Dateline Rice for Aug. 21, 2015

FEATURED ITEMS

Rice University welcoming in ‘smartest freshman class ever’
The impressive academic background of Rice’s freshman class is featured. Chris Muñoz, vice president for enrollment, and freshmen Molly Tilbrook and Martin Rather are quoted.
KHOU-TV
http://bit.ly/1PpWmY3
KENS-TV (San Antonio, Texas)
http://bit.ly/1JafoQu

Employee layoffs in oilfield services companies: Panacea or poison?
Vikas Mittal, the J. Hugh Liedtke Professor of Marketing at Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business, and Anthea Zhang, professor of management at the Jones School, and Kent State University assistant professor Christopher Groening authored an op-ed about their study of over 4,000 publicly traded companies and the companies’ focus on employees and customers.
Rigzone
http://bit.ly/1hwrR8u

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Mark Jones, the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies, professor of political science and fellow in political science at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, authored an op-ed about Argentina’s search for a new president in the midst of economic turmoil. Jones also comments on presidential candidate Donald Trump’s close poll race against Democrat president hopeful Hillary Clinton and Ted Cruz’s campaign moves.
Here’s what you need to know about Argentina’s 2015 federal elections
The Washington Post
http://wapo.st/1UXmw8f
El magnate Donald Trump acecha a Hillary en los sondeos
Coloquio Digital (Similar articles appeared in MSN Chile, Noticias Segundos, Toda Noticia and Aldia.com. An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/1LoVWmU
All eyes on Cruz in Iowa
KTSA.com
http://bit.ly/1HZEwpj
KTSA-AM (San Antonio, Texas)
http://bit.ly/1KaaKEq

UHF Wi-Fi: A way to maximize bandwidth
The underutilized UHF band is perfect for wireless data and can carry for miles and is not blocked by walls or trees, researchers at Rice University said. Edward Knightly, professor of electrical and computer engineering and computer science, is quoted. Graduate student Xu Zhang is mentioned.
Bloomberg Business
http://bloom.bg/1hQdJ9S

Researchers embed graphene with metallic nanoparticles
Rice University chemists who developed a unique form of graphene have found a way to embed metallic nanoparticles that turn the material into a useful catalyst for fuel cells and other applications. James Tour, the T.T. and W.F. Chao Professor of Chemistry, professor of computer science and of materials science and nanoengineering, is quoted.
Breitbart (This article also appeared in Investor Point, Phys.org, Science Daily and e! Science News.)
http://bit.ly/1Jvvhoa

It may be time to change the college tenure system
Stephen Zeff, the Keith Anderson Professor in Business and professor of accounting at Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business, co-authored a letter supporting the concept of long-term, potentially renewable contracts of varying lengths for faculty.
Wall Street Journal
http://on.wsj.com/1LoT617

HOUSTON/TEXAS

In wealthy ZIP codes, freestanding ERs find a home
Vivian Ho, the James A. Baker III Institute Chair in Health Economics at the Baker Institute and professor of economics, is quoted about the unlikelihood of freestanding ERs being built in low-income communities.
The Texas Tribune (This article also appeared in The Gilmer Mirror.)
http://bit.ly/1EHOueG

Sugar Land mayoral election has the potential to be a historic one
Bob Stein, the Lena Gohlman Fox Professor of Political Science, commented on the racial diversity of the Sugar Land mayoral candidates.
Fort Bend Star
http://bit.ly/1EFIq6y

Battle of the Badges returns Aug. 29
The Rice University Police Department will participate in Galveston’s seventh annual “Battle of the Badges” at the Moody Gardens Convention Center Aug. 29.
Galveston.com
http://bit.ly/1Jad89M

