Dateline Rice for Feb. 18, 2019 (Weekend Edition)

FEATURED ITEMS

AAAS: Machine learning ‘causing science crisis’
Machine-learning techniques used by thousands of scientists to analyze data is producing results that are misleading and often completely wrong, according to a study by Genevera Allen ’06, associate professor of statistics, computer science and electrical and computer engineering.
BBC News (This article also appeared in 20 other media outlets.)
https://bbc.in/2X6Po5m
BBC World News Service 
WHYY-FM (Philadelphia. This American Public Media-affiliated broadcast aired on over 1,000 radio stations around the world.)
http://bit.ly/2BIgLcE
Machine learning is contributing to a ‘reproducibility crisis’ within science
MIT Technology Review 
http://bit.ly/2TUslIT 
Machine-learning techniques often produce misleading or wrong results, researcher warns 
Computing
http://bit.ly/2TTwSva
Statistician raises red flag about reliability of machine learning techniques
Digital Trends (This article also appeared in H2S Media.)
http://bit.ly/2TPvE41
Can we trust scientific discoveries made using machine learning?
Lab Manager Magazine (This article also appeared in 15 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/2BHsZCn

Historian Douglas Brinkley: National emergency another ‘unprecedented’ Trump moment
Douglas Brinkley, the Katherine Tsanoff Brown Professor in Humanities, is interviewed on a new episode of “Here & Now” about President Donald Trump’s emergency declaration to build a U.S.-Mexico border wall.
WBUR-FM (Boston. This segment aired on over 550 affiliate radio stations across the U.S.)
http://bit.ly/2TTHlqh

Rice women ranked for first time in school history
An article featuring Rice’s women’s basketball team mentions that the Owls, who have won 15 straight games, are ranked No. 25 in the nation in the Associated Press’ Top 25 poll, the highest rank in school history. Head coach Tina Langley is quoted, and players Erica and Olivia Ogwumike are mentioned.
USA Today (This Associated Press article appeared in more than 50 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/2V4sWrr

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Trump’s border wall faces Texas-size backlash from land owners
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 quoted about national politics in two articles.
Bloomberg (This article also appeared in more than 50 other media outlets.)
https://bloom.bg/2BIs7gK 
Will a big-name Democrat run for John Cornyn’s Senate seat?
Austin American-Statesman
https://atxne.ws/2S3iXRv
KRLD-AM (Dallas) 
http://bit.ly/2TUzngL (This segment aired three additional times.)

The hidden power of the invited talk
Graduate student Christine Nittrouer, lead author of a 2017 study documenting the gender dynamics at play in invited talks, is cited.
The Chronicle of Higher Education
http://bit.ly/2TXjtlK

How to see the biggest, brightest supermoon of 2019
Patrick Hartigan, professor of physics and astronomy, is quoted.
NBCNews.com (This article also appeared in 10 other media outlets.)
https://nbcnews.to/2S4Drct

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Energy companies are losing the trust battle: Here’s how to win it back
Vikas Mittal, the J. Hugh Liedtke Professor of Marketing at Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business, co-authored an op-ed. He is also pictured in a slideshow.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required. This article also appeared in the Feb. 18 print edition and more than 25 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/2BFyB07
http://bit.ly/2BF9ryE

Microsoft closing the window on Windows 7
Klara Jelinkova, vice president for international operations and information technology and chief information officer at Rice, is featured and pictured in an article about the task of upgrading the university’s computer systems.
Houston Chronicle (This article appeared in the Feb. 18 print edition and a previous edition of Dateline when it first appeared online.)
http://bit.ly/2BFsU2i

Green New Deal: Climate solutions within reach
A study by Rice scientists that determined renewable energy could supplant coal in Texas is mentioned.
San Antonio Express-News (Subscription is required. This article also appeared in more than 30 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/2X0kbAy

Bill.com selects Houston for office expansion
An article mentions that Bill.com will participate in Rice hiring events Feb. 19 and 24.
Houston Chronicle (This article appeared in the Feb. 18 print edition and a previous edition of Dateline when it first appeared online.)
http://bit.ly/2TUWzLX

UT, A&M, other Texas schools have long history of blackface
Rice is mentioned.
Dallas Morning News (Subscription is required.)
http://bit.ly/2X3GMMR

WindSync quintet concert Feb. 22 at The Warehouse at Alley Station
Alumnus Garrett Hudson ’11, who holds a master’s degree from Rice’s Shepherd School of Music, is featured and pictured.
Montgomery Advertiser
http://bit.ly/2TWipyG

