Dateline Rice for April 12, 2019

FEATURED ITEMS

‘Fox News at 6 a.m.’
Two television broadcasts mention that NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine ’97 commemorated the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission April 12 at Rice.
KRIV-TV (Houston)
http://bit.ly/2Ga8akB
’13 Eyewitness News at 4:30 a.m.’
KTRK-TV (Houston)
http://bit.ly/2GlKcD9

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

How natural disasters can increase inequality
Research by Jim Elliott, professor of sociology and fellow at Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, which determined that the gap in net worth between white and black Americans who experienced natural disasters or lesser storms grew substantially between 1999 and 2013, is cited.
PBS NewsHour
https://to.pbs.org/2G2anyc

To halt energy slide, Mexico turns to a trusted provider: Mexico
Miriam Grunstein, contributing expert and scholar in the Mexico Center at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
The New York Times (This article also appeared in the April 12 print edition, and it appeared in The Globe and Mail.)
https://nyti.ms/2G6FLvE

Camera traps capture mammals reacting to climate
An article features Rice research that examines how 36 tropical mammal species on three continents reacted to changing temperatures at specific places in their local habitats from 2007-15. Lydia Beaudrot, a data scientist and assistant professor of biosciences at Rice, is quoted.
Futurity (This article also appeared 10 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/2G70jUH

Transitions: New president at Georgia Gwinnett College, chief of Vanderbilt U. to step down 
An article mentions that Yin Zhang, professor of computational and applied mathematics, is one of 28 researchers selected as a 2019 Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics fellow in recognition of his research and service to the community.
The Chronicle of Higher Education
http://bit.ly/2G9SoWV

Increased clarity for the June gubernatorial election in Chubut, Argentina’s No. 2 petro-province
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, authored an op-ed about the April 7 provincial primary elections in Chubut, a province in Argentina. Jones is quoted in the Texas Observer and interviewed by KRLD about Texas politics.
Forbes
http://bit.ly/2G2qOuo
With accidental gun deaths on the rise, some Texas lawmakers won’t even support a gun safety public awareness campaign
Texas Observer
http://bit.ly/2G726ZV
KRLD-AM (Dallas)
http://bit.ly/2GcgFvc

Is your smartphone making you fat?
Rice research that indicates mindless switching between digital devices is associated with increased susceptibility to food temptations and lack of self-control is featured. Postdoctoral research fellow Richard Lopez is quoted.
U.S. News and World Report (This and similar articles also appeared in 10 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/2UzmGMM

‘Deep learning’ casts wide net for novel 2D materials
Rice researchers who say they can make “reasonably accurate” predictions of the physical characteristics, like strength, of new 2D materials even after they’re damaged by radiation and high temperatures, is featured.
NSF Science360 (This research was a featured “Headline” on the Science360 News homepage and in the April 12 newsletter, and it appeared in 10 other media outlets.) 
http://bit.ly/2KwjhtA

Nuit Blanche comes to Houston, Dallas Design Week starts Monday and more news this week
An article mentions that James Furr, senior lecturer at Rice’s School of Architecture, was honored April 11 with the 2019 Landmark Award for lifetime achievement in real estate.
MSN Lifestyle (This article also appeared in Architectural Digest and MSN Travel Canada.)
http://bit.ly/2G8mUR1
HBJ reveals which real estate projects won 2019 Landmark Awards
Houston Business Journal
http://bit.ly/2UyXje2

HOUSTON/TEXAS

National Institute of Mental Health awards SHSU grad student with research grant
An article mentions that Mikki Hebl, the Martha and Henry Malcolm Lovett Chair of Psychology at Rice’s School of Social Sciences and professor of management at Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business, was part of the mentorship team on a research project that received a National Institute of Mental Health award.
Weatherford Democrat (This article also appeared in the Rockwall County Herald-Banner, Cleburne Times-Review, Huntsville Item, CNHI News and the Herald-Banner.)
http://bit.ly/2Gf8Ntg

Space-themed trip to Rice helps area kids reach for stars
An article about Rice’s second annual Space Day in Space City, which took place April 6 and brought 330 students to the university to tour the campus, hear a lecture and attend a baseball game, quotes Adrian Amaya, senior account executive in Rice Athletics. David Alexander, director of the Rice Space Institute and professor of physics and astronomy, is mentioned. The article also mentions that third grader Aniyah Quezada hopes to attend Rice.
The Leader 
http://bit.ly/2Uvou9m

Arab Spring failed to deliver on hopes, Baker Institute survey finds
An article features Rice research, which determined that the Arab Spring protests of 2010-12 did not produce the changes many in the Middle East and North Africa region had expected. Co-authors A.Kadir Yildirim, fellow for the Middle East at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, and Duncan College senior Meredith McCain are cited.
Houston Style Magazine
http://bit.ly/2GbYR3n

Cy Park student wins 1st Houston Brain Bee, advances to nationals
An article features Rice’s first annual Houston Brain Bee, a Feb. 16 competition hosted by Rice BioSciences and NeuroX that tested participants’ knowledge of neuroscience while offering opportunities to learn more about the field. Jonathan Flynn, lecturer and faculty advisor for Rice’s Neuroscience Society, and Will Rice College senior Andrea Augustine, the society’s president, are pictured and quoted.
Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District News
http://bit.ly/2Uz25ba

Opera: ‘Bright Bottles’ world premiere spotlights vulnerability, materialism
An article mentions that Rashaan Allwood will showcase his new opera “Bright Bottles,” which will feature students from Rice’s opera program, at the Edythe Bates Grand Organ Hall at Rice’s Shepherd School of Music April 14. Allwood is participating in the Rice Artist Diploma Candidates program.
Houston Press
http://bit.ly/2UvfYY5

