Current News

Leebron accepts posts at Columbia, Harvard

Former President David Leebron will spend much of the coming year at the two institutions other than Rice that have played the most important roles in his education and career.

The DesRoches era begins as Rice’s eighth president takes office

Reginald DesRoches started his first day as Rice University’s newest president the same way he starts most Fridays: with a run around campus, on this particular dewey Houston morning, accompanied by his wife Paula and daughter Shelby, a Rice senior. Later, just as he has during his term as provost, he strolled into Allen Center. But on this Friday, he walked in as President DesRoches.

Nobel laureate, beloved Rice professor Robert Curl dead at 88

Nobel Prize-winning chemist and beloved Rice University Professor Robert Curl died July 3 at age 88.

Undersecretary of Education joins OpenStax event at the Ion

United States Under Secretary of Education James Kvaal met with OpenStax and Rice University leadership at the Ion June 28 to discuss the impact and growth of the nonprofit’s digital learning platforms and free, open educational resources.

Rice's Forbes named C-USA's top female athlete for 2022-23

Rice runner Grace Forbes has been named Conference USA’s 2021-22 Michael L. Slive Female Athlete of the Year, the league announced June 30. 

On first day, President DesRoches thanks Rice community for support

Today marks my first day as president of Rice University and exactly five years since I first arrived at Rice. I am humbled and grateful for the opportunity to serve such a distinguished institution and have already received a tremendous amount of support.

Medical venture takes top spot at alumni Napier Rice Launch Challenge

Rhythio Medical took first place at this year’s alumni-only H. Albert Napier Rice Launch Challenge (NRLC) and won $30,000 in equity-free funding as well as an additional $1,500 for winning the Audience Choice Award at the June 29 virtual event.

Leebron expresses gratitude as he says goodbye

This is the final day of my service as president of Rice, and I face just one key but difficult task, namely to try to adequately express our gratitude to the Rice community. Ping and I came to Rice 18 years ago with only an inkling of what lay ahead. We were excited by what we had learned about Rice, including what the university had accomplished and what its ambitions were. We were hopeful about what we might contribute, and yet not sure what to expect.

​​​​​​​Researchers discover new leukemia-killing compounds

Researchers from Rice and MD Anderson Cancer Center have discovered potential new drugs for treating leukemia.

New senior staff, structure announced for Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research

As incoming director Ruth López Turley takes the helm of Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research July 1, the institute is announcing a new executive leadership team that will help implement a five-year expansion plan.

Emu stands tall at detecting bacteria species

Rice computer scientists develop Emu, which uses long reads of genomes to identify bacteria in a community.

Flooding exacerbates pollution exposure in at-risk urban communities

Increased flooding in the U.S. is exposing more people to industrial pollution, especially in racially marginalized urban communities, according to new research from Rice University, New York University and Brown University.

Landmark new engineering and science building on campus to bear Ralph S. O’Connor’s name

A self-made businessman who started out working in oilfields and ended up building an empire in energy and real estate investments will be memorialized at Rice University with a landmark new science and engineering building named in his honor.

Blockchain tech can help small businesses launch and grow, says Baker Institute expert

Blockchain technology can give small businesses and entrepreneurs new avenues for funding their ventures and create opportunities for growth, according to a report from Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.

Rice community hits the streets for LGBTQ Pride celebrations

Dozens of members of the Rice community hit the streets of downtown Houston June 25 to walk in the city’s 44th annual LGBTQ Pride parade. This year’s parade and festival marked the first in-person iteration of the yearly event held in two years due to COVID-19.