Dateline Rice for April 15, 2019 (Weekend Edition)

FEATURED ITEMS

NASA’s plan to put humans on the moon by 2024 is taking shape — but will they get the money?
An article in the Houston Chronicle mentions that NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine ’97 spoke at the first Owls in Space Symposium hosted by Rice’s Students for the Exploration and Development of Space April 12. Bridenstine also appeared on several television broadcasts about Rice’s commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission April 12.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required. This article also appeared in the April 14 print edition.)
http://bit.ly/2ZbWDKe 
Apollo 11’s 50th anniversary commemorated by planting seeds for future space travel
KHOU Online (The accompanying television segment aired twice.) 
http://bit.ly/2ZcHBUz
‘Fox 26 News at 9’
KRIV-TV (Houston. This segment aired four times on KRIV, and four times on KTBC-TV in Austin, Texas.)
http://bit.ly/2UgcHHf
13 Eyewitness News at 11AM
KTRK-TV (Houston)
http://bit.ly/2UejGjO

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

The insiders’ guide to the Mueller Report
Douglas Brinkley, the Katherine Tsanoff Brown Professor in Humanities, is quoted in an article about the expected release of special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign. Brinkley also appears on several television broadcasts discussing his new book, “American Moonshot: John F. Kennedy and the Great Space Race.”
Politico (This article also appeared in Politico.eu.)
https://politi.co/2ZbX07A
‘SE Cupp Unfiltered’
CNN
http://bit.ly/2ZekUPG
‘Overheard with Evan Smith’
PBS
http://bit.ly/2ZekZTu
‘CBS This Morning’
WWJ-TV (Detroit)
http://bit.ly/2Ul4x0e

Black hole picture could unlock new era in astronomy
Mustafa Amin, assistant professor of physics and astronomy, and Andrea Isella, assistant professor of physics and astronomy and of Earth, environmental and planetary sciences, are quoted in an article about the first image of a black hole.
NBC News
https://nbcnews.to/2Zcvy9J

NSF-funded Marcie O’Malley discusses robotics for rehabilitation after a stroke or spinal cord injury
Marcia O’Malley, the Stanley C. Moore Professor of Mechanical Engineering, professor of computer science and professor of electrical and computer engineering, is featured on a podcast.
NSF Science360 (This Science360 Radio segment appeared on the April 15 homepage and in the April 15 newsletter.)
http://bit.ly/2KFEWzl

Spotlight: US West high-tech giants’ eastward expansion brings opportunities, challenges
James DeNicco, lecturer of economics at Rice, is quoted.
Xinhua (This article also appeared in New China and China.org.cn.)
http://bit.ly/2Zce39v

Is silence best for studying, or does background noise focus the mind?
Research by Randi Martin, the Elma Schneider Professor of Psychology, is cited.
Telegraph.co.uk (Subscription is required. This article also appeared in the April 15 print edition.)
http://bit.ly/2ZcIaxF

Gene-edited babies: What a Chinese scientist told an American mentor
An article about gene editing in humans mentions Michael Deem, the John W. Cox Professor of Biochemical and Genetic Engineering and a professor of physics and astronomy.
The New York Times (Subscription is required. This article also appeared on the front page of the April 14 print edition and print editions of the San Jose Mercury News and Buffalo News, and it appeared in more than 70 other media outlets.)
https://nyti.ms/2ZdXDNO

The next George Bush bet everything on Trump
An article features alumnus George P. Bush.
The Atlantic
http://bit.ly/2UmZITT

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Timid Me, Bold Me, Compromising Me and the lives we could have led
An op-ed authored by Juan Palomo mentions that he has freelanced at Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business, and he quotes Otilia Obodaru, assistant professor of management at the Jones School.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required. This article appeared in the Chronicle’s Gray Matters online magazine.)
http://bit.ly/2Z9d8Xv

Tellurian 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 (Subscription is required. This article appeared in the April 15 print edition and a previous edition when it was first posted online.)
http://bit.ly/2Zf6LSg

Texans want better K-12 education. This is how they’re willing to pay for it. [Opinion]
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, co-authored an op-ed in the Houston Chronicle and is quoted in the University of Houston News about a collaborative study of registered Texas voters’ views on school finance and taxes.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required. This article appeared in the April 14 print edition.)
http://bit.ly/2ZatoHC
Survey: Voters favor increased state spending on education
University of Houston News
http://bit.ly/2UiN5JR

Medical device company expands national reach with acquisition
The 2019 Rice Business Plan Competition, hosted by the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship and Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business, is mentioned.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required. This article appeared in the April 15 print edition.)
http://bit.ly/2ZdgpF5

