Dateline Rice for Dec. 9, 2019 (Weekend Edition)

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

From crack dealer to gangsta rapper to councilman? Houston’s ‘Scarface’
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.
The Hill
http://dateline.rice/dec-9-jones

Qatar FM talks of ‘some progress’ in mending Gulf rift
Signs of a possible reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Qatar are multiplying, according to Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, fellow for the Middle East at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.
France 24 (This Agence France-Presse article also appeared in more than 25 other media outlets.)
http://dateline.rice/dec-9-ulrichsen
Euromoney poll sees less geopolitical tension in the Gulf by 2020
Gulf Times (This article also appeared in MENAFN.)
http://dateline.rice/dec-9-gt

Russia’s ‘Power of Siberia’ pipeline marks stronger cooperation with China: Energy expert
Anna Mikulska, nonresident fellow in energy studies at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is interviewed.
BNN Bloomberg (This segment also aired on Bloomberg-TV.)
http://dateline.rice/dec-9-mikulska

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Rice class explores what it means to be Muslim in America
Craig Considine, lecturer in sociology at Rice who teaches the course Muslims in America, is featured. Rice students Noor Gamal Eldin, Emma Siegel, Eden Desta, Amanda Ochu and Alina Zhu are quoted. A column authored by Zhu published in the Rice Thresher is cited.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required. This article appeared on the front of the “Belief” section in the Dec. 8 print edition and a previous edition of Dateline when it was first posted online.)
http://dateline.rice/dec-9-considine

Coral reefs in the Gulf of Mexico could ‘bleach’ from climate change
An article mentions that Rice collaborated on research to determine how climate change will impact reefs in the Gulf of Mexico in the near future. Sylvia Dee, assistant professor of Earth, environmental and planetary sciences, is quoted.
Texas Monthly
http://dateline.rice/dec-9-dee

At 50 years, Moody Rambin rolls with the changes in Houston commercial real estate
Stephen Fox, lecturer of architecture, is quoted.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required. This article appeared in the Dec. 9 print edition of the Chronicle’s “Texas, Inc.” and a previous edition of Dateline when it was first posted online.)
http://dateline.rice/dec-9-fox

Andrea Bocelli emphasizes beauty for his upcoming Houston performance
Grammy Award-winning soprano Ana María Martínez, Rice’s Shepherd School of Music’s artist-in-residence for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 academic years, is mentioned.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required. This article appeared in the Dec. 9 print edition and a previous edition of Dateline when it was first posted online.)
http://dateline.rice/dec-9-martinez

Mentoring for first-generation college students is key
Duncan College junior Cordy McJunkins authored an op-ed.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required. This article appeared in the Dec. 8 print edition.)
http://dateline.rice/dec-9-mcjunkins

Documentary by JFK’s niece explores 60 years of NASA – and its discoveries about the universe
President John F. Kennedy’s “moon speech” given at Rice Sept. 12, 1962, is mentioned.
Denton Daily
http://dateline.rice/dec-9-jfk
To present with impact, motivate a crowd or nail an interview, become a good storyteller
Fora
http://dateline.rice/dec-9-jfk2

Edgar Lovett, first president of Rice University
The legacy of the late Edgar Odell Lovett is featured. William Marsh Rice is mentioned.
Brownwood Bulletin (This article also appeared in 10 other media outlets.)
http://dateline.rice/dec-9-lovett
Ken Bridges: Lovett was instrumental in making Rice a top university
Cleburn Times-Review
http://dateline.rice/dec-9-lovett2

Philanthropist Peaches Owen dies at 82
Late alumnus Louis Owens is featured.
Longview News-Journal
http://dateline.rice/dec-9-owens

Four celebrated Texas figures to speak at fall 2019 commencement
An article featuring Brian Hall mentions that he completed postgraduate work at Rice.
Woodlands Online
http://dateline.rice/dec-9-woodlands

BROADCAST

Alums of these Texas schools are earning the most during their first year in the workforce
An article mentions that Rice is No. 1 in Texas and No. 17 in the nation according to U.S. News and World Report.
WFAA Online
http://dateline.rice/dec-9-wfaa

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Freestanding emergency departments bring speedier care but higher spending
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.
Multibriefs
http://dateline.rice/dec-9-ho

Short-sighted Mars colonists could find sex with Earth-based humans lethal 
Scott Solomon, associate teaching professor in biosciences at Rice, is quoted.
Inverse
http://dateline.rice/dec-9-solomon