Dozens of events mark Black History Month
A roundup of Houston-area events for Black History Month mentions events that will take place at Rice: “Fallou” and “Felikaanstraat 20” will be screened Feb. 19 as part of the West African Film Festival; the Rice Student Center will screen “Hidden Figures” Feb. 21; Rice’s National Society of Black Engineers will host Black History Trivia Night Feb. 22 in the Duncan Commons; the exhibit “Blacks at Rice: An Evolving Legacy” at the African American Library at the Gregory School will be on view through Feb. 24; and Step Afrika will perform Feb. 27 in the Rice Memorial Center.
Houston Chronicle (This article appeared in the Feb. 17 print edition.)
http://bit.ly/2S51hVy
West African Film Festival to take place at UHCL Pearland
The Signal
http://bit.ly/2BGRDmR

Climate change symposium: Will Houston become beachfront property?
An article about the “Toward a Better Future: Transforming the Climate Crisis” symposium quotes Dominic Boyer, professor of anthropology in Rice’s School of Social Sciences and director of the Center for Energy and Environmental Research in the Human Sciences at Rice, and Cymene Howe, associate professor of anthropology. Boyer and Howe, co-directors of the documentary film “Not Ok,” which explores the cultural and ecological significance of the loss of Iceland’s smallest glacier, Okjökull, will discuss the work after a screening March 1. A video of the film’s trailer is included.
Houston Press
http://bit.ly/2TTrDLP

Writer Mehra’s family ‘checks all the boxes’
An article featuring alumna Nishta Mehra mentions that her wife, Jill Carroll, is a former religion professor at Rice.
Houston Chronicle (This article appeared in the Feb. 17 print edition and a previous edition of Dateline when it was first posted online.)
http://bit.ly/2S6N6iU

Will the Houston Botanic Garden prove to be a good neighbor?
Christof Spieler, senior lecturer of architecture, is quoted about the Houston Botanic Garden.
Houston Chronicle (This article appeared in the Feb. 17 print edition.)
http://bit.ly/2S8VFtA

BROADCAST

‘Morning News’
A television broadcast features alumna Karen Yen ’18, winner of the 48th annual Miss Chinatown USA pageant.
KCBA-TV (Monterey, California. This segment also aired six additional times.)
http://bit.ly/2BG81Up

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Red phosphorus may be the key to creating more efficient lithium metal batteries
Research by Rice scientists who have developed the next step toward the deployment of powerful, rechargeable lithium metal batteries by making them safer and simpler to manufacture is featured. James Tour, the T.T. and W.F. Chao Chair in Chemistry and a professor of computer science and of materials science and nanoengineering, is quoted.
Interesting Engineering
http://bit.ly/2BHPerN

The arts and more: How Suzanne and David Booth give in Texas
Alumna Suzanne Deal Booth ’77 is featured.
Inside Philanthropy
http://bit.ly/2TPMSOG

Could ultracapacitors replace batteries in future electric vehicles?
An article mentions Rice’s graphene-based supercapacitors research.
Interesting Engineering
http://bit.ly/2TQXTiU

How graphene might revolutionize industry beyond semiconductors
An article mentions that researchers from Rice and Lomonosov Moscow State University discovered that graphene oxide can remove radioactive material from contaminated water.
Electro Pages
http://bit.ly/2U2uemE

How a Rhodes College economics professor became one of world’s best at betting on horses
Alumnus Marshall Gramm is featured and pictured.
The Commercial Appeal
http://bit.ly/2X7BAYb

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Scientists have warned about the dangers of excessive love
Research by the lab of Chris Fagundes, assistant professor of psychological sciences, that determined grief can cause inflammation that can kill, is featured
www.MICEtimes.asia 
http://bit.ly/2BFlH2b

Barack Obama: Trump’s nationalism ‘not pride in country, but hatred for somebody on the other side of the border’
An article mentions that former President Barack Obama spoke at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy’s 25th anniversary celebration.
Herdon Gazette
http://bit.ly/2TXrIyc

Man with rare skin condition shared his story to inspire Mason students
Martel College sophomore Shane DiGiovanna, who is a motivational speaker, is featured and pictured.
Hamilton Journal News
http://bit.ly/2TUlyyT

ICYMI: Florida education news in review, week of Feb. 11, 2019
A news roundup cites a Rice study that determined that arts-learning experiences reduced disciplinary infractions, increased compassion for others and improved writing achievements.
Tampa Bay Times (Scroll down to “Investigating Causal Effects of Arts Education Experiences.”)
http://bit.ly/2BHAeu3

Dakota Wind Quintet to perform free concert
Rice is mentioned.
Watertown Public Opinion
http://bit.ly/2BIpc7V

Cal State Long Beach, Coast Guard partner to bring scholarships, job opportunities to students
An article mentions that Stephen Bor attended Rice on a College Student Pre-Commissioning Initiative scholarship.
Long Beach Press-Telegram
http://bit.ly/2TPOBDE

9 Lee faculty receive tenure
An article mentions that Drew Bledsoe formerly taught at Rice.
The Chattanoogan
http://bit.ly/2BFoBEa

