Dateline Rice for Jan. 13, 2021

COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Partisan politics prolong pandemic
An article features Rice research that determined partisanship has eroded public trust in health agencies and exacerbated the spread of COVID-19. Co-authors Quianta Moore, fellow in child health policy at Rice's Baker Institute for Public Policy, and Christopher Kulesza, research analyst for the Child Health Policy program at the Baker Institute, are quoted.
Phys.org
http://dateline.rice/jan-13-moore-kulesza

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Flawed vaccine rollout will create political stars — and has-beens
Rekha Lakshmanan, a contributing expert for Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy’s Center for Health and Biosciences, is quoted.
Politico
http://dateline.rice/jan-13-lakshmananWhy the blockade against Qatar is ending now
Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, fellow for the Middle East at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is featured in a podcast.
Al-Jazeera
http://dateline.rice/jan-13-ulrichsen

US should seek Qatari assistance in the Middle East
An article cites research by Rice's Baker Institute for Public Policy into the role Qatar may play in the Middle East.
U.S. News & World Report
http://dateline.rice/jan-13-baker-study

Model could lead to personalized artificial hips that last
An article features Rice research that developed a computational study that simulates and tracks how hips evolve, which may help clinicians personalize replacement joints for patients.
Futurity (This article was featured in the "Futurity Today" newsletter Jan. 13, and it appeared in yesterday's Dateline.)
http://dateline.rice/jan-13-rice-hip-research

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Rice University's Baker Institute in the running for prestigious $10 million prize
An article reports that the “Texas Dirt: The Key to Environment, Economy and Resilience” project proposed by Rice's Baker Institute for Public Policy, which aims to transform the state’s environment with a soil carbon storage market while creating new economic opportunities for rural Texans, is one five finalists for the $10 million Lone Star Prize. Project members include Jim Blackburn, a professor in the practice of environmental law and the co-director of Rice’s Severe Storm Prediction, Education and Evacuation from Disasters Center; Caroline Masiello, a professor of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences; and Kenneth Medlock, the James A. Baker III and Susan G. Baker Fellow in Energy and Resource Economics and senior director of the Baker Institute’s Center for Energy Studies.
CultureMap Houston
http://dateline.rice/jan-13-blackburn-masiello-medlockTexas poet Sybil Estess looks back with memoir ‘Mississippi Milkwater’An article featuring Sybil Pittman Estess mentions that she has taught poetry at Rice.
Houston Chronicle's "Preview" 
http://dateline.rice/jan-13-hcBiochemist Benjamin Tu honored with O’Donnell Award from TAMEST
An article mentions that the late Richard Smalley, who shared the 1996 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the discovery of buckminsterfullerenes, or “buckyballs,” a new form of carbon, helped establish The Academy of Medicine, Engineering and Science of Texas in 2004.
UT Southwestern Medical Center (This article also appeared in 10 other media outlets.)
http://dateline.rice/jan-13-smalley

Exclusive: HX Venture Fund raising $75M for second fund-of-funds
Rice is mentioned.
Houston Business Journal
http://dateline.rice/jan-13-hbj

BROADCAST

Texas state lawmakers return to the business of governing
Mark Jones, the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies, professor of political science, fellow in political science at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and fellow at Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, is interviewed by KRIV and KRLD about the second impeachment of President Donald Trump, by KTSA about the death of Sheldon Adelson and by KRLD about Texas' education budget shortfall. He is quoted in two additional articles.
Fox 26 Online (This segment also aired on KRIV-TV in Houston.)
http://dateline.rice/jan-13-jones
'Houston's Morning Show'
KRIV-TV (Houston)
http://dateline.rice/jan-13-jones
House Democrats gear up for impeachment
KRLD Online
http://dateline.rice/jan-13-jones
KTSA-AM (San Antonio)
http://dateline.rice/jan-13-jones (This segment aired six times.)
KRLD-AM (Dallas)
http://dateline.rice/jan-13-jones (This segment aired nine times.)
Austin’s top news — Jan. 12, 2021
KLBJ Online
http://dateline.rice/jan-13-jones
How a bid for House Speaker attracts big PAC money
Transparency USA
http://dateline.rice/jan-13-jonesTexas Rep. Joaquin Castro calls for Trump’s historic second impeachment
Paul Brace, the Clarence L. Carter Professor of Political Science, is quoted.
Spectrum News
http://dateline.rice/jan-13-brace