Electronic map reveals ‘rules of the road’ in superconductor
An article features Rice research into mapping electrons both in normal conditions and in the critical moments just before a material transforms into a superconductor. Co-author Ming Yi, assistant professor of physics and astronomy, is quoted. Research by Pengcheng Dai, professor of physics and astronomy, and graduate student Tong Chen is mentioned.
Nanowerk
http://dateline.rice/dec-9-yi

‘Clingy’ spouses face greater health risks after partner dies
“Clingy” spouses are at greater risk for heart problems and poor mental health after their spouses die, according to new research from psychologists at Rice. Co-authors Christopher Fagundes, associate professor of psychological sciences, and postdoctoral research fellow Angie LeRoy are quoted and pictured.
Medical Xpress
http://dateline.rice/dec-9-fagundes

Researchers 3D-printed plastic cubes with complex patterns that make them bulletproof
Researchers at Rice are testing polymers based on tubulanes, theoretical structures of crosslinked carbon nanotubes predicted to have extraordinary strength. Pulickel Ajayan, chair of the Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering, the Benjamin M. and Mary Greenwood Anderson Professor in Engineering and a professor of chemistry, is mentioned.
Decatimes
http://dateline.rice/dec-9-ajayan

Letter from San Diego: Science for seminaries or materialism for the masses?
Jeffrey Kripal, the J. Newton Rayzor Chair in Philosophy and Religious Thought at Rice and author of “The Flip: Epiphanies of Mind and the Future of Knowledge,” is mentioned.
Evolution News
http://dateline.rice/dec-9-kripal

Cantor-tenor: Countertenor Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen on his burgeoning career and important Jewish tradition
An article featuring Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen mentions that he studied with Stephen King, the Lynette S. Autrey Chair of Voice at Rice’s Shepherd School of Music.
Opera Wire
http://dateline.rice/dec-9-king

NTP publishes technical report on toxicity studies of 1,020 long multiwalled carbon nanotubes
An article mentions Rice’s former Center for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology.
The National Law Review (This article also appeared in JD Supra.)
http://dateline.rice/dec-9-nlr

Employee Initiative of the Year: Trilogy Education Services
An article mentions that Rice will offer a financial technology boot camp.
HR Dive
http://dateline.rice/dec-9-hrd

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra welcomes new musicians
Alumnus Jeremy Buckler, graduate of Rice’s Shepherd School of Music, is featured and pictured.
Encore Atlanta
http://dateline.rice/dec-9-buckler

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Black students survey peers on how Rice U. can show that ‘their lives matter’
An article mentions an op-ed authored by Martel College sophomore Milkessa Gaga and Sid Richardson junior Toluwani Taiwo published in the Rice Thresher. Anthony Pinn, the Agnes Cullen Arnold Professor of Humanities and professor of religion and fellow at Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, is mentioned.
The College Fix
http://dateline.rice/dec-9-pinn

Barack Obama ranks 12th best leader in US presidential history
Douglas Brinkley, the Katherine Tsanoff Brown Professor in Humanities, is quoted.
Livingston Leader
http://dateline.rice/dec-9-brinkley

Why Synapse’s final keynote speaker is important to the development of Tampa Bay’s tech ecosystem
An article featuring Steve Currall mentions that he started the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship in 2000.
Tampa Bay Business Journals
http://dateline.rice/dec-9-currall

Fiber-optic cables can be used for new purpose
An article features collaborative research that shows the promising earthquake-detection capabilities of undersea fiber-optic cables retrofitted with detection systems.
i-HLS
http://dateline.rice/dec-9-ihls

SPORTS

Five things we learned about Rice football in 2019
An article details Rice football’s 2019 season. Head coach Mike Bloomgren is mentioned.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required.)
http://dateline.rice/dec-9-bloomgren
NCAA tourney: A&M tops Rice; Baylor, UT win
Texas A&M University defeated Rice 3-1 in a second-round match of the NCAA volleyball tournament Dec. 6 in College Station, Texas.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required. This article appeared in Dec. 7 print edition.)
http://dateline.rice/dec-9-volleyball
Aggie volleyball survives four-set donnybrook vs. Rice to advance to Sweet 16
WTAW Online
http://dateline.rice/dec-9-vb
VB: Rice, WKU seasons end in NCAA 2nd round
Conference USA
http://dateline.rice/dec-9-vb

