Dateline Rice for March 5, 2013

FEATURED ITEMS

Discovery Channel Canada’s ‘Daily Planet’
A segment of Discovery Channel Canada’s "Daily Planet" discusses sprayable battery research at Rice.
http://watch.discoverychannel.ca/#clip877815

Science 360 Radio
Moshe Vardi, the Karen Ostrum George Distinguished Service Professor of Computational Engineering and professor of computer science, is interviewed about how automation will affect the job market of the future. The interview can be heard by clicking the play button on the right side of the page.
http://news.science360.gov/archives/20130305/

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Deep underground, worms and ‘zombie microbes’ rule
A dark realm far beneath the Earth’s surface is a surprisingly rich home for tiny worms and "zombie microbes" that may hold clues to the origins of life. Rajdeep Dasgupta, assistant professor of Earth science, is quoted.
Reuters (This article also appeared in Scientific American, the Brisbane Times, the Canberra Times, the Age, Stuff.co.nz, TimesLive.co.za, CNBC.com, Yahoo.com, DailyMaverick.co.za, GlobalPost.com, ClimateSpectator.com, NewsDaily.com, PlanetArk.org, 610KDAL.com [Duluth, Minn.], WNMTRadio.com [Hibbing, Minn.], WYDRTheDrive.com [Neenah, Wis.], WTBX.com [Hibbing, Minn.], WHTC.com [Holland, Mich.], Newsmax.com, WSAU.com [Wausau, Wis.], KWSN.com [Sioux Falls, S.D.], WTAQ.com [Green Bay, Wis.] and 929WLMI.com [Lansing, Mich.].)
http://reut.rs/YQ5zim
The carbon way below — we’ve only skimmed the surface
SmartPlanet.com
http://smrt.io/WqYuZ6

Prince Alwaleed receives former US secretary of state
A photo shows James Baker, honorary chair of Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, meeting with Saudi Arabian businessman Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal.
Saudi Gazette
http://bit.ly/YsR054

Coming up with ‘A Bitter Pill’
Rice is mentioned in an op-ed discussing health care in America.
Reuters
http://reut.rs/WspLub

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Obama picks Moniz as Energy chief, names other Cabinet nominees
President Barack Obama revealed his nominees for three key members of his Cabinet, including a new leader for the U.S. Department of Energy. Ken Medlock, the James A. Baker III and Susan Baker Fellow in Energy and Resource Economics at the Baker Institute, senior director of the Center for Energy Studies and adjunct assistant professor in economics, is quoted.
Houston Business Journal
http://bit.ly/165J1iT

Let businesses decide parking
An op-ed about parking spaces and Houston’s growth cites research by Stephen Klineberg, professor of sociology and co-director of the Kinder Institute for Urban Research.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/12r0Utq

Rice and A&M considered ‘overlooked’ universities in college list
Rice appeared on the Daily Beast’s "Amazing but Overlooked" list.
Houston Chronicle (This article also appeared in the Danbury News-Times, the Greenwich Time, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, the Darien News, the Norwalk Citizen and the Stamford Advocate.)
http://bit.ly/W0hDyI

TribuneFest: Ex-commissioners confidential
A Texas Tribune video shows a portion of a public education symposium at Rice University. The symposium was hosted by the Texas Tribune and Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and Hobby Center for the Study of Texas.
Texas Tribune
http://bit.ly/ZZj18c

Houston rap in museums, on campus
An article about hip-hop events at Houston museums and universities notes that hip-hop label SwishaHouse will take part in a panel discussion about the label March 5 at Rice University.
29-25.com (This article also appeared in the Houston Chronicle.)
http://bit.ly/13EhIwG

Spring High School Navy JROTC places in state contests
Rice is mentioned in an article about the Spring High School Navy JROTC Regiment.
UltimateMemorial.com
http://bit.ly/13CKqxw

BROADCAST/WEBCAST

KRIV-TV
Mark Jones, the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies, professor and chair of political science and fellow in political science at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted in a story about newly-elected State Sen. Sylvia Garcia. Jones is also quoted in news items about Gov. Rick Perry’s rejecting of Federal money for Texas Medicaid expansion
http://bit.ly/XHxyS7
Perry faces pressure on expanding Medicaid
Austin American-Statesman
http://bit.ly/Zhs8MI
Gov. Rick Perry stands firm on no federal money into Texas
South Bend Tribune (Ind.)
http://bit.ly/WHtk03

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Modified bacteria make fatty acids from sugar
Engineers at Rice University have developed new strains of Escherichia coli bacteria that efficiently convert sugars into fatty acids, which can be converted into synthetic diesel and lubricants. Ka-Yiu San, the E.D. Butcher Professor of Bioengineering and professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, is quoted. Xiujun Zhang and Mai Li, postdoctoral researchers in bioengineering, are mentioned.
TCEToday.com
http://bit.ly/15vdsOb

Online-learning provider edX doubles to a dozen members
Rice University is one of six global higher education institutions that were announced as new members of the online education provider edX.
Physics World
http://bit.ly/ZhlCps

What energy storage will power the iWatch and future smart watches?
An article about battery research notes Rice sprayable battery research.
Energy Harvesting Journal
http://bit.ly/109qAcD

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Troublemaker of the year
Hanszen College sophomore Zack Kopplin was awarded the Troublemaker Award for his leadership and advocacy efforts to prevent the spread of creationism in public education.
CommonDreams.org
http://www.commondreams.org/further/2013/03/04-0

Safe and unsafe sects (and what to call them!)
Alumnus Roger Olson ’82 authored this op-ed about cults and new religions.
Patheos.com
http://bit.ly/VzChqs

Thomas McEvilley, 1939-2013
An article remembers Thomas McEvilley, distinguished lecturer emeritus of art history.
Art in America
http://bit.ly/163rSpX

SPORTS

Rice’s Max Guercy making a case for C-USA Freshman of the Year
Wiess College freshman Max Guercy is profiled for his performance on the Rice Owls men’s basketball team.
Examiner.com
http://exm.nr/Yay9Jc

Rice takes tumble in Baseball America Top 25 poll
After losing three consecutive games at the Astros Foundation College Classic this weekend, the Owls dropped six spots to No. 19 in this week’s Baseball America Top 25 poll.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/XGAMoK

ITA names 2013 ITA Men’s Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame inductees
Alumnus Harold Solomon ’74 was inducted into the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame.
10sBalls.com
http://bit.ly/Zimav3

Bearkats to play in 2014 Minute Maid College Classic
Rice is mentioned in an article about the 2014 Minute Maid College Classic.
KBTX.com (Bryan/College Station, Texas)
http://bit.ly/WLih5O

Nokomis’ Wright unworried about size disadvantage
Rice is mentioned in an article about a Nokomis High School student-athlete.
Springfield State Journal-Register (Ill.)
http://bit.ly/100YDjk

NEWS RELEASES

Baker Institute fellows’ statements on Obama’s choice for new energy secretary
President Barack Obama nominated MIT professor Ernest Moniz as the new energy secretary. Two fellows at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy commented on Obama’s selection.
https://news2.rice.edu/?p=41344

Women’s role in Easter story
Rice University religious historian April DeConick is available to discuss the role women played in the Easter story, including Mary the Mother of Jesus, the woman at the well, the woman with the nard, Mary of Bethany and Mary Magdalene.
https://news2.rice.edu/?p=41358

Houston hip-hop leaders past and present to participate in Rice University panel March 5
Leaders in Houston’s hip-hop community will gather at Rice University for a special panel discussion tonight.
https://news2.rice.edu/?p=41353