Hooks general manager mixes military background with the baseball business
An article mentions that alumnus Wes Weigle ’18 was named general manager of the Corpus Christi Hooks, a minor league affiliate of the Houston Astros.
Corpus Christi Caller-Times
http://bit.ly/2G9Wn5P

HBJ’s 2019 Landmark Awards: Educational facility winner and finalists
An article mentions that Rice’s Space Science and Technology Building renovation was a finalist for the 2019 Landmark Award, which recognizes real estate projects that make a significant impression on the Houston landscape. The building houses Rice’s Department of Chemistry, its molecular nanotechnology initiative, the Smalley-Curl Institute and the Environmental Health and Safety department.
Houston Business Journal
http://bit.ly/2UvDSme

5 most popular innovation stories in Houston this week
The 2019 Rice Business Plan Competition, hosted by the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship and Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business, is featured.
InnovationMap
http://bit.ly/2G8ArYQ
UA Little Rock student entrepreneurs come out on top at Arkansas Governor’s Cup
UA Little Rock News
http://bit.ly/2UyqT35
Waterloo water startup wins big at Texas pitch event
University of Waterloo News
http://bit.ly/2G8BXtR

Tellurian’s CEO Meg Gentle is on a mission to change how the world gets its natural gas
An article features and pictures alumna Meg Gentle ’04.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/2UBnEbd

America’s Navy hosts Visibility Days at Prairie View A&M
Rice is mentioned.
DVIDS
http://bit.ly/2UxJoEY

BROADCAST

Houston-area chemical fires draw attention to lax safety laws
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 about the recent ITC industrial park fire in Houston.
WBUR.org (This April 11 “Morning Edition” transcript appeared on more than 100 NPR-affiliated websites.)
https://wbur.fm/2Glw7FN

‘John Batchelor Show’
Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, fellow for the Middle East at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is interviewed about Middle East politics.
KGO-AM (San Francisco)
http://bit.ly/2G8Jfhm (This segment aired on eight affiliate stations.)

Mike Pence to hold fundraisers in Dallas and Midland
Vice President Mike Pence’s speech on the political turmoil and economic crisis in Venezuela April 5 at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy is mentioned.
KERA News (This article also appeared in more than 10 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/2Gfszoa

Local robotics team heads to world championship
A television broadcast and article mention that Bryn Gerwin hopes to attend Rice.
WAND 7 Online (This broadcast also aired on WAND-TV in Decatur, Illinois.)
http://bit.ly/2Uwqyy8

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Talking ‘The Flip’ with Dr. Jeffrey Kripal
A conversation with Jeffrey Kripal, the J. Newton Rayzor Chair in Philosophy and Religious Thought at Rice, is featured in a podcast.  
Rune Soup
http://bit.ly/2Uvmm1m

New ways to image, characterize unique material
An article features Rice research that discovered how to see the nanoscale structures of borophene lattices but also built theoretical models that helped characterize the crystalline forms. Co-author Boris Yakobson, the Karl F. Hasselmann Professor of Materials Science and NanoEngineering and a professor of chemistry, is quoted.
Science Daily (This article also appeared in News Live, Scienmag, Nanotechnology Companies, Bioengineer and 170k News.)
http://bit.ly/2G9pcz8

Criminal justice system should be cautious when approaching risk assessment
A study by Robert Werth, senior lecturer in sociology, that determined risk-assessment tools used by decision-makers in the criminal justice system to help determine the fate of people accused or convicted of crimes can have problems that reinforce bias is featured.
Social Work Today
http://bit.ly/2G95545

Recap: Medical cannabis hearing held at the Texas State Capitol
An article about the Texas Legislature’s HB 1365, which would allow access to medical cannabis, mentions that the Subcommittee heard from experts from Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.
NORML Blog
http://bit.ly/2UCMojD

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Earth has another continent called Zealandia — only 6% of it is above water
An article about the continent of Zealandia quotes Gerald Dickens, professor of Earth, environment and planetary sciences.
Vintage News
http://bit.ly/2G6zTTa

University of the Pacific ranked in top 5 nationwide for renewable energy fleet
An article mentions that Rice is one of the universities with highest percentage of campus-owned vehicles that are 100% electric, according to a study by environment America Research and Policy Center.
Stockton Record
http://bit.ly/2G8aBnC

Recital sends musical postcards from around the world
Alumna Lauren Avery Heuser is featured and pictured.
The Durango Herald
http://bit.ly/2UybvE3

SPORTS

No. 2 Aggies host 9 teams in Texas A&M Invitational at Cushing Stadium 
An article mentions that Rice’s track and field team will compete in the Texas A&M Invitational in College Station April 12-13.
KBTX
http://bit.ly/2G2voZC
Track and field to return to action this weekend at Texas A&M Invitational
UTSA Athletics
http://bit.ly/2G8k2DJ

Baseball welcomes Rice for weekend set at Hayes Stadium
The Rice baseball team will play a three-game road series against the University of North Carolina at Charlotte April 12-14.
Charlotte49ers.com
http://bit.ly/2KwoqS8

Report: Jordan Taylor set to visit with Seahawks, Vikings
Former Rice football player Jordan Taylor is featured.
Clutch Points
http://bit.ly/2G6H79K
Report: Former Broncos receiver Jordan Taylor to visit the Seahawks
SB Nation
http://bit.ly/2KiO3WK

Schultz recalled; Chargois optioned
Former Rice baseball player J.T. Chargois is featured.
MLB.com
https://atmlb.com/2UCY2el