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

George W. Bush's childhood home being considered for National Park designation
Douglas Brinkley, the Katherine Tsanoff Brown Professor in Humanities, is quoted.
Southern Living
http://dateline.rice/jan-13-brinkleyMexico is moving to legalize cannabis in 2021. What does that mean for the US?
Gary Hale, nonresident fellow in drug policy and Mexico studies at Rice's Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
Leafly
http://dateline.rice/jan-13-hale

Robotic device powered by patients’ own brains helps improve stroke rehabilitation
An article mentions that Marcia O’Malley, the Stanley C. Moore Professor of Mechanical Engineering, professor of computer science and professor of electrical and computer engineering, is co-principal investigator for the featured research.
News-Medical.net
http://dateline.rice/jan-13-omalley

Copper cubes used as catalyst in new reactor to convert carbon monoxide into acetic acid
An article features Rice research into turning carbon monoxide directly into acetic acid with renewable electricity to turn out a highly purified product. Haotian Wang, assistant professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering and William Marsh Rice Trustee Chair, is quoted.
The Science Times
http://dateline.rice/jan-13-wang

When AI is used to set prices, can inadvertent collusion be a result?
An article features collaborative Rice research into using artificial intelligence to monitor and set prices based on real-time dynamic pricing. Mallesh Pai, associate professor of economics, is quoted.
Phys.org
http://dateline.rice/jan-13-pai

Jasper String Quartet joins CTM Classics roster for North American representation
An article mentions that the Jasper String Quartet is a former Rice Graduate Quartet-in-Residence at the Shepherd School of Music. Shepherd School faculty mentioned include James Dunham, professor of viola, Norman Fischer, the Herbert S. Autrey Professor of Cello, and the late Kenneth Goldsmith, professor of violin.
Broadway World
http://dateline.rice/jan-13-shepherd-school

Turning pyrolyzed ash into graphene for improving concrete, other compounds
An article cites Rice research into developing turbostratic graphene flakes that can be directly added to other substances for better water resistance and increased strength. James Tour, the T.T. and W.F. Chao Chair in Chemistry and a professor of computer science and of materials science and nanoengineering, and graduate student Kevin Wyss are quoted.
Nanowerk
http://dateline.rice/jan-13-tour-wyss

A star dying soon after the beginning of the universe could be disrupting mobile phone reception today
An article mentions that Matthew Baring, professor of physics and astronomy, collaborated on the featured research.
SciTech Daily
http://dateline.rice/jan-13-baring

Cedar Hill scholars learn robotics through virtual program
An article featuring Mauricio Garcia mentions he hopes to study astrophysics at Rice.
Focus Daily News
http://dateline.rice/jan-13-fdn

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Bonita Springs Concert Band plans free performance
An article features alumnus Ryan Little, a graduate of Rice's Shepherd School of Music.
Fort Myers Florida Weekly
http://dateline.rice/jan-13-littleGTMF taps its Houston cohort
Rice's Shepherd School of Music is mentioned.
Jackson Hole News & Guide
http://dateline.rice/jan-13-shepherd-school

Visionist takes us back to our twisted office life on ‘The Fold’
An article mentions the former Rice Gallery.
Vanyaland.com
http://dateline.rice/jan-13-vl

SPORTS

Texas A&M women’s tennis claims one singles and one doubles championship at TCU Winter Invitational
An article featuring the results of the TCU Winter Invitational tennis tournament mentions Owls Diae El Jardi, Maria Budin, Michaela Haet, Frederica Trevisan and Anastasia Smirnova.
KBTX Online (This article also appeared in WTAW Online, The Eagle and BollyInside.com.)
http://dateline.rice/jan-13-tennis-owlsStratford long snapper, Texas A&M commit recognized as one of nation’s best
Rice is mentioned.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required. This article appeared in the Jan. 13 print edition of the Chronicle's Memorial Examiner and a previous edition of Dateline.)
http://dateline.rice/jan-13-hc

