Doubling down on reliability, risk and resilience from disasters
Rice’s civil and environmental engineering department has established a national reputation for tackling one of society’s most pressing challenges: enhancing our understanding of and mitigating the risks posed by natural hazards to our communities and infrastructure.
A Rice-led team has unveiled how tiny molecular structures on industrial catalysts behave during the manufacture of vinyl acetate monomer, a core ingredient in adhesives, paints, coatings, packaging, textiles and many other products people use every day.
Rice computer scientists reach finals in global XPRIZE Quantum Applications competition
Rice quantum computing researchers have introduced a novel algorithm that earned the team a place in the global XPRIZE Quantum Applications competition.
Engineered material uses light to destroy PFAS, other contaminants
Materials scientists at Rice and collaborators have developed a material that uses light to break down a range of pollutants in water, including “forever chemicals” or PFAS.
Scenic Galveston and the SSPEED Center at Rice are launching two major initiatives designed to bolster wetland health and improve storm resilience across the Houston-Galveston region.
Rice convenes global researchers to advance understanding of quantum geometry in materials
The Rice Center for Quantum Materials hosted a Workshop on Quantum Geometry and Winter School on Quantum Materials Synthesis, bringing together more than 100 researchers, students and scientific leaders from around the world.
Rice’s Paris partnerships signal new phase in university’s global ascent
Together, they represent more than two signatures in Paris; they signal Rice’s movement from participating in global academia to shaping it.
Two-step flash Joule heating method recovers lithium‑ion battery materials quickly and cleanly
A Rice research team has developed a process that rapidly separates lithium and transition metals from spent lithium-ion batteries. The method provides an acid-free, energy-saving alternative to conventional recycling techniques,
Rice’s Severe Storm Prediction, Education and Evacuation from Disasters (SSPEED) Center convened more than 100 experts, industry leaders and attendees Nov. 6-7 for its 12th annual conference, connecting cutting-edge flood mitigation with the fast-emerging world of market-based natural carbon solutions.
The first-of-its-kind initiative links two of the world’s leading research universities to create shared academic pathways and immersive undergraduate experiences across Houston, Paris and PSL’s campus in Sophia Antipolis.
Rice’s Pedro J.J. Alvarez, a world leader in environmental nanotechnology and water sustainability, has been awarded the 2026 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Civil Engineering, one of the oldest and most prestigious science and engineering honors in the United States.
New recharge-to-recycle reactor turns battery waste into new lithium feedstock
A team of engineers at Rice has developed a cleaner approach to lithium recycling by recharging the waste cathode materials to coax out lithium ions into water.
2 in 5 Houston households struggle to eat well, raising concerns about their health
Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research warns that Houston’s hunger crisis — and its health consequences — could grow worse.
Rice researchers weigh in on graphite’s rise to critical mineral status, mapping out trajectories toward more resilient, clean and efficient supply practices and systems.
Rice brings together leading researchers to accelerate next-generation microelectronics
The Rice Advanced Materials Institute (RAMI) hosted a signature workshop centered on advanced microelectronics and photonics materials Nov. 3-4.
