Dateline Rice for Aug. 15, 2018

FEATURED ITEMS

Blue Cross enacts controversial ER policy in Texas
Vivian Ho, the James A. Baker III Institute Chair in Health Economics at Rice’s Baker Institute’s Center for Health and Biosciences, is interviewed on a segment of “Here & Now” about Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas’ decision to no longer cover non-emergency visits to free-standing emergency rooms.
WBUR (This segment aired on 554 NPR affiliated stations.)
https://wbur.fm/2vIFiv5

Here are the 50 smartest colleges in America
Several articles about recent university rankings feature Rice. Business Insider, which analyzed data from schools’ average standardized test scores to determine the country’s smartest school, ranked Rice No. 10 in the U.S. An article from Architecture Daily that lists architecture programs from Money magazine’s ranking of the top 25 universities in the country features Rice at No. 13. An article from CW33 mentions that Rice has the best dorms in Texas and is No. 7 in the nation according to Niche.com, and an article from GCU Today about Niche’s “Best College Campuses” list, which examined 1,411 schools, based on campus resources such as classrooms, labs, performance venues, housing and food and recreational facilities, mentions that Rice is ranked No. 10 in the U.S.
Business Insider (This article also appeared on ATT.net.)
https://read.bi/2vLADIT 
Which of the 25 best ranked colleges in the US have architecture programs?
ArchDaily (This article also appeared in Seriously Architecture.)
http://bit.ly/2vMCblX
UT Dallas students move into their dorms
CW33
http://bit.ly/2MqX3ce
GCU rises to 7th on best college campuses list
GCU Today
http://bit.ly/2KPC4Lf

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Jón Gnarr er rödd Oks í nýrri heimildarmynd
An article features a new documentary film produced by Rice anthropologists about what was one of the smallest glaciers in Iceland. The film’s title, “Not Ok,” refers to the nickname for Okjökull, which in 2014 became the first of Iceland’s glaciers to lose its “glacier” title. Co-directors Dominic Boyer, professor of anthropology in Rice’s School of Social Sciences and director of the Center for Energy and Environmental Research in the Human Sciences at Rice, and Cymene Howe, associate professor of anthropology, are quoted and pictured.
Frettbladid (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/2vIkX9y

Economists warn on dominance of US corporate giants
An article highlighting the disparity between corporate growth and wage increases quotes Gustavo Grullon, the Jesse H. Jones Chair of Finance at Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business.
Financial Times (Subscription is required.)
https://on.ft.com/2nDBQNX

Businesses fear blowback from Russia sanctions bill
A package of new sanctions against Russia proposed by the U.S., which may affect financial and energy companies in the U.S. and Europe, will likely cut much deeper than previous sanctions and “even gets personal,” according to Gabriel Collins, the Baker Botts Fellow in Energy and Environmental Regulatory Affairs at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.
The Hill
http://bit.ly/2vN3EUx

States want millennials to ‘go west, young man’
As some cities make plans to keep or attract more millennials, adding amenities such as bike lanes will likely benefit all residents. Kyle Shelton, director of strategic partnerships at Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, is quoted.
U.S. News & World Report
http://bit.ly/2Oxwkbd

Math cuts trial and error in building biological circuits
Synthetic biologists have the tools to build complex, computer-like DNA circuits that sense or trigger activities in cells, and scientists at Rice and the University of Houston have developed models that can predict the output of custom-built genetic circuits that, for example, can be prompted to start or stop the production of proteins. Matthew Bennett, associate professor of biochemistry and cell biology, is quoted.
Futurity (This article also appeared in TuniseSoir News, Nanowerk, Phys.org and Science Daily.)
http://bit.ly/2Mn5lll

A superconductor story with a twist
Rice research that determined tiny distortions in the atomic structure of the crystal lattice compound of sodium, iron, nickel and arsenic is featured “University Research” on the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science homepage.
U.S. Department of Energy 
http://bit.ly/2ztpZHg

Venezuela braces for ‘gasolinazo’
Francisco J. Monaldi, fellow in Latin American energy policy at the Center for Energy Studies, the Mexico Center and the Latin America Initiative at the Baker Institute for Public Policy and a lecturer in energy economics at Rice, is quoted in an article about how Venezuelans will soon begin to pay international prices for gasoline as the government removes a decades-old subsidy program to tackle smuggling.
BN Americas
http://bit.ly/2OD9uPE

