Dateline Rice for Aug. 16, 2018

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Meet the man with a radical plan for blockchain voting
Using blockchain technology to create a governmentally decentralized voting system is not “suitable for use in real-world municipal elections,” according to 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.
WIRED
http://bit.ly/2vOmwCG

Models give synthetic biologists a head start
Rice research that developed the tools to build complex, computer-like DNA circuits that sense or trigger activities in cells is featured in the Aug. 16 edition of the National Science Foundation’s Science360 newsletter. An article from Bioengineer quotes co-author Matthew Bennett, associate professor of biochemistry and cell biology, and mentions co-authors graduate student David Zong and postdoctoral research associate David Shis. The included illustration credits Zong.
National Science Foundation
http://bit.ly/2nIIDpP
Models give synthetic biologists a head start
Bioengineer
http://bit.ly/2vQg4uX

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Developing a new Houston that can handle flood waters: Q&A with Jim Blackburn
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 featured in a Q&A about how Houston has recovered from Hurricane Harvey one year after landfall, and how Houston plans to prepare for future flooding events.
Realty News Report
http://bit.ly/2MpQdDP

The battle for Houston
An article mentions that experts from the Rice Design Alliance have challenged the traditional growth and expansion model of Houston by calling for the creation of a denser city and an enhanced role for public transit.
City Journal
http://bit.ly/2vOPORT

Texas A&M University is ranked No. 1 in Texas among public universities
An article from Katy News mentions that Money magazine’s ranking of the top 25 universities in the country features Rice at No. 13, which is the highest-ranking university in Texas. Rice’s residential colleges are featured among the 24 best college dorms in the U.S., according to Coed. CBS Chicago Online mentions that Rice is ranked No. 70 in the world based on the 2018 Academic Ranking of World Universities, compiled by consultancy ShanghaiRanking.
The Katy News
http://bit.ly/2KTtvix
The best college dorms in America 2018
Coed
http://bit.ly/2vPyLPA
Academic rankings of world universities: University of Chicago ranks 10th globally
CBS Chicago Online
https://cbsloc.al/2MsJZTz

Why the world needs big cats
Alumna Lucrecia Aguilar ’18 authored an op-ed on the importance of the survival of big cats.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required.)
http://bit.ly/2vJtjhc

Local students attend Tapia Say STEM Camp
An article features “Say STEM” summer camps for 10th- through 12th-graders presented by Rice’s Tapia Center for Excellence and Equity. The center is named for Richard Tapia, University Professor, the Maxfield-Oshman Professor in Engineering and a professor of computational and applied mathematics.
The Katy Times (Subscription is required.)
http://bit.ly/2MutaHY

Texas colleges that leave students with the most debts
An article about student debt among Texas college graduates mentions Rice and pictures Lovett Hall in a slideshow.
My Plainview
http://bit.ly/2L0Mckl

BROADCAST

Houston says Southwest key facilities ‘unsafe,’ school district letter grades roll out, and more
A roundup of top stories from the day features a report from Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy recommending that developments west of Houston find ways to keep downstream flooding from increasing.
Houston Public Media
http://bit.ly/2KUKReZ (Scroll down to “Report details a path forward for flood control.”)

‘Eyewitness News at 6 p.m.’
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.
KSEN-TV (San Antonio)
http://bit.ly/2Mtsx1o (Click the video button to watch the broadcast.)

‘Houston Life’
A broadcast mentions that 100 percent of the profits from Donne di Domani pasta sauce are donated, which has included donations to Rice.
KPRC-TV (Houston)
http://bit.ly/2vLAVQi (Click the video button to watch the broadcast.)

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Magnetic nanoparticles 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. Sibani Lisa Biswal, an associate professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering and of materials science and nanoengineering, and former postdoctoral researcher Qing Wang are quoted. Parallel States includes a video of the oil-water separation process.
Nanowerk (This article also appeared in more than 10 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/2MASdt3
Nanoparticle-based solution pulls last drops of oil from well water
Parallel State
http://bit.ly/2Biztd6

2018 MarCom Awards Spotlight: Rice University
“Unconventional Students at Rice University,” Rice’s entries for the MarCom Awards recognizing excellence in the distillation of ideas, messages and media by marketing and communication professionals, are featured. The first video highlights alumnus Martin Rather ’18, and features Rice head basketball coach Scott Pera; the second video features alumna Varsha Sathappan with an appearance by University Representative Y. Ping Sun.
AMCP Blog
http://bit.ly/2vN1HHY

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.
Albany Business Review (Subscription is required. A similar version also appeared in Morning News Beast.)
http://bit.ly/2Bi0MnY

Feds auction off Gulf oil leases for $178M
Michael Maher, senior program adviser for the Center for Energy Studies at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted in an article about the recent lackluster sale of offshore drilling leases offered by the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
Courthouse News Service
http://bit.ly/2MwHz6g

The widespread effort to solve the global water crisis
Rice research by Qilin Li, professor of civil and environmental engineering and of materials science and nanoengineering, is featured among a roundup of university efforts to alleviate the global water crisis. The research developed a treatment system that can be tuned to selectively pull toxins from drinking water and wastewater, cleaning and restoring it to its original capacity for reuse. Li is quoted and the research diagram is attributed to postdoctoral researcher Kuichang Zuo.
The University Network 
http://bit.ly/2Mr8Yqi

Healthline and NORD announce recipients of 2018 Stronger Scholarships
An article mentions that Martel College senior Sanika Rane was awarded the 2018 Healthline and National Organization for Rare Disorders Stronger Scholarship. The program’s goal is to create a stronger, healthier world by assisting and empowering college students who are making a positive impact on rare and/or chronic diseases.
NORD
http://bit.ly/2Bb7NHb