Autism ‘Shark Tank’ Reactor Room opens doors for talented Houstonians with disability 
An article featuring Spectrum Fusion’s Reactor Room, a forum that provides opportunities to adults on the autism spectrum, mentions that it was held at Rice March 21.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required. This article also appeared in the April 15 print edition.)
http://bit.ly/2Zc7eVw

Exploring the magic of Jerome Robbins
Debbie Dickinson, Artist Teacher of Opera Studies for Acting and Movement at Rice’s Shepherd School of Music, is quoted.
Houstonia Magazine
http://bit.ly/2Zagr0p

NASA icons named to Aviation Hall of Fame
An article featuring and picturing alumna Peggy Whitson ’86, the astronaut who has spent more time in space than any other American, mentions that she was inducted into the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame April 12.
Houston Chronicle (This article also appeared in more than 25 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/2Zc8LuK
http://bit.ly/2ZcZ6UQ

Black & White Ball a celebration of the arts
The Rice Apollos, a student-led a capella singing group, is mentioned.
Houston Chronicle (This article appeared in the April 14 print edition.)
http://bit.ly/2ZbBHmq

Past and present Texans royalty suit up for Project 88’s Game Day Gala at Eccelsia in Sixth Ward
An article about Project 88 mentions that it has partnered with the Emerging Leaders Institute at Rice in order to help prepare high-performing students from underserved communities attend college.
Houston Chronicle (This article also appeared in more than 25 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/2ZemJMw
http://bit.ly/2UjTkgn

Houston Chamber Choir shines in music of O’Regan, Texas composers
An article mentions Karim Al-Zand, associate professor of composition and theory at Rice’s Shepherd School of Music.
Texas Classical Review
http://bit.ly/2UfpXM5

‘So thankful, so blessed’: Longview High School senior accepted to 7 Ivy League schools
Rice is mentioned.
Longview News-Journal
http://bit.ly/2Ue9Tu4

Mia Miller’s final review 
Rice is mentioned.
Texas A&M Today
http://bit.ly/2Uj75vy

BROADCAST

Decisions being made in Washington and Jerusalem are distancing peace prospects, ambassador says
Edward Djerejian, director of Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is interviewed about Middle East politics.
Bloomberg
https://bloom.bg/2XeIWbK

‘Great Day Houston’
Alumna Diana Racusin is featured.
KHOU-TV (Houston)
http://bit.ly/2Zf99bF

WHKT-AM (Norfolk, Virginia)
Rice is mentioned.
http://bit.ly/2Z5unJ4

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Study: How will tropical mammals react to rising temperatures?
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 and pictured.
Science World Report
http://bit.ly/2UkgZx0

Renewable energy advocates learn to not say ‘climate change’ in Texas
Daniel Cohan, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, is quoted.
Clean Technica (This article also appeared in Red, Green and Blue.)
http://bit.ly/2Zd39k0

Deep eutectic solvents could solve Li-ion recycling problem
An article features Rice research that developed a method to recycle lithium-ion batteries using deep eutectic solvents to extract valuable metals.
ElectronicWeekly.com
http://bit.ly/2Ukm48y

‘Strength of a Woman: A Phyllis Hyman Tribute 70th Birthday Celebration’ announced at the Triad
An article mentions that Queen Diva studied at Rice’s Glasscock School of Continuing Studies.
Broadway World
http://bit.ly/2Zee5h2

UC Davis puts a $104,400 price tag on its online MBA
An article mentions that Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business offers an online MBA.
Poets & Quants
http://bit.ly/2UfcOml

Violinist Simon James to join San Francisco Conservatory of Music faculty
Rice’s Shepherd School of Music is mentioned.
Violinist.com
http://bit.ly/2U9gta3

Response: Ways to use tech effectively in English classes
Alumna Jenny Vo is quoted.
Education Week 
http://bit.ly/2Z9nzu9

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

PolitiFact: Capito’s claims about border wall and apprehensions mostly false
Tony Payan, the Françoise and Edward Djerejian Fellow for Mexico Studies at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and director of the institute’s Mexico Center, is quoted.
Charleston Gazette-Mail
http://bit.ly/2ZcaYq2

Emergency room off Las Vegas Strip makes waves with new business model
Vivian Ho, the James A. Baker III Institute Chair in Health Economics at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy’s Center for Health and Biosciences, is quoted.
Milbank Monitor
http://bit.ly/2Uia086

Tri-Valley Stargazers hosting astronaut to reflect on space flight
Alumnus James Newman ’82, who flew into orbit on four space shuttle missions, is featured and pictured.
Pleasanton Weekly
http://bit.ly/2Zejzsk

Clarkson professor awarded T. Urling and Mabel Walker Research Fellowship to study county’s mental health care needs
Alumna Elizabeth Pienkos is featured and pictured.
Clarkson University News
http://bit.ly/2Z9vwzz

