Dateline Rice for Aug. 22, 2018

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Wasps, oak trees and a creepy vine are involved in a parasitic Florida love triangle
Two articles feature Rice research that reported the first-known example of a parasitic love vine tangling with a gall wasp that parasitizes a shared host plant. The Scientist highlights the findings as its “Image of the Day,” which attributes photo credits to study co-authors Scott Egan, assistant professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, and graduate student Mattheau Comerford. Egan and Comerford discuss their research and its importance in a Rice video included in the Miami Herald article.
Popular Science (Similar articles also appeared in MSN, ScienceBlog.com, Wichita Eagle, From Press, New Atlas, 1 Fort Lauderdale, Chromatography Techniques
and Laboratory Equipment.)
http://bit.ly/2OVlgom
This parasitic ‘love vine’ is sucking the life out of freeloading wasps
Science
http://bit.ly/2MFcUE7
‘Freaky’ vines slowly wrap around wasps and turn them into mummies, scientists say
Miami Herald (This article also appeared in more than 25 other media outlets.)
https://hrld.us/2P2p1bZ
‘Image of the Day’: All-out war
The Scientist
http://bit.ly/2MFmlDz

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Israel comes to Houston, seeking partners to develop gas reserves
Jim Krane, the Wallace S. Wilson Fellow for Energy Studies at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted in an article about the challenges facing Israel’s endeavor to attract energy partners from Houston.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required.)
http://bit.ly/2BBkKu9

Trump unveils major rollback of Obama’s Clean Power Plan
The Trump administration’s rollback of energy regulations to give states broad authority in determining how to regulate pollution from coal-fired power plants is unlikely to revive Texas’s coal plants, according to Daniel Cohan, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering.
Texas Tribune (This article also appeared in The Rivard Report, Your Basin and The Eagle.)
http://bit.ly/2P0CAbV

Baylor leads collaborative effort to recruit surgeon-scientists
A collaborative effort between Baylor College of Medicine, Rice, the Texas Medical Center Innovation Institute and the University of Houston has culminated in the T32 Research Training Program in Cardiovascular Surgery, which aims to provide a structured research training experience to develop an essential team of translational cardiac surgery researchers.
Baylor College of Medicine News
http://bit.ly/2MCHxdp

The Redneck Country Club hosts 2-day ‘Hire Veterans Job Fair’
Rice is mentioned.
KTRK Online (This article also appeared in Houston Style Magazine.)
https://abc13.co/2BAtfWj

Rice’s Baker Institute to convene ‘Houston Stronger: A Path to A More Equitable City’ Aug. 31
Leaders and experts from government, nonprofits and academia will gather Aug. 31 for a public forum convened by Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy to build community consensus around the need for a more equitable Houston. The forum will explore potential policy, programmatic and investment solutions to Houston’s most pressing inequities and highlight the implications of ongoing Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts as the city marks the one-year anniversary of the storm.
Houston Style Magazine
http://bit.ly/2OXWyDP

Houston Chamber Choir presents ‘This Is Why I Sing’ to open 23rd season on Sept. 29
An article mentions that Robert Simpson, adjunct lecturer of church music at Rice’s Shepherd School of Music, is the conductor of the Houston Chamber Choir, which will perform its season-opener Sept. 29 at South Main Baptist Church.
Houston Style Magazine
http://bit.ly/2OULgAw

Help, healing and hope: Children’s book tells tale of Harvey heroics
An article mentions that a children’s book about Hurricane Harvey titled “H Is for Harvey” was illustrated by Eduardo Martinez, graphic designer at Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business.
The Buzz Magazines
http://bit.ly/2BHUSwq

Kirby Mansion fate uncertain as property sells to Cadillac dealership
Rice is mentioned.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required. This article also appeared in the Aug. 22 print edition with a different headline, “Kirby Mansion fate uncertain after its purchase by car dealer.”)
http://bit.ly/2BAJfHF

Northwest Assistance Ministries chooses new president
An article featuring and picturing Les Cave mentions that he formerly worked at Rice.
Houston Chronicle’s Tomball Potpourri (This article also appeared in the Chronicle’s Spring Observer, Cypress Creek Mirror-Champions/Klein and Cypress Creek Mirror-Cy-Fair, and it appeared in a previous edition of Dateline when the Chronicle first posted it online.)
http://bit.ly/2o0IXQM

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.
Greater Houston Builders Association
http://bit.ly/2BCDHMW