BROADCAST

Texas health survey shows both insured and uninsured skip needed care
Texans without health insurance are twice as likely to skip seeking primary and mental health care because of cost. That’s one of the findings of a new survey released Aug. 20 by Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and the Episcopal Health Foundation. Elena Marks, president and CEO of the foundation and a nonresident health policy fellow at the Baker Institute, and Vivian Ho, the James A. Baker III Institute Chair in Health Economics at the Baker Institute and professor of economics, are quoted.
Houston Public Media
http://bit.ly/1WJw2ha
Uninsured Texans are twice as likely to delay seeking primary care, mental health care, report shows
Science Daily (This article also appeared in Medical Xpress, Columbia Universal, Nigerian Herald, Press-News, e! Science News, Science Newsline and World News.)
http://bit.ly/1hwlP7H
Texans without health insurance may skip seeking primary and mental health care due to cost
News-Medical
http://bit.ly/1MCQpYx

KUT 90.5 (Austin, Texas)
Kenneth Medlock, senior director of the Center for Energy Studies, the James A. Baker III and Susan Baker Fellow in Energy and Resource Economics and lecturer of economics, is quoted about the necessary moves oil companies are taking to maintain business.
http://bit.ly/1JmSWRn

Classical music station KUHA 91.7 moving to HD radio, digital format
KUHA 91.7-FM will move to an HD radio and digital format. The station manager would like to sell the station’s frequency and transmitter, which the University of Houston purchased from Rice University for $9.5 million.
Houston Public Media
http://bit.ly/1LoR5lv

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Scientists turn oily soil into fertile ground
Rice University scientists are cleaning soil contaminated by oil spills in a way that saves energy and reclaims the soil’s fertility. Pedro Alvarez, the George R. Brown Professor and chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering; Kyriacos Zygourakis, the A.J. Hartsook Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Professor of Bioengineering; Caroline Masiello, associate professor of Earth science; and graduate student Julia Vidonish are quoted.
Phys.org
http://bit.ly/1gZ84xA
Cleaning soil contaminated by oil spills in an energy-efficient way
Scicasts
http://bit.ly/1Nquzcz
From oil-spill soil to fertile ground
Nature World News
http://bit.ly/1MIuoZU

Imaging software could speed up breast cancer diagnosis
Rebecca Richards-Kortum, the Malcolm Gillis University Professor, director of the Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineering and of Rice 360°: Institute for Global Health Technologies, and graduate student Jessica Dobbs are quoted about a new Rice-developed technology that would speed up breast cancer diagnosis with 90 percent accuracy.
Red Orbit
http://bit.ly/1JoIBso

US loosens crude oil export ban
An article on the potential effect of Washington lifting a 40-year-old ban on crude oil exports mentions a report released in March by Rice University.
Oil & Gas 360
http://bit.ly/1MAHMh0

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

OpenStax College expects to save students $25M this year
Rice University-based nonprofit OpenStax College today unveiled three new textbooks and said its growing catalog of free textbooks will save students an estimated $25 million in the coming academic year.
University Business
http://bit.ly/1Lp4IkK

Art beat: Remembering ‘Doc Johnson,’ who fought illness in Alaska
A profile of alumnus Zachary Spontak ’15 mentions his former professor, Paul Kantor, the Sallie Shepherd Perkins Professor of Violin at Rice’s Shepherd School of Music.
Alaska News
http://bit.ly/1TXZGAk

SPORTS

Aggies open season Friday at Rice
Rice women’s soccer will play against Texas A&M University today at Holloway Field. Head women’s soccer coach Nicky Thrasher Adams is mentioned.
KBTX.com
http://bit.ly/1MIyOQH

SAL notes: Hoelscher starting to shine
Former Rice baseball player Shane Hoelscher is featured. Head baseball coach Wayne Graham is mentioned.
MiLB.com
http://atmilb.com/1NA8l6U

Tyler Duffey’s curveball is as advertised
Former baseball standout Tyler Duffey is featured.
Baseball Essential
http://bit.ly/1Ka5bpv

NEWS RELEASE

Scientists turn oily soil into fertile ground
Rice University scientists are cleaning soil contaminated by oil spills in a way that saves energy and reclaims the soil’s fertility.
http://bit.ly/1MCQD1W