SPORTS

’13 Eyewitness News at 10 p.m.’
The Rice baseball team won two of three games in its season-opening series against the University of Rhode Island Feb. 15-17 at Reckling Park. Head coach Matt Bragga and players Kendal Jefferies, Antonio Cruz, Andrew Dunlap, Cade Edwards, Matt Canterino, Trei Cruz and Aaron Beaulaurier are mentioned in numerous stories.
KTRK-TV (Houston)
http://bit.ly/2TUGNR3
Matt Bragga’s Rice debut ends in loss to Rhode Island
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required. This article also appeared in the Feb. 16 print edition with a different headline, “Bragga’s debut sours when Owls falter late,” and it appeared in more than 25 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/2BGMATr
http://bit.ly/2BF0tBu
URI baseball looking to thaw out from 2018 season
The Chariho Times
http://bit.ly/2TVYShw
Arizona baseball notebook: 4 things that stood out in season-opening series
Arizona Daily Wildcat
http://bit.ly/2TUqBiP
Texas comes up just short against Louisiana, drops Game 3, 8-6
HornSports 
http://bit.ly/2TR6br2
Arizona baseball sweeps UMass Lowell in convincing fashion to open 2019 season
Arizona Daily Wildcat
http://bit.ly/2TVZyDA

Rice aims to take care of business in C-USA bonus play
Several articles feature or mention Rice’s men’s and women’s basketball teams. Men’s head coach Scott Pera is featured and pictured in the first Houston Chronicle article, and the second Houston Chronicle article mentions that Rice’s women’s team won its 15th consecutive game Feb. 16 at Tudor Fieldhouse and is in first place in Conference USA.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required. This article also appeared in more than 25 other media outlets.)http://bit.ly/2BF0Uf6
http://bit.ly/2V9v4yt
Thumbs up, down: Stoners save a tiger and Godspeed Opportunity
Houston Chronicle (This article appeared in the Feb. 16 print edition with a different headline “Ups, downs.”)
http://bit.ly/2TUBZeC
Tech overpowers shorthanded Baylor
Houston Chronicle (This article also appeared in the Feb. 17 print edition.) 
http://bit.ly/2Sbhbh2
Anonymous gambler: Few things move lines like QB shuffles
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/2U2sr0U
Defense shines as FAU tops Rice 60-41
Houston Chronicle (This article also appeared in more than 25 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/2BRg94P
http://bit.ly/2BKnOSd
FAU cruises to 60-41 win over Rice to clinch 1st non-losing season since 2010-11
Palm Beach Post
https://pbpo.st/2BFreWy 
Win and in 
FAU Owl Access
http://bit.ly/2BRh6tV
Who will the Charlotte 49ers face in Conference USA ‘bonus play?’
Charlotte Observer
http://bit.ly/2TRfAP3

Torres wins pentathlon on opening day of C-USA Indoor
An article mentions that Rice’s women’s track and field athlete Michelle Fokam won the long jump at the Conference USA Indoor Track & Field Championships.
UTSA Athletics
http://bit.ly/2BIDEN4

6 Tigers add all-state honors
An article mentions that Arturo Hernandez plans to play baseball at Rice.
Sealy News
http://bit.ly/2TUnTKb

What we’re watching in 2019
An article mentions Rice head baseball coach Matt Bragga and former head coach Wayne Graham.
CollegeBaseballInsider.com
http://bit.ly/2V3n5mj

A&M feeling all right with its left-handed rotation
An article mentions that Rice’s baseball team will play the Texas A&M University March 19.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required.)
http://bit.ly/2V4YKMS

UH’s loaded lineup to lead the way on diamond
An article mentions that Rice’s baseball team will play the University of Houston March 5.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required.)
http://bit.ly/2V6XkSd

Ryle senior guard adds Division I Player of the Year to the awards she’s collected in final season 
An article featuring Lauren Schwartz mentions that she plans to play basketball at Rice.
Northern Kentucky Tribune
http://bit.ly/2TUBktD

Women’s tennis to host Houston
An article mentions that Louisiana State University’s women’s tennis team
defeated Rice earlier this season.
LSUSports.net
http://bit.ly/2BISV0C

Bengals coaching profile: James Casey
Former Rice football player James Casey, an assistant coach for the Cincinnati Bengals, is featured.
SB Nation
http://bit.ly/2TVYoYK

NEWS RELEASES

Can we trust scientific discoveries made using machine learning?
Rice statistician Genevera Allen says scientists must keep questioning the accuracy and reproducibility of scientific discoveries made by machine-learning techniques until researchers develop new computational systems that can critique themselves.
http://bit.ly/2BFAE4m

Kaden Hazzard wins NSF CAREER Award
How cold can it get? Physicists don’t actually know, but Kaden Hazzard aims to find out. Hazzard, an assistant professor of physics and astronomy at Rice, will pursue that question with backing from the National Science Foundation, which has named him the recipient of a prestigious CAREER Award, given to the nation’s most promising young faculty.
http://bit.ly/2BIRfUC