Rice moves up more than 20 spots in QS World University Rankings
Rice has advanced 22 spots in the 2026 edition of the QS World University Rankings, climbing to No. 119 globally and No. 29 among U.S. universities.
Rice champions research and innovation during Texas’ legislative session
The Texas 89th Legislative Session marked a milestone for Rice's government relations efforts as the university played a vital role in advancing key legislative priorities that support research, student health and higher education opportunities in the state.
Rice University’s OpenStax partners with Microsoft for AI-enhanced learning
OpenStax, a provider of affordable instructional technologies and the world’s largest publisher of open educational resources, has partnered with Microsoft to integrate its trusted content into Microsoft’s latest learning innovation, Microsoft Learning Zone. Available on Microsoft Copilot+ PCs, Microsoft Learning Zone aims to provide educators and students with responsible AI technology and peer-reviewed educational content to support learning.
Lilie Summer Venture Studio accelerator returns with 8 new student ventures
The Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Lilie) at Rice has unveiled the eight high-potential ventures selected for the third annual Lilie Summer Venture Studio accelerator program. Summer Venture Studio is Rice’s accelerator for high growth, high ambition founders, offering a deep dive into venture building and equipping student-led teams with the funding, mentorship and resources needed to bring their bold ideas to life.
The Natural Disaster Resilience dashboard from Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy compares combinations of demographics and disasters to show impacts over time and provides evidence that policy and regulation need to prioritize infrastructure resilience.
Bob Dittmar named associate dean of Rice’s Virani Undergraduate School of Business
Rice Business is pleased to announce that Bob Dittmar, the Houston Endowment Professor of Finance, has been appointed associate dean of the Virani Undergraduate School of Business, effective July 1.
‘Here to work with the world’: Rice shines at inaugural SXSW London
Rice took center stage at the inaugural South by Southwest London, bringing Texas-sized ambition, pathbreaking innovation and global vision to one of the world’s premier gatherings of creative and intellectual leaders.
The Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Rice is proud to announce that HEXAspec, a cutting-edge spinout from the lab of professor Jun Lou, has been awarded a $500,000 National Science Foundation Partnership for Innovation grant. The funding will support HEXAspec’s work to enhance the future of computing by substantially improving the thermal conductivity of chips.
12 startups selected to join Class 5 of the Rice Alliance Clean Energy Accelerator
The Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship has announced the 12 startups chosen for Class 5 of its Clean Energy Accelerator, a program designed to propel early stage ventures advancing the global energy transition. These companies from both the Houston-region and across the U.S. and Canada are addressing carbon management, energy storage, materials, energy efficiency, wind and hydrogen.
Lydia Kavraki named University Professor, the highest faculty distinction at Rice
In a landmark moment for Rice, renowned computer scientist Lydia E. Kavraki has been named a University Professor, the institution’s highest academic rank. She becomes only the 11th person and the third woman in the university’s 112-year history to earn this prestigious title.
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.
Spotlight from The Franklin Institute Awards Ceremony: Celebrating Naomi Halas
Rice scientist and engineer Naomi Halas was awarded the 2025 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Chemistry May 1 at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.
Rice University celebrates largest graduating class in history
Rice awarded more than 2,900 degrees to its newest graduates — the most in the university’s history — during its 112th commencement weekend, held May 9–10.
Machine learning powers new approach to detecting soil contaminants
A team of researchers at Rice and Baylor College of Medicine has developed a new strategy for identifying hazardous pollutants in soil ⎯ even ones that have never been isolated or studied in a lab.
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.