Boniuk Institute convenes leading religion scholars at Rice Paris Center
The Boniuk Institute for the Study and Advancement of Religious Tolerance recently gathered scholars representing nearly a dozen different nations at the Rice University Global Paris Center to discuss new directions for global research on religious violence and pluralism.
Rice’s Liu Idea Lab welcomes Sandy Guitar to advisory board
The Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Lilie) at Rice is proud to announce the appointment of Sandy Guitar to its advisory board. Guitar is a highly respected leader in the venture and private equity worlds, bringing decades of experience in early stage investing, strategic growth and founder support to advance Lilie’s mission of empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs at Rice.
OwlSpark announces students, alumni and staff selected for its 13th cohort
OwlSpark, Rice’s startup and small business accelerator for Rice-affiliated ventures, brings together 11 companies in the program’s 13th year who represent a new wave of entrepreneurs tackling challenges across technology, consumer products, health care and more. Since 2013, the accelerator has supported 229 founders and launched 104 ventures with participants collectively raising more than $116 million in funding.
Proposed ‘anti-science’ federal budget will boost China’s progress, Baker Institute expert says
Experts on American science and research policy are available to discuss how the Trump administration’s proposed budget cuts could affect the country’s citizens and global leadership.
New national survey reveals what American consumers truly value across 18 key industries
The 2025 Customer Value Report, authored by marketing researchers at Rice and the University of Miami Patti and Allan Herbert Business School, evaluates 18 sectors representing the full spectrum of American consumer life — from banking, education and health care to streaming services and law enforcement.
Extreme price variation at Houston hospitals continues, expert says
Houston hospitals show significant pricing differences in their procedures, according to a new brief from Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. The research revisits the websites of the four largest Texas Medical Center (TMC) hospitals to assess whether they have followed federal hospital price transparency laws. The analysis focuses on the listed prices from Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center, HCA Houston Healthcare Medical Center, Houston Methodist Hospital and Memorial Hermann-TMC.
Veloci wins the 2025 Rice Launch Challenge
Veloci, an innovative shoe company founded by Rice student-athlete Tyler Strothman, took home the top prize at the annual Napier Rice Launch Challenge (NRLC). The April 22 banner event featured pitches from the final five ventures of the competition to a panel of distinguished judges in front of a live audience.
Lilie announces 2025 Rice Innovation Fellows cohort
The Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Lilie) has introduced the 2025 Rice Innovation Fellows cohort, a dynamic group set to lead the future of scientist- and engineer-driven spinout ventures from Rice labs.
Intero Biosystems from University of Michigan wins Rice Business Plan Competition
Intero Biosystems — a life science company that has developed the first cell-derived human “minigut” replicating cell types, spatial structure and function of the human intestine — took home the grand prize at the 2025 Rice Business Plan Competition.
Author Sandy Tolan discusses free speech and the Middle East at Rice Reflects event
Rice Reflects, an initiative from the Office of the Provost, brought bestselling author Sandy Tolan to McMurtry Auditorium March 10 to discuss free speech and the historical context of the Israel-Palestine conflict.
42 startups to compete for $1M at Rice Business Plan Competition April 10-12
The annual Rice Business Plan Competition (RBPC), presented by Rice Business, will bring together top graduate student-run startups from around the country to compete for more than $1 million in cash, investments and in-kind prizes April 10-12 in Houston.
OpenStax announces completed computer science collection
OpenStax, a leading provider of high-quality open educational resources and interactive learning technologies housed at Rice, announces the completion of its computer science digital textbook collection. These resources provide free, up-to-date, relevant and engaging learning content to support students and educators in one of today’s most popular and rapidly evolving fields.
Propelling the future of prosthetics
Pranai Reddy, a senior studying business management, biochemistry and entrepreneurship, has spent his time at Rice University figuring out how to improve the usability in prosthetic hands and how to give students a hands-on learning experience in venture capital.
2 ‘influential women’ of Rice recognized by Houston Woman Magazine
Houston Woman Magazine recently recognized numerous women representing business, philanthropy and academia as part of its annual Houston’s 50 Most Influential Women, and Rice is home to two of those remarkable women.
Wagner Kamakura, the Jesse H. Jones Professor Emeritus of Marketing at Rice, passed away peacefully March 11 surrounded by his family.
