Dateline Rice for May 30, 2013

FEATURED ITEMS

Rice profs win prestigious award, donate winnings to African hospital
Rebecca Richards-Kortum and Maria Oden won the 2013 $100,000 Lemelson-MIT Award for Global Innovation and are donating their prize money toward the construction of a new neonatal ward at the African hospital that has helped implement Rice’s low-cost, student-designed health care technologies since 2007. Richards-Kortum is the Stanley C. Moore Professor of Bioengineering and professor of electrical and computer engineering. Oden is a professor in the practice of engineering education and director of the Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen.
Houston Woman
https://news2.rice.edu/files/2013/05/HWLemelFull.jpg

Support for immigration, gay rights and background checks for all gun sales has grown significantly among all Houstonians
As the immigration debate in the U.S. Senate heats up, findings from the 32nd annual Kinder Institute Houston Area Survey show that support for immigration reform has grown significantly among Houstonians. Other findings in this year’s survey: Area residents overwhelmingly support expanding criminal background checks for gun sales, support for gay rights has grown significantly and Houstonians report no improvement in their personal financial situations despite Houston’s strong economy and low unemployment rates. Stephen Klineberg, professor of sociology and co-director of the Kinder Institute for Urban Research, is quoted.
Houston Woman
https://news2.rice.edu/files/2013/05/HWKinderFull.jpg

Tree Amigos build bridge for Houston Arboretum
Team Tree Amigos built a bridge for the Houston Arboretum. Martel College junior Kathryn Hokamp, Duncan College sophomore Michael Donatti and Hanszen College junior Katherine Stiles are quoted. Duncan College sophomore Stephen Phillips is mentioned.
Houston Woman
https://news2.rice.edu/files/2013/05/HWBridgeFull.jpg

Solar cell advance for copolymer ‘bands’
Scientists have created solar cells based on block copolymers, self-assembling organic materials that arrange themselves into distinct layers. Rafael Verduzco, the Louis Owen Assistant Professor and Junior Faculty Chair of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, is quoted.
Futurity.org
http://bit.ly/140DR6Y
Self-assembling PV cells? Yup, say Rice, Penn State
CleanEnergyAuthority.com
http://bit.ly/1aBKXPA

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Worst job in Venezuela: Succeeding Hugo Chavez
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 in an article about Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Jones is also quoted in columns about Texas politics.
Salon.com
http://bit.ly/18vdh9s
Comptroller Susan Combs riding off into the sunset followed by posse of possible successors
Austin American-Statesman
http://bit.ly/119QrN0
Perry may show plans for future in session
San Antonio Express-News
http://bit.ly/12ccj0z

Children living with married parents less likely to be obese
Children living in households where the parents are married are less likely to be obese, according to new research from Rice University and the University of Houston. Rachel Tolbert Kimbro, associate professor of sociology and director of the Kinder Institute for Urban Research’s Urban Health Program, is quoted.
New York Daily News (This article also appeared on NewsmaxHealth.com and Canoe.ca.)
http://nydn.us/11brC6x

Getting to Geneva
Andrew Bowen, Baker Institute scholar for the Middle East at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, authored this op-ed about peace talks proposed by the U.S. and Russia.
Majalla
http://bit.ly/15ickx0

At age 22, a Harvard Law graduate
Alumnus Cortlan Wickliff ’10 is profiled for graduating from Harvard Law School. He is 22.
Boston Globe
http://b.globe.com/148UIB8
Harvard law grad is 1 of youngest blacks to graduate from the school
ABA Journal
http://bit.ly/12jXPf7

A 3rd George Bush steps up to the political plate in Texas
Alumnus George P. Bush ’98 is profiled for his political aspirations.
McClatchyDC.com (This article also appeared in the Sacramento Bee, the Seattle Times and Ryot.org.)
http://bit.ly/15jmgX2

Change or be changed, US think-tank advises BN
Research by Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy is cited in an article about Malaysian politics.
TheMalaysianInsider.com
http://bit.ly/19plyuG

HOUSTON/TEXAS

It’s time for an open, national debate on climate change
Ron Sass, a fellow in global climate change at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, authored this op-ed about climate change.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/15e42H6

Support of prep schools key to Houston’s future
Rich Kinder, a supporter of Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, cited research by the institute in a Houston Chronicle op-ed in support of college prep charter schools.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/18yidKP

In Houston, too much fine dust?
In Houston, air pollution concerns usually center on ozone. The area violates federal standards on ozone and perpetually struggles to become compliant. But Houston environmentalists and businesses are paying increasingly close attention to another pollutant — fine dust. Daniel Cohan, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, is quoted.
Texas Tribune
http://www.texastribune.org/2013/05/30/houston-too-much-fine-dust/

