball team mentions Rice is one of four teams in Conference USA to have multiple players on the preseason all-conference team.
WTKR.com
http://bit.ly/2nax9uq

Lady Raiders look to build on historic 2017 season
An article on the Texas Tech University women’s tennis team mentions it will face Rice March 3.
Daily Torreador
http://bit.ly/2n9FCyb

NEWS RELEASES

Proteins’ fluorescence a little less mysterious
Rice scientists have effectively quenched a debate over the mechanism behind a fluorescent biosensor that monitors neurons by sensing changes in voltage.
The work led by Rice theoretical chemist Peter Rossky and postdoctoral researcher Lena Simine confirmed through computer simulations their theory that a mechanical process controls the quenching of fluorescence in ArcLight, a synthetic voltage indicator placed within proteins that line the inner membranes of neurons.
http://bit.ly/2DGCK6Y

What people of faith think about science is focus of Rice U. talk Jan. 30
What do people of faith really think about science? Rice’s Religion and Public Life Program will explore this question and more as it celebrates the release of “Religion vs. Science: What Religious People Really Think.” Co-authors and sociologists Elaine Howard Ecklund and Christopher Scheitle will speak. The event will be Jan. 30 at 7 p.m. in Fondren Library’s Kyle Morrow Room; it is free and open to the public.
http://bit.ly/2neY4pd

Baker Institute expert: The embargo of Qatar will likely fail
The decision by Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to embargo Qatar over its alleged support of terrorism was risky and without a clear endgame, according to a new issue brief by Gabriel Collins, the Baker Botts Fellow in Energy and Environmental Regulatory Affairs at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.
http://bit.ly/2n85B94