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Station Houston appoints new CEO
Houston is considered one of the top 30 cities in the nation for new venture capital deals, due in large part to Station Houston. Ed Egan, fellow at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and director of the institute’s McNair Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, is quoted in a Houston Chronicle article, and a second article mentions that Station Houston worked to negotiate the details of the innovation district being developed by Rice and other Houston agencies around the historic Midtown Sears building.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required.)
http://bit.ly/2vJpics
Station Houston taps Gabriella Rowe as new CEO to grow tech startups
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required. This article also appeared in the San Antonio Express-News.) 
http://bit.ly/2OAARJM
Gabriella Rowe, former head of The Village School, named new Station Houston CEO
Houston Business Journal (Subscription is required.)
http://bit.ly/2Bfv8HO

‘Seeing Harvey’ shows how Texas and its people were changed by the storm
FotoFest International, in collaboration with Rice’s Severe Storm Prediction, Education, and Evacuation from Disasters Center and other Houston institutions, will present “Seeing Harvey: Personal Stories, Public Responses” and several public programs to encourage discussion on how the region collectively dealt with the events.
Houston Press
http://bit.ly/2MtTIJ6

Commissioner Ellis and civic leaders announce nonpartisan campaign using billboards to encourage voter registration
An article about a campaign to encourage voter participation cites a 2018 study of Greater Houston’s civic health by Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research that determined that, at minimum, 1 in 5 voting-age citizens are unregistered in Harris County.
Houston Style Magazine
http://bit.ly/2vLDema

Day 7 flood bond EV totals
Bob Stein, the Lena Gohlman Fox Professor of Political Science at Rice, is quoted in an article about support for the Aug. 25 vote on Proposition A, a bond measure that would address flood-mitigation efforts in Harris County.
Off the Kuff
http://bit.ly/2MpVivL

Flood bond is a first step in process
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 and pictured in an article about Proposition A, a $2.5 billion bond measure that would fund flood-mitigation projects along all 23 watersheds in Harris County.
Houston Chronicle’s Cypress Creek Mirror-Champions/Klein (Subscription is required. Similar versions of this article also appeared in the Chronicle’s Spring Observer and Tomball Potpourri, and it appeared in a previous edition of Dateline when the Chronicle first posted it online.)
http://bit.ly/2Mtu47r

Friendswood City Council reconsiders flood map decision
An article about the Friendswood City Council’s decision to use updated flood maps for new developments mentions that the council has hired a Rice research team to conduct a flood study to provide data to the city’s drainage subcommittee.
Community Impact Newspaper
http://bit.ly/2vKx45G

The best cheap eats near Houston’s colleges and universities
An article features the best cheap eats for Rice students. A photo of Rice is included in the slideshow (image 9).
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required.)
http://bit.ly/2MupBBt
http://bit.ly/2Mxc38a

Hope Stone delivers ‘coolest news’ in good form
An article reviews the Hope Stone Dance Company’s performance of “Coolest News on Planet Earth, Chapter 2,” a site-specific dance around the art installation “Crêpe Paper Carpet” at Rice’s Moody Center for the Arts.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required.)
http://bit.ly/2vIGRcA

Texas colleges that leave students with the most debt
An article about student debt among Texas college graduates mentions Rice.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required.)
http://bit.ly/2Mr4D6r
http://bit.ly/2Mo1OTR

Science day for the blind features experiments
A science day sponsored by researchers from the Rice-based Nanotechnology Enabled Water Treatment Center for blind and visually impaired clients of the Lighthouse of Houston allowed participants to learn about spacesuit design, environmental elements and more. Rice graduate student Amit Jain is pictured and graduate student Tanya Rogers is mentioned.
Houston Chronicle’s Bellaire Examiner (Subscription is required. A similar version of this article also appeared in the Chronicle’s Memorial Examiner and a previous edition of Dateline when the Chronicle first posted it online.)
http://bit.ly/2MnDwt9

BROADCAST

Cruz versus O’Rourke: Where are campaign contributions coming from?
An article and television broadcast about the source of campaign contributions to U.S. Senate candidate Rep. Beto O’Rourke, D-Texas, mentions Rice and pictures Lovett Hall.
KHOU Online
http://bit.ly/2vI8zGe

