Dateline Rice for June 21, 2018

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

It’s time to end the crisis in the Gulf
Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, fellow for the Middle East at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, authored an op-ed calling for the U.S. to help broker an end to the economic and diplomatic blockade of Qatar by neighboring Persian Gulf nations.
Gulf Times
http://bit.ly/2tpQbQF

Why Mexico’s energy reform needs AMLO
David Mares, nonresident scholar for Latin American Energy Studies at Rice’s Baker
Institute for Public Policy, authored an op-ed about energy reform policies that should be undertaken by the likely Mexican presidential election winner Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.
Council on Foreign Relations
https://on.cfr.org/2tgwQSS

Brookings survey finds 52 percent believe robots will perform most human activities in 30 years
An article cites a 2016 Rice study that determined the usefulness of Google Consumer Surveys as a low-cost tool for doing rigorous social scientific work and is likely to be a useful platform for survey experimentalists.
Brookings Institution
https://brook.gs/2txWW39

HOUSTON/TEXAS

For tech companies, ‘humanism’ is an empty buzzword. It doesn’t have to be.
Because machine-learning systems tend to reproduce the biases of their programmers,
integrating experts in the humanities into the design process can bring diverse perspectives to the ethical reasoning behind “humanistic” artificial intelligence initiatives, according to an op-ed by Kirsten Ostherr, the Gladys Louise Fox Professor of English and director of Rice’s Medical Futures Lab.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required. This article also appeared in EIN Technology Today.)
http://bit.ly/2ysKpUj

Census: Harris County continues trend toward diversity, even as growth slows
Although Houston’s population growth is slowing, its current diversity represents census projections for the U.S. in 2050, according to Stephen Klineberg, professor of sociology and founding director of Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required. This article also appeared in the June 21 print edition with a different headline, “Harris continues trend of diversity.”)
http://bit.ly/2tfSNl1

Could Texas GOP endorsement lead to marijuana decriminalization?
Bob Stein, the Lena Gohlman Fox Professor of Political Science at Rice, is interviewed about the likelihood of state GOP lawmakers decriminalizing marijuana use in Texas.
KHOU.com
http://bit.ly/2MLMGNm

As more tariffs loom, Austin companies absorb metal price hikes
Peter Rodriguez, dean of Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business, is interviewed about likely increases in domestic goods prices due to tariffs levied on China.
KUT.org
http://bit.ly/2toPGGB

Op-ed: Charging for the free
An article mentions OpenStax, a Rice-based publisher of open educational resources. The Santa Monica Lookout mentions that Santa Monica College was chosen to participate in the 2018-2019 OpenStax Institutional Partnership Program to encourage use of free, peer-reviewed textbooks on campus and quotes Nicole Finkbeiner, associate director of institutional relations for OpenStax.
El Paso Herald-Post
http://bit.ly/2yvfWVH
Santa Monica College to increase use of free textbooks through OpenStax
Santa Monica Lookout
http://bit.ly/2MKGe9l

Strong named new vice president of SWATA
Alumna Lorna Strong ’90 will be the new vice president of the Southwest Athletic Trainers’ Association.
The Amarillo Pioneer
http://bit.ly/2ywdz4F

BROADCAST

‘Political Roundup’: Border separations, red flag law and the Space Force
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, is interviewed in a segment of “Houston Matters” about the political implications of the recent reversal of the immigration detention policy. Jones is also quoted in an article from The Realty Brief about what may have prompted the retirement of Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio.
Houston Public Media
http://bit.ly/2trsrf8
KUIK-AM (Portland, Ore.)
http://bit.ly/2tjrTIM (Click the audio button to listen to the broadcast.)
Texas politics after Joe Straus
The Realty Brief
http://bit.ly/2MJp0t7

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Boring barnacles prefer the shallow life on coral reefs
Rice researchers leaped into a project counting barnacles on coral reefs to understand how barnacles infest stony coral over a variety of conditions and reduce calcium carbonate on reefs. Adrienne Correa, assistant professor of biosciences, and alumna Rebecca Maher ’16 are quoted.
Phys.org (This article also appeared in Science Daily, TunisieSoir.com, Infosurhoy, Newscaf, HealthMedicine.net, ScienMag, FollowNews and EnvironmentGuru.)
http://bit.ly/2MKcGIX

Mexico readies for revolt against neoliberalism
Michael Ard, lecturer in Rice’s Master of Global Affairs program, authored an op-ed about the political positions of likely Mexican presidential election winner Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.
The American Conservative
http://bit.ly/2tshav1

Joint venture: UCI, others create breakthrough treatment for crippling jaw disease
Former faculty member Kyriacos Athanasiou is featured.
UCI News
http://bit.ly/2trQuKD

2018 best eMBAs: Phuong Dinh, Rice University (Jones)
Alumna Phuong Dinh ’18 is featured and pictured and Jing Zhou, the Houston Endowment Professor of Organizational Behavior, director for Asian management research and education at the Jones Graduate School of Business and professor of psychology, is mentioned.
Poets and Quants for Executives
http://bit.ly/2ysG6s8