BROADCAST

Harris County flood bond ensures affected areas benefit equally
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 interviewed by Houston Public Media about the importance of transparency and “geographic equity” in Harris County’s proposed flood mitigation bond, and he is quoted in the Dallas Morning News (scroll down to takeaway No. 5) arguing that highly flood-prone areas should be vacated. Blackburn is also quoted in the Houston Chronicle’s Tomball Potpourri. 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 also quoted in the Dallas Morning News article (scroll down to takeaway No. 3), discussing how the anger among some residents over the release of water from reservoirs at the height of flooding from Hurricane Harvey will not affect midterm elections, but he told Radio Bilingüe that demographic changes in Harris County likely will affect the elections. Jones is also quoted in an article from the Houston Chronicle that investigates the source of the largest donations to the Fight Flooding Political Action Committee.
Houston Public Media
http://bit.ly/2OYKxOL
7 takeaways on the politics of Hurricane Harvey recovery
Dallas Morning News
http://bit.ly/2BB922z
Developers, engineers fund pro-flood bond campaign
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required.)
http://bit.ly/2BAvqZJ
Houston, Harris County leaders champion $2.5B flood bond
Houston Chronicle’s Tomball Potpourri
http://bit.ly/2o7wafH
In a populous Texas County, Latinos and African-Americans are now the majority of voters
Radio Bilingüe (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/2MHtqn0

Beto O’Rourke visits ‘Houston Matters,’ police had Lupe Valdez’s missing gun all along, and more
A “Houston Matters” roundup of “Top Stories” from the day includes Rice research that found natural disasters widen the wealth gap between races. Quoted in Dear Kitty Blog are study co-authors Junia Howell, a scholar at Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research and an assistant professor of sociology at the University of Pittsburgh, and Jim Elliott, a professor of sociology at Rice and fellow at the institute.
Houston Public Media
http://bit.ly/2w2PgI2 (Scroll down to “Federal disaster assistance appears to widen the racial wealth gap.”)
United States disasters make inequality worse
Dear Kitty Blog (Similar articles also appeared in Think Progress, VidMid and Mic.)
http://bit.ly/2OSmZei

Will Texas governor’s 6-figure salary plan for teachers happen?
Bob Stein, the Lena Gohlman Fox Professor of Political Science at Rice, appears in a television broadcast about Gov. Greg Abbott’s proposal to significantly increase Texas teachers’ salaries.
KHOU Online
https://bit.ly/2nZzOrB

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Potent bacteria
A special strain of soil bacteria has the paradoxical ability to produce highly toxic compounds to protect itself from other organisms without harming itself. A collaboration that includes scientists from Rice, the Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory and Scripps Research Institute have discovered that the bacteria performs this feat by confining the toxic compound to the equivalent of a molecular dungeon.
The Department of Energy’s NewsWise
http://bit.ly/2BHQYUi

The Open University’s Course A305 and the future of architecture education
An article mentions that John May, the 2012 National Endowment for the Humanities Visiting Professor in Architecture at Rice, will participate in a panel discussion about online learning’s role in the future of architecture education.
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
http://bit.ly/2nXlQqi

A religious blitz on our government
David Brockman, nonresident scholar in the Religion and Public Policy Program at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted in an article about the Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation’s Project Blitz.
The Humanist
http://bit.ly/2o18SYy

Biomaterial could keep tooth alive after root canal
A novel application to prevent the loss of dental pulp by using an angiogenic hydrogel, which was first developed at Rice by former postdoctoral researcher Vivek Kumar, is featured. Kumar will present this research at the 256th National Meeting and Exposition of the American Chemical Society.
Phys.org (This article also appeared in Tech Explorist, News-Medical.net and Science Daily.)
http://bit.ly/2BEgyK4

Aug. 22 — State economist Kenneth Heaghney named director of Georgia State’s Fiscal Research Center
An article featuring and picturing alumnus Kenneth Heaghney ’80 mentions that he has been named the new director of Georgia State University’s Fiscal Research Center.
Savannah Business Journal
http://bit.ly/2nZ9bmL

‘Above and Beyond’ documentary to land in theaters for NASA’s 60th
President John F. Kennedy’s “Moon Speech” given at Rice Sept. 12, 1962, is mentioned.
Space.com (This article also appeared in Long Room.)
http://bit.ly/2OZcCpc

Houston hotels regain strength in year since Hurricane Harvey
Rice is mentioned.
Hotel Management
http://bit.ly/2MOGEya

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

How a city and church in Texas is rebuilding 1 year after Hurricane Harvey
An article mentions that the devastation of Hurricane Harvey led to Rice creating the Houston Jewish History Archive. In addition to documents and historical records, the archive includes families’ belongings because the “little things allow you to see what Jewish (residents) did for fun,” according to Rice Centennial Historian Melissa Kean ’96. Kean is pictured, and Joshua Furman, the Stanford and Joan Alexander Postdoctoral Fellow in Jewish Studies, is quoted. The article also mentions that Rice maintains the Houston Asian American Archive.
America: The Jesuit Review of Faith & Culture
http://bit.ly/2MCHPRx

