Mayor Whitmire provides Houston update at Rice’s Baker Institute
Houston Mayor John Whitmire and Rice University Baker Institute of Public Policy fellow Ed Emmett discussed Houston’s challenges and opportunities to a packed house May 29 at Baker Hall on Rice’s campus.
Ruth Simmons and David Satterfield discuss future of DEI in higher education
David Satterfield, director of Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, sat down with Ruth Simmons, the President’s Distinguished Fellow and former president of Brown University, Smith College and Prairie View A&M University, for a reflective conversation on the mounting pressures reshaping American higher education.
Rice-led forum tackles critical water-energy nexus in Washington, D.C.
In a time of escalating climate risks, crumbling infrastructure and ballooning industrial demand, understanding how water and energy intertwine has never been more urgent. That was the resounding message from experts who convened May 19 in Washington, D.C., for “The Intersection of Water and Energy, 2025-2030,” a forum hosted by Rice and Arizona State University.
Forging a path to a sustainable carbon economy: Inside the vision of Rice’s Carbon Hub
As the world races to address the climate crisis, a coalition headquartered at Rice is taking a radically collaborative approach to one of the toughest challenges: how to decarbonize industry while at the same time boosting manufacturing, improving infrastructure and securing the supply chains for the energy and materials we rely on every day.
Forecasters predicting 17 named storms in Atlantic this hurricane season
Experts from Rice are available to speak with the media about hurricane and storm-related topics.
Extreme price variation at Houston hospitals continues, expert says
Houston hospitals show significant pricing differences in their procedures, according to a new brief from Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. The research revisits the websites of the four largest Texas Medical Center (TMC) hospitals to assess whether they have followed federal hospital price transparency laws. The analysis focuses on the listed prices from Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center, HCA Houston Healthcare Medical Center, Houston Methodist Hospital and Memorial Hermann-TMC.
Rice public health expert says uptick in US measles cases arising due to multiple factors
Amid an uptick in measles cases in the U.S., Rice University public health expert Kirstin Matthews is available to discuss recent cases.
Rice experts weigh in on economic and political implications of new tariffs
As the new administration’s latest round of tariffs take effect, Rice experts are available to discuss the economic and political implications.
Blue carbon project will create a living shoreline to protect coastal ecosystems in Galveston Bay
Rice, BCarbon and Scenic Galveston have launched an innovative project to protect the Kohfeldt Marsh near Texas City from sea level rise through the design and creation of a living shoreline.
Houstonʼs audit shows ongoing financial challenges, Baker Institute experts say
A recent audit of Houston’s finances reveals ongoing challenges, with experts warning that without major structural reforms the city could face financial instability that affects essential services.
Rice’s Harris explains complexities of proposed state bill to ban hemp products
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick recently held a press conference on SB 3, a bill to ban all hemp products with cannabinoids other than cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabigerol (CBG) in Texas. An expert on drug policy from Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy is available to explain the bill and comment on the implications of the policy.
Rice partners with Texas House during SXSW
Rice served as the educational partner for the inaugural Texas House during the annual South by Southwest conference in Austin.
Former presidential advisers discuss their role shaping science policy
Three former presidential science advisers spoke with the director of Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy March 5 to discuss the critical role of science and technology in a complex world. The conversation explored the panelists’ experiences leading the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and the office’s critical role in shaping national policies to advance science, technology, innovation and higher education.
Federal research funding feeds technological advancement, US official says at Baker Institute event
Dario Gil, senior vice president and director of research at IBM and recently nominated undersecretary for science and innovation at the U.S. Department of Energy, spoke at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy March 4 about the importance of research and development (R&D) funding and the future of U.S. science and technology (S&T).
Protecting science, technology policy can unleash American potential, report says
The Science and Technology Action Committee (STAC), a blue ribbon panel of leaders in science policy, launched “Vision for American Science and Technology (VAST),” a brief, nonpartisan document that offers a vision of a future in which American science and technology can continue to serve the country. Neal Lane, senior fellow in science and technology policy at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is one of 25 members serving on the STAC panel.