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

2U will add 3 new online MBAs in 2019
An article mentions that 2U Inc.’s partnership with Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business and the new MBA@Rice online program.
Poets & Quants
http://bit.ly/2MtXWkb

California’s solar mandate makes housing in the Golden State even more expensive
Ted Temzelides, professor of economics, is cited in an article about how California’s solar energy mandate may increase emissions by making homes more expensive and forcing residents to search for cheaper housing farther from work.
InsideSources
http://bit.ly/2BdEunl

Nanophotonics market: Rising adoption of innovative technologies to spur market size
A blog post mentions that a team of researchers at Rice continues to develop nanophotonic desalination technology, which uses nanoparticles and solar energy to treat water.
Zion Market Research Blog
http://bit.ly/2KUpkCQ

W&T Offshore CFO J. Daniel Gibbons retires
An article featuring Janet Yang mentions she attended Rice.
E&P
http://bit.ly/2MrsbYN

New explanation for water’s circular jump
Doug Natelson, professor of physics and astronomy, of electrical and computer engineering and of materials science and nanoengineering and department chair of physics and astronomy, is quoted.
Chemistry World
http://bit.ly/2KWLyVb

What Israel can teach Texas about pre-K
An article cites the 2018 Kinder Houston Area Survey conducted by Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research.
eJewishPhilanthropy
http://bit.ly/2vKM1EQ

Crypto technology is ‘really immature,’ its ecosystem ‘struggling’ with capital, blockchain investor says
Alumna Meltem Demirors ’09 is quoted in an article about cryptocurrencies.
CryptoGlobe
http://bit.ly/2Bk3lWq

Eagle Materials elevates COO Haack to No. 2 post
Alumnus Michael Haack ’04 is featured.
Concrete Products
http://bit.ly/2MsufzN

Ballet Hispánico School of Dance 2018-19 school year class registration now open
An article mentions that Michelle Manzanales formerly taught at Rice.
Broadway World
http://bit.ly/2Muu07t

Rising Above the Fray series
Alumnus Brian Lidsky ’89 authored a blog post about mergers and acquisitions in the oil and gas industry.
Drilling Info Blog
http://bit.ly/2vMFKIR

Recursos educativos abiertos (REA) gratis para todos
A roundup of open educational resources mentions Rice.
Otras Voces en Educacion (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/2MpgB0l

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Bouncing between Baroque and Modernism: The architectural transformations and contaminations of Ana Maria Tavares.
A Q&A featuring artist Ana Maria Tavares mentions she received the 2014 Lynette S. Autrey Visiting Scholars research grant from Rice’s Humanities Research Center.
NewCity Brazil  
http://bit.ly/2vSoVMX

Xcel’s Colorado Energy Plan a raw deal for ratepayers
Charles Griffey, adjunct professor of management at Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business, is quoted.
The Complete Colorado
http://bit.ly/2Mxm9G6

6 earn Mayor’s Youth Commission scholarships
An article mentions that Rice freshman Sean Smith received the Mayor’s Youth Commission scholarship from the Kenosha Brick Memorial Program in Wisconsin.
Kenosha News
http://bit.ly/2BdIxA3

Successful 2018 Surf and Sounds Chamber Music Series
An article features alumnus Jacob Fowler ’09 and alumna Amanda Halstead ’98, who will perform in the 2018 Surf and Sounds Chamber Music Series in North Carolina’s Outer Banks.
Common Good
http://bit.ly/2MnrRup

Back to the moon, and beyond
President John F. Kennedy’s “Moon Speech” given at Rice Sept. 12, 1962, is mentioned.
GOP USA (This article originally appeared in the Washington Times.)
http://bit.ly/2KU310g

Summer graduates walk at Lamar this weekend
An article mentions that Anthony George completed Rice’s Corporate Financial Management Executive Education course.
12 News Now (This article also appeared on KBMT Online.)
http://bit.ly/2vLtyIj

MIT scientist surprised by the voice of God
Alumnus Troy Van Voorhis ’97 is featured and pictured.
God Reports
http://bit.ly/2BlQkvU

SPORTS

Tight ends play critical role in new Rice offense
An article featuring Rice football quotes tight ends coach Bill Best and player Jaeger Bull, mentions head coach Mike Bloomgren and mentions and pictures player Jordan Myers.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required. This article also appeared in the Aug. 15 print edition with a different headline, “Tight ends play vital role in new offense.”)
http://bit.ly/2KWPsgN