My best advice — Rupa Parekh
An article featuring Rupa Parekh mentions that she was a mentor at Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business.
Hitha on the Go
http://bit.ly/2OUVCAc

Greek-speaking US diplomat becomes new consul in Thessaloniki
Alumnus Gregory Pfleger Jr. ’00 has been appointed the new U.S. consul general in Thessaloniki, Greece.
Greek Reporter
http://bit.ly/2MGAMHk

SPORTS

No starting quarterback named as Rice prepares for opener
A television broadcast about Rice football features an interview of Mike Bloomgren, the Dunlevie Family Head Football Coach, and players Jackson Tyner and Shawn Stankavage are mentioned in the accompanying article. Bloomgren is pictured and quoted in the Houston Chronicle, and Athletics Director Joe Karlgaard and players Sam Pierce and Zach Abercrumbia are quoted; Stankavage and Tyner are pictured (images 2 and 3) and mentioned, and teammate Emmanuel Esukpa is pictured (image 2). USA Today and Crowe’s Nest Blog mention the Owls’ season-opener is Aug. 25 against Prairie View A&M University, and 365 Things To Do in Houston and The Daily Cougar mention that the University of Houston will play Rice Sept. 1.
Click2Houston
http://bit.ly/2nZsAE3
Rice wants to start out physical against Prairie View
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required. This article appeared in the Aug. 22 print edition with a different headline, “Rice wants to start out physical against Prairie View in opener.”)
http://bit.ly/2MLvGJK
New college football kickoff rule adds new wrinkle for Auburn on special teams
USA Today (This article also appeared in the Montgomery Advertiser.)
https://usat.ly/2MHueYX
Are you ready for some college football? Week 1 TV schedule
The Crowe’s Nest Blog
http://bit.ly/2MP0SIs
Own your Labor Day 2018 in Houston
365 Things To Do in Houston
http://bit.ly/2BCKI0p
Roundtable: Football’s final record predictions
The Daily Cougar
http://bit.ly/2BB12yx

Texas looking for more in Year 2 of Tom Herman’s rebuild
Former Rice football player Calvin Anderson is mentioned.
Fox Sports (This Associated Press article also appeared in Pro Sports Media Blog.)
https://foxs.pt/2OXc2bf

Rider post Ben Moffat commits to play basketball at Rice
An article mentions that Ben Moffat plans to play basketball at Rice.
Times Record News
http://bit.ly/2MLb3gP

Air Force announces 2018-19 women’s swimming/diving slate
An article mentions that the Rice Invitational swimming and diving meet will take place Oct. 12.
Swim Swam
http://bit.ly/2MKg7SI

Homecoming with the Horns: Texas faces a tough test in coach Angela Kelly’s return to North Carolina
Rice is mentioned.
Austin American-Statesman
http://bit.ly/2o27nJM

Arizona Diamondbacks top 20 prospects for 2018: Mid-season review
Former Rice baseball player Jon Duplantier is featured.
MSN Sports (This article originally appeared in SB Nation.)
http://bit.ly/2nZgUkT

‘Look Around Lubbock’: Wreck ‘Em Tech Athletics Breakfast
An article mentions that Rice volleyball will compete in the Texas Tech Red Raider Classic Aug. 25.
MyLubbockTV Online (This article also appeared in Oldies977Lubbock.com, 1077Yes.fm and Rock969.fm.)
http://bit.ly/2MP2Atm

UND volleyball has another tough schedule this season
Rice is mentioned.
WDAZ Online
http://bit.ly/2nXKirs

NEWS RELEASES

OpenStax partner schools expected to save students $17.4M on textbooks
Eleven U.S. colleges and universities that partnered with Rice-based nonprofit publisher OpenStax last summer to encourage the use of freely available learning materials expect to save their students nearly $17.4 million on textbook and materials costs in the coming academic year.
http://bit.ly/2OYIAS7

Social media provide critical information missed by FEMA
Social media sites can be a valuable tool for assessing the impact of natural disasters like Hurricane Harvey, but a new report indicates much of the critical information conveyed by those sites is overlooked by federal authorities. Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research reports that almost half of Hurricane Harvey damage reports provided by social media users were not captured by Federal Emergency Management Agency estimates.
http://bit.ly/2BClQ8W

Rice U. nanophotonics lab creates iron-based TI contrast agent for MRI   
Rice nanoscientists have demonstrated a method for loading iron inside nanoparticles to create MRI contrast agents that outperform gadolinium chelates, the mainstay contrast agent that is facing increased scrutiny due to potential safety concerns. “The possibility of eliminating gadolinium exposure and getting a two-fold improvement in T1 MRI contrast performance is going to intrigue radiologists,” said Rice’s Naomi Halas, the lead researcher on the project.
http://bit.ly/2OY93PR