Atwood scores 22 to carry Lamar past Rice 73-60
An article mentions that Rice’s men’s basketball team was defeated by Lamar University 73-60 Dec. 7. Owls Drew Peterson and Ako Adams are highlighted.
The Associated Press (Subscription is required. This article also appeared in more than 50 other media outlets, and it appeared in the Dec. 8 print edition of the Houston Chronicle.)
http://dateline.rice/dec-9-mbb
Cardinals rout Rice, snap three-game skid
Houston Chronicle (This article also appeared in more than 25 other media outlets.)
http://dateline.rice/dec-9-mbb2

Opinion: Paying college athletes is slam dunk for NCAA and NBA
Former Rice football player David Grenardo authored an op-ed.
San Antonio Express-News (Subscription is required. This article also appeared in the Dec. 9 print edition, and it appeared online in more than 25 other media outlets.)
http://dateline.rice/dec-9-grenardo

Liberty ‘scholar jumper’ Bonzil headed to Rice University on full track scholarship
An article featuring Christelle Bonzil mentions that she plans to join Rice’s track and field team.
Positively Osceola
http://dateline.rice/dec-9-po

MLB rumors: Anthony Rendon’s agent reportedly wants 7-year deal as Rangers still favored to sign him
Former Rice baseball player Anthony Rendon is featured and pictured.
Inquisitr (This article also appeared in 10 other media outlets.)
http://dateline.rice/dec-9-rendon

Getting to know the New York Guardians coaches
Former Rice assistant football coach Ronnie Vinklarek is featured.
XFL Board
http://dateline.rice/dec-9-xfl

All-Delco Player of the Year: Rather than following sisters’ path, Forbes blazing new soccer trail at Strath Haven
An article mentions Rice track and field athletes Grace and Madeline Forbes.
Daily Times
http://dateline.rice/dec-9-dailytimes

When was 5G introduced?
An article mentions that 5G technology was installed at Rice Stadium this past November.
Verizon
http://dateline.rice/dec-9-5g

2019 SR4 playoffs — Commerce at Mankato and Mineral Water Bowl Preview
Former Rice football player Miklo Smalls is featured.
D2 Football
http://dateline.rice/dec-9-d2

TEXAS A&M-COMMERCE FOOTBALL PREVIEW: No. 21 Lions prep for regional final at No. 4 Minnesota State
An article mentions former Rice head football coach David Bailiff.
Front Porch News
http://dateline.rice/dec-9-fpn

Utes can finish a ‘phenomenal season’ with a win over a big-name bowl opponent
An article mentions that Rice’s football team was defeated by the University of Texas at Austin earlier this season.
Deseret News
http://dateline.rice/dec-9-deseret

NEWS RELEASES

Rice University launches bold climate change initiative with Shell
Rice has launched Carbon Hub, a major research initiative to create a zero-emissions future in which oil and natural gas provide both clean energy and advanced materials that help house, move, clothe and feed people.
http://dateline.rice/dec-9-news-release-carbon-hub

Detours may make batteries better
Scientists at Rice’s Brown School of Engineering have discovered that placing specific defects in the crystalline lattice of lithium iron phosphate-based cathodes broadens the avenues through which lithium ions travel. Their theoretical calculations could improve performance up to two orders of magnitude and point the way to similar improvements in other types of batteries.
http://dateline.rice/dec-9-news-release-tang

Why businesses need to rethink diversity training
Does racial insensitivity training actually work? The short answer is yes, it can, but new research from Rice finds that factors such as personality type and personal circumstances must be considered when determining what type of training to offer or how the training should be administered.
http://dateline.rice/dec-9-news-release-king

‘Clingy’ spouses face greater health risks after partner dies
“Clingy” spouses — whether spending every waking moment with their partners or constantly telephoning when they’re not together — are at greater risk for heart problems and poor mental health after their spouses die, according to new research from psychologists at Rice.
http://dateline.rice/dec-9-news-release-fagundes

Electronic map reveals ‘rules of the road’ in superconductor
Using a clever technique that causes unruly crystals of iron selenide to snap into alignment, Rice physicists have drawn a detailed map that reveals the “rules of the road” for electrons both in normal conditions and in the critical moments just before the material transforms into a superconductor.
http://dateline.rice/dec-9-news-release-yi

About Stefan De La Garza

Stefan De La Garza is a news analyst in Rice University's Office of Public Affairs.