News Releases

World Bank Group president to discuss geoeconomic challenges at Baker Institute

David Malpass, World Bank Group president, will speak at a May 22 event hosted by Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.

New Rice U. research finds verbal prompts can make semi-automated driving safer

Semi-automated cars are becoming increasingly common, but real dangers exist when technology fails and drivers don’t intervene.

2023 Kinder Houston Area Survey: Concerns over economy and housing costs rattle the city’s optimism

A turbulent economy and increasingly expensive and unattainable housing were dominant concerns cited by respondents to the 42nd annual Kinder Houston Area Survey, released today at the annual Kinder Institute Luncheon at the Marriott Marquis in downtown Houston.

Magnetic gear tech company wins 2023 Rice Business Plan Competition

​ FluxWorks from Texas A&M University, a magnetic gear technology company, took home the grand prize at the 2023 Rice Business Plan Competition (RBPC). The RBPC, hosted annually by the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship and Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business, is the world’s largest and richest student startup competition. This year’s edition saw 42 startups competing for $3.4 million in prizes – the highest in the 23 years of the event. More than 80 prizes were awarded and every team took home cash.

New priming method improves battery life, efficiency

Rice University engineers have developed a readily scalable method to optimize a silicon anode priming method that increases lithium-ion battery performance by 22% to 44%.

Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research to release 2023 Kinder Houston Area Survey May 15

Houstonians’ views on social issues and the biggest challenges facing the region will be revealed in the 2023 Kinder Houston Area Survey, which will be released at a sold-out luncheon May 15 at the Marriott Marquis Houston.

OpenStax opens applications for 2023-2024 Institutional Partner Program

OpenStax, the world’s leading publisher of open educational resources (OER) and an initiative of Rice University, is now accepting applications for colleges and universities to join its Institutional Partner Program for the 2023-2024 academic year. The deadline is June 30.

Physicists discover ‘stacked pancakes of liquid magnetism’

Physicists from Rice and Ames National Laboratory have discovered “stacked pancakes of liquid magnetism” in layered helical magnetic materials.

New grants to fund study of ancient livestock herding in Africa

Livestock herders, or pastoralists, have been a part of African societies for many millennia. They are a major driver of local economies and a key part of cultural traditions throughout the continent. But how has their work developed and changed over time, and what lessons can be learned for our world today?

Rice, TSU announce expanded partnership

Rice University and Texas Southern University (TSU) have announced a partnership to share resources, expertise and best practices to build stronger bridges between their institutions and communities.

Rice U. students design congenital hypothyroidism test for newborns

A team of Rice University students developed a low-cost, point-of-care screening tool that can diagnose congenital hypothyroidism in low-resource areas.

Experimental model gets cells to behave as they would in utero

Rice U.’s Aryeh Warmflash wins $1.9 million NIH grant to develop experimental cell models that can shed light on critical embryonic developmental processes.

​​​​​​​Rice’s Office of Innovation partners with Carbon and TyRex Group

Rice’s Office of Innovation is partnering with two companies to make additive manufacturing equipment and expertise an integral part of its initiative to provide campuswide access to prototyping and design facilities.

Rice showcases Johnson Owl Deck at Harris Gully

The Johnson Owl Deck at Harris Gully was introduced to the Rice community during a grand opening and dedication April 27.

Baker Institute expert: Has the US response to Russia-Ukraine strengthened or weakened Washington?

The Russia-Ukraine war may have strengthened the NATO alliance, but it raises critical questions about Europe’s security architecture and U.S. policy toward China, according to a new brief from Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.