Fort Bend Infrastructure Summit to be presented by Fort Bend, Katy Area Chambers
Alumnus M. Ray Perryman ’78 will speak at the Fort Bend Infrastructure Summit.
Fort Bend Sun (This article also appeared in the Sugar Land Sun and the Fort Bend Star.)
http://bit.ly/16sm6Bj

Looking for a job while choosing a college
Rice is mentioned in a column about college and career planning.
Houston Chronicle (subscription required) (This column appeared on the front of the Business section.)
http://bit.ly/ZvABB6

Dawson Salutatorian adds Rice University degree to his resume
Rice is mentioned in an article about a Dawson High School student.
Pearland Journal
http://bit.ly/11yzTTQ

Hard work pays off for valedictorian
Rice is mentioned in an article about Harlingen High School South’s valedictorian.
Harlingen Valley Morning Star
http://bit.ly/10CfUlG

Dallas philanthropist commits $50 million to MD Anderson’s Moon Shots Program
President John F. Kennedy’s 1962 speech at Rice is mentioned in an article about a pledge of $50 million to the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center’s Moon Shots Program.
Texas Medical Center News
http://bit.ly/11dJMEM

Cliburn Impromptus
Paul Hester, lecturer in visual and dramatic arts, and his wife, alumna Lisa Hardaway ’81, are mentioned in an article about the Van Cliburn Competition.
TheaterJones.com
http://bit.ly/ZgAlUk

HGO Studio takes in 5 young artists
Alumna Emily Senturia ’04 was picked by the Houston Grand Opera to join its HGO Studio training program.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/140F3Ht

BROADCAST/WEBCAST

KPRC-TV
A new study shows more moms are the breadwinners in the household. Erin Cech, assistant professor of sociology, is quoted.
http://bit.ly/18B61GQ

KUHF-FM
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 quoted in a story about the Texas Legislature’s special session.
http://bit.ly/12Rjd6D

KTRH-AM
A story about a Soyuz launch to the international space station mentions President John F. Kennedy’s 1962 speech at Rice.
http://bit.ly/ZgD1kX

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Big prize for small dots
Alumnus Louis Brus ’65 is being honored with the 2013 Welch Award in Chemistry for developing nanodots and pioneering the semiconductor nanomaterials field.
Chemical & Engineering News
http://cen.acs.org/articles/91/i22/Big-Prize-Small-Dots.html

Finding new tools for tracing fracking impacts
Andrew Barron, the Charles W. Duncan Jr.-Welch Professor of Chemistry and professor of materials science, is quoted in an article about hydraulic fracturing.
ClaimsJournal.com
http://www.claimsjournal.com/news/east/2013/05/29/229748.htm

UMKC selected to host international entrepreneurship conference
The University of Missouri-Kansas City’s Henry W. Bloch School of Management has been selected to host the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers’ annual conference. The article notes that Rice has previously hosted the conference.
Kansas City Business Journal
http://bit.ly/ZeWEtw

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

DOE gadfly Kopplin seeks voucher records
Hanszen College sophomore Zack Kopplin is profiled for his fight against the teaching of creationism in public schools.
TheInd.com
http://bit.ly/18uZtvG

SPORTS

Rice’s Lemond is more than a closer
Jones College sophomore Zech Lemond is profiled for his performance on the Rice Owls baseball team. Head coach Wayne Graham and Martel College junior Austin Kubitza are quoted.
Houston Chronicle (subscription required)
http://bit.ly/14aa8Fa

KHOU-TV
The Rice Owls baseball team has been selected to play in the Regional of the 2013 NCAA Tournament.
http://bit.ly/11qXpfu
Tulane baseball not the only team down in Conference USA this season; league sends only Rice to a NCAA Regional
New Orleans Times-Picayune
http://bit.ly/13iZZHE

Rice basketball assistant named head coach at Cal State East Bay
Rice men’s basketball assistant coach Gus Argenal was named head coach at Cal State East Bay in Hayward, Calif.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/119JDiz

Smart scheduling does trick for Sam Houston State
Head baseball coach Wayne Graham is mentioned in an article about Sam Houston State University baseball.
Houston Chronicle (subscription required)
http://bit.ly/10Cbjjz

The biggest busts in New York Yankees draft history
Alumnus Jon Skaggs ’01 is mentioned in an article about New York Yankees draft picks.
BleacherReport.com
http://bit.ly/18AZ3l7

The biggest draft busts in New York Mets history
Former Rice baseball player Philip Humber appears in a photo slideshow of New York Mets draft picks.
BleacherReport.com
http://bit.ly/11CMntH

NEWS RELEASE

Biologists take snapshot of fleeting protein process
Structural biologists from Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine have captured the first three-dimensional crystalline snapshot of a critical but fleeting process that takes place thousands of times per second in each human cell. The research appears online today in the journal Cell Reports and could prove useful in the study of cancer and other diseases.
https://news2.rice.edu/?p=46004