Queen Diva in ‘Strength of a Woman: A Phyllis Hyman Tribute’ debuts at Feinstein’s/54 Below
An article mentions that Queen Diva studied at Rice’s Glasscock School of Continuing Studies.
Broadway World
http://bit.ly/2yuvWHf

Cake boss
An article mentions that the Chief Justice of the United States John G. Roberts Jr. spoke at Rice.
Commentary Magazine
http://bit.ly/2yC51JU

Department of Energy announces $21 million to advance solar desalination technologies
An article mentions that Rice was awarded $1.7 million by the U.S. Department of Energy to research advancements in solar-thermal desalination technologies.
Department of Energy (This article appeared in 10 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/2MLN9Pr

3D capillary printing in sight! 
Jordan Miller, assistant professor of bioengineering, is quoted.
DDNews (This article appeared in over 50 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/2ttIlp9

Other materials stories that may be of interest
Rice research that discovered electronic properties in quantum-scale devices that are likely to impact the growing field of low-cost perovskite-based optoelectronics is mentioned.
The American Ceramics Society
http://bit.ly/2ysKbw8 (Scroll down to “Scientists go deep to quantify perovskite properties.”)

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Where you live has a bigger impact on happiness and health than you might imagine
Geospatial medicine studies how location affects our health and well-being. Marie Lynn Miranda, Rice’s Howard R. Hughes Provost and professor of statistics, is quoted about how geographic information has to be taken into account to help people achieve good health outcomes. The National Center for Geospatial Medicine at Rice is mentioned.
The Oakland Press (This article also appeared in the Morning Sun Online, The Daily Tribune and The Macomb Daily.)
http://bit.ly/2tqusrO

Former Kudo executive Sukan Makmuri joins Indonesia’s UangTeman as CTOO
Alumnus Sukan Makmuri ’85 is featured and pictured.
Deal Street Asia
http://bit.ly/2yBnG8i

New forms of collective life
An article features the artwork of The Open Workshop studio founded by Neeraj Bhatia, a former Visiting Wortham Fellow and professor of architecture at Rice.
Arbitare
http://bit.ly/2tftDCL

Spend less by pausing and reflecting
An article cites Rice research that determined reflecting on recently used possessions lowered a person’s willingness to pay for new items by about 14 percent compared with the control group.
Mighty Bargain Hunter
http://bit.ly/2yFsaev

Simplicity endures
The late E. Fay Jones ’51 is featured.
NWAOnline
http://bit.ly/2tqd6vb

A compelling glimpse into Soviet space feats
President John F. Kennedy’s “Moon Speech” given at Rice Sept. 12, 1962, is mentioned.
Manorama
http://bit.ly/2yuy1D7

Building your future — professional career wisdom (that works) for class of 2018
Michael Bloomberg’s commencement speech at Rice is mentioned.
The Chronicle
http://bit.ly/2tiCeEX

The Grumblers speak out
An article mentions that Kathleen Jameson attended Rice.
Bucks County Herald
http://bit.ly/2MIjbff

Nearly $2 million in scholarships awarded through Woodlawn High’s Compete 2B a Scholar
An article mentions that Alisa Webb plans to attend Rice.
The Advocate
http://bit.ly/2ts5QyX

Northshore High School
An article mentions that Alton James Dillon plans to attend Rice.
The New Orleans Advocate
http://bit.ly/2teheiO

Putnam Hospital Center Auxiliary awards volunteers scholarships
An article mentions that Nora Maerean plans to attend Rice.
Hudson Valley News Network
http://bit.ly/2yvSesb

SPORTS

C-USA postgraduate scholarships announced
Rice men’s track and field member Scott Filip was awarded the Jim Castañeda Postgraduate Scholarship by Conference-USA, which is named after the late former Rice faculty member and coach.
ConferenceUSA.com (Similar articles appeared in 10 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/2K4u24H

2018 Los Angeles Rams roster preview: EDGE Brian Womac has chance to capitalize
Former Rice football player Brian Womac is featured and pictured.
Turf Show Times
http://bit.ly/2trLLZE

Rice promotes Jessica Rodriguez to full-time assistant
An article mentions that Jessica Rodriguez will be the new assistant women’s swimming coach. The former assistant women’s swimming coach, Amanda Caldwell, is mentioned and head women’s swimming coach Seth Huston is quoted.
Swimming World Magazine
http://bit.ly/2yxJVw2

Northwestern football schedules games with Tulane, Rice and South Dakota State
Rice football’s schedule against Northwestern is featured.
SB Nation
http://bit.ly/2ysqOTW

‘Good Morning Nashville on News 2 at 5 a.m.’
Rice’s new head baseball coach Matt Bragga is mentioned.
WKRN-TV (Nashville, Tenn.)
http://bit.ly/2MKAhJz (Click the video button to watch the broadcast.)

NEWS RELEASE

DOE backs materials study for batteries and beyond
Rice materials scientist Ming Tang is one of 85 “outstanding scientists early in their careers” awarded a prestigious grant by the U.S. Department of Energy Early Career Research Program. Tang, an assistant professor of materials science and nanoengineering, will receive a university grant of $150,000 a year for five years. His lab will use the funds to examine morphological instability mechanisms observed during the electrodeposition of active metals.
http://bit.ly/2tgQxKe