Dateline Rice for Sept. 17, 2012 (Weekend Edition)

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

The thankless task of the Foreign Service officer
The murder of U.S. ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three other American nationals in Libya drove home the point that America’s Foreign Service officers, far from their reputation as pencil-pushing bureaucrats, often confront enormous personal risks in the field. Edward Djerejian, founding director of Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
Foreign Policy
http://bit.ly/QLT05z

US and Brazil — At last, friends on ethanol
After years at each other’s throats, Brazil and the United States are working together to promote the use of ethanol in a collaboration that could revolutionize global markets and the makeup of the biofuel itself. Ronald Soligo, professor of economics and Rice Scholar at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
Reuters (This article also appeared in Scientific American, NBCNews.com, Yahoo.com, TheUSDaily.com, ElEconomistas.es, DairyHerd.com, CattleNetwork.com, DigitalMediaNet.com, WKZO.com [Kalamazoo, Mich.], WHTC.com [Holland, Mich.], WSAU.com [Wausau, Wis.], WNMTRadio.com [Hibbing, Minn.], WTBX.com [Hibbing, Minn.], KDAL610.com [Duluth, Minn.] and WTAQ.com [Green Bay, Wis.].)
http://reut.rs/OuYZ0g

Spiders take control as birds fade from Guam
An abundance of spiders on Guam is the result of the loss of forest birds caused by an invasive snake that decimated the avian population, researchers say. Haldre Rogers, the Huxley Research Instructor in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, is quoted.
National Geographic
http://bit.ly/V1v1A2
Alien snakes help spiders overrun Guam
Discovery.com (This article also appeared on MNN.com.)
http://news.discovery.com/animals/spiders-guam-birds-120914.html
How invasive snakes have turned Guam into a spider-infested horror show
io9.com
http://bit.ly/Ub1Nwy
Snakes invasive to Guam have wiped out bird populations and allowed spiders to reach plague proportions
PlanetSave.com
http://bit.ly/Qhk10Y
Guam is plagued by alien snakes and deadly spiders
GlobalPost.com
http://bit.ly/SoUcsL

Judge tosses Wisconsin union reform: Why judges are dismantling the GOP agenda
A year after Wisconsin exploded in protest over Republican legislation to gut collective bargaining for public employees, a Wisconsin judge has nullified the law and ruled that it violates workers’ equal rights under the Constitution. Mark Jones, the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies, professor and chair of political science and fellow in political science at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted. Jones also appeared on KPRC-TV to discuss presidential politics and is quoted in a story about allegations of voter suppression in Texas.
Christian Science Monitor (This article also appeared on AlaskaDispatch.com.)
http://bit.ly/OPpGZl
KPRC-TV
http://bit.ly/Oxh8os
KPRC-TV
http://bit.ly/NxrlFO

Fossil fuel industry ads dominate TV campaign
With nearly two months before Election Day, estimated spending on television ads promoting coal and more oil and gas drilling or criticizing clean energy has exceeded $153 million this year. Amy Myers Jaffe, the Wallace S. Wilson Fellow in Energy Studies at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
CNBC.com (This article also appeared in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and the Anchorage Daily News.)
http://www.cnbc.com/id/49032461

Is there a better hurricane scale?
Research by Bob Stein, the Lena Gohlman Fox Professor of Political Science and fellow in urban politics at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is cited in an article about inadequacies of the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale.
Chicago Tribune (This article also appeared in the San Antonio Express-News, the Hampton Roads Daily Press, the Connecticut Post, Individual.com.)
http://trib.in/RZU8iB

Bill Hammond says that if trends hold, one in three Texas workers will lack high school diploma by 2040
Research by Steve Murdock, the Allyn and Gladys Cline Professor of Sociology and a former director of the U.S. Census Bureau, is cited in an article about a statement made by Texas Association of Business Chairman Bill Hammond.
Politifact.com
http://bit.ly/OoNXUJ

Daily deals groups look at diversification
Rice research is cited in an article about daily deal websites such as Groupon.
Financial Times (subscription required)
http://on.ft.com/U42M5Y

Top-value 4-year colleges around the US
Rice appears on a list of best-value colleges in the U.S. compiled by Bankrate, an online publisher of financial rate information.
FoxBusiness.com
http://fxn.ws/UTUFqu

Your vote can’t really be counted, so vote as you please
Rice research is cited in an op-ed about voting.
Reason
http://bit.ly/QZ5KId

Neil Armstrong’s solemn but not sad memorial at the National Cathedral
An article about a memorial service for late astronaut Neil Armstrong mentions President John F. Kennedy’s 1962 speech at Rice.
The Atlantic (Similar articles appeared in the Laguna Beach Coastline-Pilot and TopNews.us.)
http://bit.ly/QoOMyJ

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Texas universities hold steady in U.S. News rankings
Rice University is ranked No. 17 in U.S. News & World Report’s guide to America’s best colleges for the ninth consecutive year. Rice is also 10th on the list of best-value schools.
KUHF.org (This article also appeared in the Rio Grande Valley Monitor and ENCToday.com.)
http://bit.ly/PzwmKD
KETV-TV (Omaha, Neb.)
http://bit.ly/RXZkZR

Houston leaders ponder city’s economic growth at Rice summit
Houston’s top leaders gathered at Rice University Sept. 15 to discuss the challenges facing the Bayou City in the 21st century.
Houston Chronicle (This article also appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, the San Antonio Express-News, the Beaumont Enterprise, the Greenwich Time, the Danbury News-Times, the New Canaan News, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, the Albany Times-Union, the Stamford Advocate and the Connecticut Post.)
http://bit.ly/UeHctV

