Dateline Rice for Dec. 21, 2012

FEATURED ITEMS

New center symbolizes Rice’s commitment to lifelong learning
The Susanne M. Glasscock School of Continuing Studies broke asphalt Dec. 13 for its new home, the D. Kent and Linda C. Anderson and Robert L. and Jean T. Clarke Center. Rice President David Leebron; Mary McIntire ’75, dean of continuing studies; trustee emeritus Robert Clarke ’63; and trustee D. Kent Anderson ’62 are quoted.
West University Examiner (This article also appeared in the Bellaire Examiner, the Memorial Examiner and the River Oaks Examiner.)
http://bit.ly/T4e5Mk

Genomic frontier: The unexplored animal kingdom
Rice scientists have unveiled the genomes of a leech, an ocean-dwelling worm and a limpet and more than doubled the number of genomes from a vast, under-studied swath of the animal kingdom. This article was featured on the homepage of Science360.gov. Nicholas Putnam, assistant professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, is quoted in the TerraDaily.com article.
Science360.gov
http://1.usa.gov/VeW8VG
Genomic frontier: The unexplored animal kingdom
TerraDaily.com
http://bit.ly/12Eca1O

Houston wonder named one of the best buildings of 2012: Architect fanatics catch Twilight fever
The James Turrell "Twilight Epiphany" Skyspace at Rice appears on Architizer.com’s list of the best buildings of 2012.
Culturemap.com
http://bit.ly/TDoMSB
The year in architecture: Best buildings of 2012
Architizer.com
http://bit.ly/Vc97aI

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Born on the seventh floor
Douglas Brinkley, professor of history and fellow in history at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, authored this op-ed about Sen. John Kerry. Brinkley is also quoted in an article about the newly remodeled Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library in Austin, Texas.
Foreign Policy (subscription required)
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/12/20/born_on_the_seventh_floor
Johnson library shows how presidency reverberates
San Antonio Express-News (This Associated Press article also appeared in the Houston Chronicle, the Bryan/College Station Eagle, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and nearly 80 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/ZmfwbT

Soybean can replace petrol as chemical
The soybean could become an inexpensive new source of a widely used chemical for plastics, textiles, drugs, solvents and as a food additive. George Bennett, the E. Dell Butcher Professor of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, and Chandresh Thakker, research scientist in biochemistry and cell biology, are quoted. Ka-Yiu San, the E.D. Butcher Professor of Bioengineering and professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, is mentioned.
Deccan Herald (India) (This article also appeared on MSN.com, Yahoo.com, FirstPost.com, DNAIndia.com, SentinelAssam.com, WebIndia123.com and Sulekha.com.)
http://bit.ly/URCT5N
Soybeans a source of valuable chemical
TerraDaily.com
http://bit.ly/RINhkw

Intuition does help resolve Christmas gift dilemmas
When it comes to those last-minute gift-buying decisions for family and close friends, intuition may be the best way to think your way through to that perfect gift, researchers say. Erik Dane, assistant professor of management at the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business, is mentioned.
NewKerala.com (This article also appeared on Sify.com and NewsTrackIndia.com.)
http://bit.ly/TG7m86
Use intuition to select the perfect gift
PsychCentral.com
http://bit.ly/T4QgUJ

Perry seeks halt in grants by Texas-funded research group
Rice is mentioned in an article about the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas.
Bloomberg.com
http://bloom.bg/RESSZ6

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Clear Lake High students win honors at Houston Young Artist Concert competition
Rice is mentioned in an article about the Houston Young Artists’ Concert.
Bay Area Citizen
http://bit.ly/TFyrZ6

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Ancient red dye powers new ‘green’ battery
Researchers say a plant extract can be turned into a highly effective, natural cathode for lithium-ion batteries. Arava Leela Mohana Reddy, a postdoctoral research associate in mechanical engineering and materials science, and Pulickel Ajayan, the Benjamin M. and Mary Greenwood Anderson Professor in Engineering, professor of mechanical engineering and materials science, professor in chemistry and professor in chemical and biomolecular engineering, are quoted.
EnvironmentalResearchWeb.org
http://bit.ly/RIJUtS

MOOCs won’t replace traditional education. But they don’t have to
A column about massive open online courses mentions Rice’s Python class on Coursera.
TechInAsia.com
http://www.techinasia.com/moocs-education-2012/

Team TIBCO finalizes 2013 roster
Alumna Nicole Justice ’08 was named to Team TIBCO.
Bike World News
http://bit.ly/TDhP45

Seeing through the medical radiation risk story
An article about radiation risks notes that alumnus Benjamin Smith ’96 served as a contributing expert for the story.
DailyRX.com
http://bit.ly/XTUM50

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

College of Engineering names Sarah Rajala as new dean
Alumna Sarah Rajala ’77 was named dean of the Iowa State University College of Engineering.
IowaStateDaily.com
http://bit.ly/UbJgDf

Learn about ‘slow’ quakes
Brandon Dugan, associate professor of Earth science, will speak at Southwest Oregon Community College May 18.
Coos Bay World (Ore.)
http://bit.ly/RGV16u

New Gulf Coastal Science Consortium zeroes in on cause of northern Gulf of Mexico sea-level rise in its first report
A link to a Rice story about the Gulf Coastal Science Consortium appeared on Paper.li.
Paper.li
http://paper.li/DanHunterRE/1305390835#

SPORTS

Cinco Ranch grad Palmer contributes to Rice victory
An article discusses the performance of Hanszen College freshman Megan Palmer at a women’s basketball game between Rice and the University of Texas-San Antonio.
UltimateKaty.com
http://bit.ly/Zo4OSi

In second stint at DePauw, Lynch now ready to stay
Assistant football coach Billy Lynch is mentioned in an article about the DePauw University football team.
Greencastle Banner-Graphic (Ind.)
http://www.bannergraphic.com/story/1924634.html

Rendon rated No. 1 Nationals prospect by Baseball America
Former Rice standout Anthony Rendon was named the top prospect for the Washington Nationals by Baseball America.
OurSportsCentral.com
http://bit.ly/WAdTG2