My journey in establishing and growing Bangkok Business Challenge @ Sasin
An article about the MAI Bangkok Business Challenge @ Sasin mentions that Indirect Imaging, a team from Rice, won the competition in 2010.
e27
http://bit.ly/2UmYNCV

‘I’ve seen how hard he works’: Ghanaian father showers son with praise 
Rice is mentioned.
Atlanta Black Star
http://bit.ly/2ZbQiye

Quelle strane contraddizioni della crociata antirazzista
David Cook, professor of religion, is mentioned.
Il Primato Nazionale (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/2UgVlK5

SPORTS

Defense, unexpected scholarship offer highlight Rice scrimmage
An article featuring Rice’s football team quotes and pictures head coach Mike Bloomgren and mentions Owls Ari Broussard, Wiley Green, Evan Marshman, Tom Stewart, Nick Leverett, DaSharm Newsome, Antonio Montero, Blaze Alldredge and Aaron Cephus.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required. This article also appeared in the April 14 print edition.)
http://bit.ly/2ZbBQpY

Niners sweep Saturday DH, win series over Rice
The Rice baseball team lost two of three games in its road series against the University of North Carolina at Charlotte April 12-13.
Charlotte49ers.com
http://bit.ly/2KGT5fG
Rice takes Friday’s series opener over baseball
Charlotte49ers.com
http://bit.ly/2KIwVK6

Aggies sweep Texas A&M Invitational team titles in windy conditions
A WTAW article mentions that Rice’s women’s track and field team placed sixth at the Texas A&M Invitational April 12-13. A Battalion article mentions that Owl Hannah Jackson placed second in the women’s 200-meter dash.
WTAW Online (This article also appeared in KBTX Online.)
http://bit.ly/2Zcf8ya
Aggies sweep team titles at Texas A&M Invitational
The Battalion
http://bit.ly/2ZaG3KE

All-State girls’ basketball: Meet the state’s best 15 players, plus the honorable mentions
An article featuring Katelyn Crosthwait mentions that she plans to play basketball at Rice.
Tulsa World
http://bit.ly/2Zmzd50

Ex-Broncos, Rice WR Jordan Taylor joins Vikings
Former Rice football player Jordan Taylor is featured and pictured.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required.)
http://bit.ly/2UfdsjL
Vikings sign wide receiver Jordan Taylor to 1-year deal
SB Nation
http://bit.ly/2KHmBC3

With No. 1 pick looming, here’s the best and worst Arizona Cardinals draft picks
Former Rice football player King Hill is mentioned.
The Athletic
http://bit.ly/2ZcfTau

Men’s golf to compete in Bayou City Collegiate Classic
An article mentions that Rice’s golf team will compete in the Bayou City Collegiate Classic April 15-16 in Pearland, Texas.
UTSA Athletics
http://bit.ly/2UjNag8

Bombers’ middle infield readies for fast-approaching season
Former Rice football player Kelby Weyler is featured.
Our Sports Central
http://bit.ly/2UlpSqa

NEWS RELEASES

Marriage penalty is here to stay, Baker Institute expert says
A new report by Rice researcher Joyce Beebe summarizes the evolution of the marriage penalty in the U.S. tax system, reviews the magnitude of the penalty and discusses its influence on work and marital decisions. It also summarizes how the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 changes the marriage penalty for different income and age groups.
http://bit.ly/2Zco0DY

Rice to offer online Master of Computer Science degree
Rice will offer a unique online Master of Computer Science degree program for the first time in Fall 2019. The program run by Rice’s Department of Computer Science, ranked as one of the nation’s top 20 by U.S. News & World Report, offers professionals a Rice degree that will enhance their current careers or help them pivot to new ones.
http://bit.ly/2Z9yZhv

Rice’s Baker Institute, Shell partner to study evolution of global energy
The Center for Energy Studies at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy is launching a five-year research program to assess the evolution of the global energy system, including the policies, regulations, geopolitical forces, market developments and technologies that will impact the pace of ongoing energy challenges. The research effort is being funded by a $2.5 million gift from Shell Oil Co.
http://bit.ly/2Z9zp7z

Parks built for the privileged leave children with less access
Houston’s children have less access to parks today than they did 70 years ago, Rice researchers conclude, thanks to how racial and class inequalities in park placement have intertwined with the ongoing residential turnover of most neighborhoods. Today, the research indicates, the phenomenon persists partly because of a bias toward building new parks in privileged areas that now have smaller populations of children.
http://bit.ly/2ZhgyYn

Rice advances the art of protein blacksmithing
Where the village smithy once stood now stands an algorithm, its mighty mathematical hammer pounding proteins into shape. The blacksmith’s profession is a worthy analogy for what Rice scientists have wrought: A new method for making accurate structural models of proteins that takes far less computational power than existing brute-force approaches.
http://bit.ly/2UlcfHA