Dateline Rice for April 12, 2013

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Where have the trees of Guam gone?
Ecologists and students from Rice University and the University of Guam will begin an ambitious four-year study this summer to examine how the loss of birds on Guam may be thinning the island’s forests as fewer seeds are spread into open gaps. Haldre Rogers, the Huxley Research Instructor in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, is quoted.
Smithsonian
http://bit.ly/ZjSa1s

Welcome to the business plan battle royale
Articles preview the Rice Business Plan Competition.
Fortune
http://bit.ly/11ZtX4x
College entrepreneurs to compete for big money prizes at Rice University
Entrepreneur
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/226364

Texas, election battleground: Democrats aim to mobilize the Hispanic vote
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 about how Texas’ shifting demographics will affect state politics. Jones is also quoted in news items about the Texas legislative session and immigration reform. An English translation of the SemanaNews.com article is not available.
Businessweek (This article also appeared on Bloomberg.com.)
http://buswk.co/ZMiLKz
From drug-testing to criminal defense, Texas Senate takes the ‘edge’ out of wedge issues
Austin American-Statesman (Texas)
http://bit.ly/16RLigW
Immigration reform, for who?
SemanaNews.com
http://semananews.com/news/2013/apr/10/reforma-migratoria-para-quien/

Oh s**t, here comes a robot to take my job
An op-ed about the changing world job market includes a comment by Moshe Vardi, the Karen Ostrum George Distinguished Service Professor of Computational Engineering and professor of computer science, about routine jobs being performed by robots.
The Register (U.K.)
http://bit.ly/ZlgJuV

TV’s all-time cheesiest shows
A list of light television shows mentions that the Rice Marching Owl Band has performed the theme song for "Hawaii Five-0."
MSN.com
http://tv.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?news=224492

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Rice scientists will embark on journey to study an unusual underwater rift
A team of scientists and technicians led by Rice University will embark on a 45-day journey this summer to study an unusual sediment that has existed on the bottom of the ocean for millions of years. Dale Sawyer, professor of Earth science, is quoted. Julia Morgan, professor of Earth science, is mentioned.
Houston Chronicle (subscription required) (This article also appeared in the Darien News.)
http://bit.ly/ZcbdxI

The mayor’s stand against texting and driving
Rice is mentioned in an article about Houston Mayor Annise Parker’s anti-texting-while-driving campaign.
Free Press Houston
http://bit.ly/YfWi2e

BROADCAST/WEBCAST

KDAF-TV (Dallas) (This story also appeared on KIAH-TV and WGNO-TV [New Orleans].)
A story about healthier food choices at Taco Bell cites President John F. Kennedy’s 1962 speech at Rice.
http://bit.ly/YuFAAD

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

BWA joins Rice Brine Chemistry Consortium
BWA Water Additives has joined the Rice Brine Chemistry Consortium. Amy Kan, research scientist in civil and environmental engineering and executive director of the China-U.S. Center for Environmental Remediation and Sustainable Development, is quoted.
EnergyGlobal.com
http://bit.ly/ZP1t8u

SPORTS

Preview of IQA World Cup VI this weekend
Rice is mentioned in an article about the Quidditch World Cup.
BleacherReport.com
http://bit.ly/ZiOhtt

International football clinic hosted by SGA, AA
An article about a football clinic to promote American football among international students at Georgia Tech University mentions a similar clinic at Rice.
Nique.net
http://bit.ly/17v8cfn

Giants’ success more than following lucky stars
Former Rice baseball players Philip Humber, Wade Townsend and Jeff Niemann are mentioned in a column about the San Francisco Giants.
KWCH.com (Wichita, Kan.)
http://bit.ly/12PBMJ3

Chilly homecoming for Binghamton Mets
Former Rice baseball player Josh Rodriguez is mentioned in an article about the Binghamton Mets.
Shreveport Times (This article also appeared in the Ithaca Journal, the Louisville Courier-Journal and the Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin.)
http://bit.ly/10ZWCnQ

Major League Baseball power rankings
Former Rice standout Lance Berkman is mentioned in an article about Major League Baseball teams.
CBC.ca (This article also appeared on TorontoTelegraph.com.)
http://bit.ly/10WFy09

Louisville shuts out Columbus
Former Rice baseball player Tony Cingrani is mentioned in an article recapping a minor league baseball game.
Scout.com (subscription required)
http://bit.ly/10OPlXi