Institute marks 50 years of mending hearts
An op-ed about the Texas Heart Institute cites a Houston Chronicle essay about President John F. Kennedy’s 1962 speech at Rice by Douglas Brinkley, professor of history and fellow in history at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. A separate article reports that Brinkley will speak at the University of Georgia.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/QfGicL
Cronkite biographer to speak Monday at UGA
OnlineAthens.com
http://onlineathens.com/uga/2012-09-15/cronkite-biographer-speak-monday-uga

Experts talk politics, erosion
An article about the Texas Coastal Solutions symposium cites a comment by John Anderson, the W. Maurice Ewing Chair in Oceanography and professor of Earth science.
Galveston Daily News
http://galvestondailynews.com/story/348022/

Shanoop Kothari named chief financial officer at Endicott Biofuels II
Alumnus Shanoop Kothari ’05 has been named chief financial officer at Endicott Biofuels II.
UltimateWestU.com
http://bit.ly/OSWD76

Interactive Strategies Conference set for Oct. 3
The Houston Interactive Marketing Association will hold its Interactive Strategies 2012 Conference Oct. 3 at Rice’s Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business.
UltimateWestU.com
http://bit.ly/SU2VcH

BROADCAST/WEBCAST

KPFT-FM
Ric Stoll, the Albert Thomas Professor of Political Science and scholar at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, appeared on KPFT-FM to discuss protests in the Middle East. The interview begins approximately three minutes into the clip.
http://archive.kpft.org/mp3/kpft_120914_160001news.mp3

KRIV-TV
A story discusses a NASA celebration of the anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s 1962 speech at Rice. (A similar article appeared in the Orlando Sentinel.)
http://bit.ly/TV1Bpm

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Lysosens life extension related research progress
A paper reporting results from the LysoSENS project at Rice University will be published in the printed edition of Biotechnology and Bioengineering. Jacques Mathieu, research scientist in civil and environmental engineering, and Pedro Alvarez, the George R. Brown Professor and chair of Civil and Environmental Engineering, are mentioned.
NextBigFuture.com
http://nextbigfuture.com/2012/09/lysosens-life-extension-related.html

The other Jefferson Davis
Lynda Crist, editor of Rice’s Jefferson Davis Papers Project, is mentioned in an article about Jefferson Davis scholarship.
Humanities
http://1.usa.gov/RQQCHk

Policy bigwigs sound the alarm over ‘fiscal cliff’
An article discusses a forum on America’s debt and fiscal outlook. James Baker, honorary chair of Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, participated in the forum.
Fiscal Times
http://bit.ly/UeQwy4

Jaffe joins UC Davis’ energy, sustainability sector
Articles report that Amy Myers Jaffe, the Wallace S. Wilson Fellow in Energy Studies at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is leaving Rice for the University of California-Davis.
Oil and Gas Investor
http://bit.ly/Q8ZHMo
Oil industry expert joining UC Davis
Sacramento Business Journal
http://bit.ly/R1urUv

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

The most beautiful college dorms in the world
Rice’s McMurtry College appears on a list of the most beautiful college dormitories in the world.
Flavorwire.com
http://bit.ly/RQ3oLM

Violinist Lin will play with Baton Rouge Symphony
Cho-Liang Lin, professor of violin, will perform with the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra.
Baton Rouge Advocate (La.)
http://bit.ly/QjE3bn

College town
Rice is third among national universities and fourth overall in Alumni Factor’s ranking based on surveys of alumni.
Worcester Telegram (Mass.)
http://www.telegram.com/article/20120916/NEWS/109169720/1246

SPORTS

Slow start too much for Owls to overcome
Articles recap a football game between Rice and Louisiana Tech University.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/RfNlqK
Recap: Louisiana Tech 56, Rice 37
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/QfD6he
Louisiana Tech 56, Rice 37
CBSNews.com
http://cbsprt.co/PGj820
Tech offense puts up another 50-point performance in win
Monroe News-Star (Coverage of this game appeared in USA Today, the Charlotte Observer, Examiner.com, FirstCoastNews.com [Jacksonville, Fla.] and nearly 20 other media outlets.)
http://tnsne.ws/V3F0VK

Taylor’s comeback gives Owls a playmaker
Hanszen College junior Jordan Taylor is profiled for his performance on the Rice Owls football team. Assistant coach John Reagan is also quoted.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/QjCp9v

UH, Rice student tickets on sale
Tickets for the 39th annual Bayou Bucket football game between Rice and the University of Houston are now on sale.
TheDailyCougar.com
http://thedailycougar.com/2012/09/17/uh-rice-student-tickets-on-sale/

Mark Perez, new head coach at Burbank
Head football coach David Bailiff is mentioned in an article about the new football coach at Burbank High School in San Antonio.
KENS5.com (San Antonio)
http://www.kens5.com/younews/144025206.html

Time for the Maven’s trivia quiz
Alumnus Dicky Maegle ’55 is mentioned in a column of trivia.
Kingston Daily Freeman (N.Y.)
http://bit.ly/S3lwAy

NEWS RELEASES

Rice to take part in $10.8 million study of hemoglobin toxicity
In the largest undertaking of its kind, scientists at four leading U.S. research institutions are embarking upon a five-year National Institutes of Health-funded study to make blood transfusions safer and more effective by uncovering the exact causes of hemoglobin toxicity.
https://news2.rice.edu/?p=34203

Energy firms must acknowledge cybersecurity as more than an IT problem, according to new Rice University paper
Energy firms have spent vast sums on the security of their information systems, but they must reorient from a reactive, tactical posture regarding intrusions and attacks to a more strategic, holistic view that expands beyond the categorization of the issue as an IT problem, according to a new paper from Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.
https://news2.rice.edu/?p=34231