Current News

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.

Bridging scholarship and community: CAAAS faculty share insightful ideas at spring Research Relays

Faculty and students gathered for the latest edition of Research Relays, an event series that spotlighted the expansive, interdisciplinary work of CAAAS.

A year of bold leadership: Doerr Institute wraps up 2024-25 with celebration

Rice's Doerr Institute for New Leaders capped off the 2024-25 academic year with its annual Leadership Celebration April 24 in Ray Courtyard, honoring a year marked by robust student engagement and impact.

Kinder Houston Area Survey to be released May 19 at annual luncheon

Findings from the 2025 Kinder Houston Area Survey, the nation’s longest-running metropolitan study of its kind, will be released May 19.

‘Creating new knowledge:’ Rice congratulates more than 250 doctoral graduates

Rice conferred more than 250 doctoral degrees during its 112th commencement May 10 at Tudor Fieldhouse. Doctoral candidates along with friends, family and loved ones gathered for the ceremony, which included the awarding of doctoral regalia, congratulatory remarks, cheers and a few moments to reflect on this milestone.

A night to remember: Rice celebrates the undergraduate Class of 2025

Rice conferred 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.

Owl-standing achievements: Rice celebrates more than 750 graduates at advanced degree commencement ceremony

More than 750 freshly minted advanced degree graduates took their well-earned strolls across the stage at Rice's Tudor Fieldhouse May 10.

‘It’s never the right time until you make it the right time’: MBA graduates take flight

Denise Buckley raised her children and watched one of her daughters, Brianna, graduate from Rice Business in 2022 with her Master of Business Administration. This year, it was Denise’s turn.

Senior Spotlight: Zeisha Bennett ’25

Zeisha Bennett found a way to combine two lifelong loves — fashion and photography — and turn them into something bigger than herself.

Shepherd School’s Brownlee wins Richard Tucker Award, the ‘Heisman Trophy of Opera’

“This award feels like a dream you don’t even let yourself dream,” Nicholas Brownlee said.

Kosmos 482’s return being watched closely by Rice experts

Kosmos 482’s return is being watched closely by Rice experts.

Rice’s Sahra Night embraces Middle Eastern and North African customs

Rice University’s Middle Eastern and North African Student Association (MENA) celebrated the rich customs of its student members’ traditions during Sahra Night, held at the Rice Memorial Center’s Grand Hall April 26.

‘A new chapter’: Rice breaks ground on Moody Center Complex for Student Life

Rice marked a major milestone with the groundbreaking of the Moody Center Complex for Student Life, a bold step toward enhancing the student experience through connection, engagement and growth.

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.

Graduate Student Spotlight: Nma Ejiawoko ’25

As Rice prepares to celebrate the Class of 2025 at commencement May 9-10, Rice News is spotlighting a series of soon-to-be graduates.