2020-21 college football coaching carousel: Tennessee adds Kevin Steele to staff
Former Rice assistant football coach Drew Svoboda is featured in a roundup.
The Athletic
http://dateline.rice/jan-13-ta

New Mexico to play Dixie State, relocate to Utah for two weeks
An article mentions that Rice's men's basketball team was defeated by the University of New Mexico earlier this season.
Mountain West Wire
http://dateline.rice/jan-13-rice-unm-mbb

Wednesday marks open of Southland tennis seasons
An article mentions that Rice's men's tennis team will compete against the University of New Orleans Jan. 31.
WGNO Online
http://dateline.rice/jan-13-rice-uno-mbb

Here comes the Boum: UTEP guard evolving as a scorer
An article mentions that Rice's men's basketball team split a pair of games against the University of Texas at El Paso last week.
KTSM Online (This segment also aired on KTSM-TV in El Paso.)
http://dateline.rice/jan-13-rice-utep-mbb

UTEP women’s team looking to rebound after back-to-back losses

An article mentions that Rice's women's basketball team defeated the University of Texas at El Paso twice last week.
KVIA Online (This segment also aired on KVIA-TV in El Paso.)
http://dateline.rice/jan-13-rice-utep-wbb

LA Tech preparing for UTSA and return to the TAC
Rice's men's basketball team is mentioned.
OnSachem.com
http://dateline.rice/jan-13-mbb

Previews and predictions for every 6A and 5A Texas high school football state championship game
An article mentions D.J. Arkansas has committed to play football at Rice.
The Dallas Morning News (Subscription is required.)
http://dateline.rice/jan-13-dmn

Way-too-early 2021 Texas college power rankings
Rice football team is featured in a roundup.
Dave Campbell's Texas Football
http://dateline.rice/jan-13-dctf

Caleb Mills transfers to Florida State
An article mentions that Rice's men's basketball team was defeated by the University of Houston last season.
SB Nation
http://dateline.rice/jan-13-sbn

Arkansas State men’s golf releases 2021 spring schedule
An article mentions that Rice's golf team will compete in the Bayou City Classic April 5-6 at the Westwood Golf Club in Houston.
KAIT Online
http://dateline.rice/jan-13-rice-golf

NEWS RELEASES

Rice political scientist available to discuss Biden inauguration
As the U.S. faces one of the most turbulent and divisive moments in modern history, Rice political scientist Paul Brace, the Clarence L. Carter Professor of Political Sciences, is available to discuss the upcoming transfer of power from the current president, Donald Trump, to President-elect Joe Biden.
http://dateline.rice/jan-13-news-release-braceFermi space telescope offers ‘best look ever’ at giant flare
Numerous space-based instruments, including NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, measured a brief burst of high-frequency light that swept through the solar system April 15, 2020. The gamma rays were analyzed by multiple teams of scientists including Matthew Baring, professor of physics and astronomy at Rice.
http://dateline.rice/jan-13-news-release-baring

Flashing plastic ash completes recycling
Rice researchers James Tour, the T.T. and W.F. Chao Chair in Chemistry and a professor of computer science and of materials science and nanoengineering, and graduate student Kevin Wyss developed turbostratic graphene flakes that can be directly added to other substances for better water resistance and increased strength.
http://dateline.rice/jan-13-news-release-tour-wyss

Partisan politics prolong pandemic
Partisanship has eroded public trust in health agencies, exacerbating the spread of COVID-19, according to public health experts at Rice's Baker Institute for Public Policy. Christopher Kulesza, research analyst for the Child Health Policy program, and Quianta Moore, fellow in child health policy at the institute, are available to discuss the issue with the news media.
http://dateline.rice/jan-13-news-release-moore-kulesza