ODSC is coming to India!
Alumnus Alex Amari ’18 authored an article.
Open Data Science 
http://bit.ly/2MuG0pD

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, forcing residents to search for cheaper housing farther from work.
Energy Central
http://bit.ly/2KXKal4

New president for Eagle Materials
Alumnus Michael Haack ’04 is featured.
Global Cement
http://bit.ly/2vPxw2O

The itch to pitch — Pittsburgh-area businesses participate in business plan competitions, but it’s not necessarily easy money
The Rice Business Plan Competition at the Jones Graduate School of Business is mentioned.
Pittsburgh Business Times (Subscription is required.)
http://bit.ly/2vQVvOY

Buzz Aldrin: Life and career of one of the first men who walked on the moon
President John F. Kennedy’s “Moon Speech” given at Rice Sept. 12, 1962, is mentioned.
Interesting Engineering
http://bit.ly/2L12cTC

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Conroe Symphony Orchestra to present ‘Opening Night with David Kim, Violin’ Saturday, Sept. 8
Alumnus Jacob Sustaita ’08 is featured.
The Paper Magazine
http://bit.ly/2Mte6ue

Fiducia e fede tra i vigili del fuoco e in altre professioni rischiose
An article cites research from co-author Erik Dane, assistant professor of management at Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business, which suggests that critical, trust-related judgments are initiated and perpetuated through two sets of dynamics: supporting and sustaining. 
Rivista SRM (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/2MtGH2w

SPORTS

UH rivalries you should know about
An article mentions that the Bayou Bucket, a football game between Rice and the University of Houston, will be played Sept. 1 at Rice Stadium.
The Daily Cougar
http://bit.ly/2L3pYOQ
A year after switch from receiver, senior finds his swagger
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required.) 
http://bit.ly/2L3GePS

C-USA coaches pick Herd 11th in women’s soccer
An article about Conference USA women’s soccer preseason poll mentions that Rice was voted as the favorite by the league’s 14 head coaches. Players Maya Hoyer, who was the 2017 C-USA Goalkeeper of the Year, and Annie Walker were also named to the C-USA preseason team.
Huntington Herald Dispatch
http://bit.ly/2BgxlCz

Not yet ready to daydream about the NFL, Ed Oliver focuses on wreaking havoc for Houston
Former Rice head coach David Bailiff is quoted.
CBS Sports 
http://bit.ly/2MsNfhM

Get to know the Post Oak players before the Little League World Series
Former Rice baseball player Mark Quinn is the hitting coach for Houston’s Post Oak Little League all-stars, who have qualified for the Little League World Series. Quinn is quoted.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required.)
http://bit.ly/2vIVCMD

2018 high school football preview: District 15-6A
An article mentions Rice assistant football coach Drew Svoboda.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required.)
http://bit.ly/2KXcxQm

Ball security key to quarterback competition
Former Rice football player Calvin Anderson is mentioned in three articles.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required.)
http://bit.ly/2KXHML8
Texas QB battle between Ehlinger, Buechele heating up
San Antonio Express-News (Subscription is required.)
http://bit.ly/2Bd4oHM
Anderson working hard to provide expected boost to Texas O-line
247Sports.com
http://bit.ly/2vNoq6F

Kickers Tavecchio, Rose audition for team
Former Rice football player and current Houston Texans player Christian Covington is featured.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required.)
http://bit.ly/2L2S4cK (Scroll down to “Ex-Rice standout makes full recovery.”)

Veteran imports in Governors Cup
An article mentions former Rice basketball player Mike Harris ’05.
Times of News (This article also appeared in the Philippine Star.)
http://bit.ly/2BsQHF1

After losing 5 starters to graduation, UND volleyball enters new league with a new look
An article mentions that Rice women’s volleyball will play the University of North Dakota on Aug. 24.
Jamestown Sun (This article also appeared in Dickinson Press, Budgeteer News and Inforum Online.)
http://bit.ly/2Mq4CQn

Roundtable: Most important game of the season
Rice is mentioned.
The Daily Cougar
http://bit.ly/2Bnyp7I

Part 3: Martin looks at LSU
Rice is mentioned.
The Franklin Sun
http://bit.ly/2Bh5LFr

Who has the real Death Valley? LSU, Clemson to ‘settle’ the issue with 2025-26 series
An article mentions that Louisiana State University will play Rice Nov. 17.
The Advocate (This article also appeared in 10 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/2Mu4zCR

B/R’s updated top 50 MLB prospect rankings
Former Rice baseball player Jon Duplantier is featured.
Bleacher Report
http://bit.ly/2vQDYX8 (Scroll down to “39. RHP Jon Duplantier, Arizona Diamondbacks.”)

2019 Shriner’s College Classic schedule released; TCU to play Texas A&M, Houston and Rice
An article mentions that Rice baseball will compete in the Shriner’s College Classic baseball tournament March 1, 2019.
SB Nation
http://bit.ly/2MxgWOH

NEWS RELEASES

ShareBackup could keep data in the fast lane
Anyone who has ever cursed a computer network as it slowed to a crawl will appreciate the remedy offered by Rice computer scientist Eugene Ng and his team who say their solution will keep data on the fast track when failures inevitably happen. Ng introduced ShareBackup, a strategy that would allow shared backup switches in data centers to take on network traffic within a fraction of a second after a software or hardware switch failure.
http://bit.ly/2KZxCd0

‘Houston a Year After Harvey’ is topic at Rice’s Baker Institute Aug. 30
One year after the devastation from Hurricane Harvey, experts will gather at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy Aug. 30 to examine the ongoing challenges of flooding in Houston and possible policy solutions. The event, hosted by the Baker Institute and the Bayou City Initiative, is free and open to the public but registration is required.
http://bit.ly/2KZ77nH