Baseball: Pearland’s Anthony Scalise hired as Rice assistant
An article featuring Anthony Scalise mentions that he will be Rice baseball’s new voluntary assistant coach. Head coach Matt Bragga is mentioned.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required.)
http://bit.ly/2KVwBCs
http://bit.ly/2MJAtIy

NuDu TV comes to Fort Bend County offering local programming
An article about Fort Bend County’s only independent television station mentions that it is negotiating with Rice to air college basketball, volleyball and baseball games beginning this fall.
Fort Bend Star
http://bit.ly/2MtEHHt

Houston Dynamo Academy announces 2018-2019 coaching staff
An article mentions that former Rice women’s assistant soccer coach Brenton Saylor has joined the Houston Dynamo Academy as an assistant coach.
Soccerwire.com
http://bit.ly/2vMcXnY

Minnesota Lynx sign guard Sydney Colson
Former Rice women’s basketball assistant coach Sydney Colson is featured and pictured.
Minneapolis Star Tribune (Subscription is required.)
http://strib.mn/2Bbw3Zy
Lynx sign guard Sydney Colson for rest of season
Fox Sports
https://foxs.pt/2vMdtCq
Minnesota Lynx sign guard Sydney Colson
WNBA News
https://on.nba.com/2vStJBZ

18 days until Kansas football: Coaching candidates, part 2 — up and comers
Former Rice assistant football coach Major Applewhite is mentioned.
SB Nation
http://bit.ly/2vN2fxl

Texas Tech football: 5 new faces to know for 2018
Former Rice football player Preston Gordon is featured.
Fansided
http://bit.ly/2vLuIn9

Women’s DI conference previews: Part 2
An article about NCAA Division 1 women’s soccer mentions that Rice won the 2017 Conference USA title with a 9-0-1 record. Players Maya Hoyer and Annie Walker are mentioned as “Players to Know” for the 2018 season.
Top Drawer Soccer
http://bit.ly/2MprqQc

Celebrities expected to be at James Harden’s JH-Town Weekend
A slideshow of Houston Rockets star James Harden’s 2017 JH-Town Weekend charity basketball game mentions it was played at Rice’s Tudor Fieldhouse (images 22-64).
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required.)
http://bit.ly/2vMhve5

Another Izzo looking to make a name for himself with Patriots
Former Rice football player Larry Izzo is featured.
The Patriot Ledger (This article also appeared in The Herald News.)
http://bit.ly/2MudUKY

NEWS RELEASES

Particles pull last drops of oil from well water
Oil and water tend to separate, but they mix well enough to form stable oil-in-water emulsions in produced water from oil reservoirs to become a problem. Rice scientists have developed a nanoparticle-based solution that reliably removes more than 99 percent of the emulsified oil that remains after other processing is done.
http://bit.ly/2Ms6acB

Rice professor is Texas architecture educator of the year
Nonya Grenader, a professor in the practice in the Rice School of Architecture, has been named the year’s top educator in the annual Texas Society of Architects Honor Awards. Grenader won the Edward J. Romieniec Award, the highest honor given to an architecture educator in Texas. The award committee cited Grenader’s knowledge of architecture and art and noted that “she is genuinely interested in each student’s interpretations.”
http://bit.ly/2MoJUjI

Harvey Memories Project to co-host events highlighting storm stories
Nearly a year ago, the Houston area endured the devastation of Hurricane Harvey. The Harvey Memories Project (HMP) will co-host events on Aug. 17 and Aug. 26 that focus on experiences of the storm to bring the community together for storytelling and reflection. The HMP is a community-driven digital memory bank that collects stories, images, video and audio documenting the human impact of Harvey.
http://bit.ly/2vMcm5w

Baker Institute report examines Kuwait’s fragile pluralism and inclusion post-Arab Spring
A new report from Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy draws attention to the countervailing dynamics of pluralism and inclusion in Kuwait since the onset of the Arab Spring protests in 2010. The country’s experience in particular demonstrates the fragile nature of fundamental political rights and inclusive policies in the Arab Gulf region, said A.Kadir Yildirim, fellow for the Middle East at the Baker Institute, who edited the report, “Pluralism and Inclusion in Post-2011 Kuwait.”
http://bit.ly/2MRlIUi