Digital Health Institute summit showcases Rice-Houston Methodist partnership in AI-driven medicine
The Digital Health Institute, a joint initiative of Rice University and Houston Methodist, held its inaugural summit Oct. 8 at Rice.
Exploring links between AI and the brain as Texas weighs Proposition 14
LLMs and the Brain, a symposium featuring researchers from Rice, Baylor College of Medicine, the University of Texas, the Georgia Institute of Technology, the University of Montreal and other institutions explored the intersection between neuroscience and AI. The conversation around brain research extends beyond the university and is unfolding at the state level. On Nov. 4, Texas voters will decide on Proposition 14, which would fund the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (DPRIT) with $3 billion over 10 years, creating the largest state-funded dementia research program in the country.
New AI tool makes medical imaging process 90% more efficient
Rice researchers developed an AI tool that makes a medical imaging process 90% more efficient.
New UTHealth Houston school highlighted at joint Rice-UTHealth workshop on AI and behavioral health
The Future of AI and Behavioral Health Workshop, a joint effort of Rice and UTHealth Houston, explored the intersection of artificial intelligence and behavioral health and served to spotlight the launch of UTHealth Houston’s new School of Behavioral Health Sciences.
One year in, Momentous strategic plan accelerates Rice’s path toward bold future
One year after launching its ambitious 10-year strategic plan, Momentous: Personalized Scale for Global Impact, Rice is already seeing the transformative results of its bold vision.
Reimagining health: A transatlantic conversation on digital care, ethics, equity
Bringing together scholars across disciplines and national contexts, the event explored how emerging technologies affect reproductive health, ethical practice and the meaning of care itself.
OpenStax surpasses $3B in student savings, grows beyond textbooks
OpenStax, an educational initiative of Rice, announced that it has surpassed $3 billion in cumulative student savings since 2012 — nearly tripling the amount from just four years ago. The milestone underscores the organization’s continued impact on educational access and the growing demand for adaptable, high-quality learning materials.
Sholl named executive vice president for research at Rice
Rice has named David Sholl, an internationally recognized expert in research strategy, clean energy and scientific leadership, as its new executive vice president for research.
Landing a job traditionally meant polishing a resume and sitting across from a hiring manager; today, the first “person” to evaluate you might not be a person at all — it could be a chatbot powered by artificial intelligence.
Finance, computer expert Malamud to present lecture series at Rice Business
Semyon Malamud, senior chair at the Swiss Finance Institute and associate professor of finance at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, will host a series of lectures at Rice Business as part of the Dean’s Distinguished Visiting Fellows Program.
For decades, researchers believed that Homo habilis — the earliest known species in our genus — marked the moment humans rose from prey to predators, but new findings from a team led by a Rice anthropologist challenge that view.
AI for ecology and conservation: New tools track ecosystem health
Rice's César A. Uribe is developing computational tools to help scientists better understand ecosystems with recent studies using AI to glean new insights from different kinds of ecological data — from African mammal food webs to tropical forest soundscapes.
Rice accelerates AI innovation to transform teaching, learning and research
With the 2025–26 academic year underway, Rice is taking bold steps to harness the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in teaching, research and operations. Guided by Momentous, the university’s 10-year strategic plan, Rice is positioning itself as a global leader in the responsible development and application of AI, computing and other disruptive technologies.
Rice adopts Google’s generative AI solution to enhance student learning and faculty support
Rice has partnered with Google for Education to adopt Google’s generative AI solution, Gemini for Education, to provide students, faculty and staff with powerful, responsible AI tools designed to personalize learning, enhance creativity and better prepare students for a technology-driven future.
AI can help communities prepare for, respond to climate risks during peak hurricane season
As the Gulf Coast heads into the most active stretch of the Atlantic hurricane season — August through September — forecasters warn the region could face heightened storm activity this year, fueled by warm ocean waters and a changing climate.