Dateline Rice for May 2, 2013

FEATURED ITEMS

Student program wins $100,000 prize for health innovations for developing world
Rebecca Richards-Kortum and Maria Oden won the 2013 $100,000 Lemelson-MIT Award for Global Innovation and are donating their prize money toward the construction of a new neonatal ward at the African hospital that has helped implement Rice’s low-cost, student-designed health care technologies since 2007. Richards-Kortum is the Stanley C. Moore Professor of Bioengineering and professor of electrical and computer engineering. Oden is a professor in the practice of engineering education and director of the Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen. Alumna Jocelyn Brown ’10 is mentioned in the Houston Chronicle article.
NBCNews.com (This article also appeared on KTSM.com [El Paso, Texas].)
http://nbcnews.to/130hldW
From Houston to Africa: With love
Houston Chronicle (This article appeared on the front of the City & State section and was promoted on the front page. It also appeared in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and the Darien News.)
http://bit.ly/10YmdT2
KUHF-FM
http://bit.ly/17znxL1
These students are trying to save the world. And they’re succeeding
San Francisco Chronicle
http://bit.ly/11Y2kH2
Inventors honored for bringing life-saving health solutions to the developing world
MIT.edu
http://bit.ly/11C9Fvu
Rice professors receive Lemelson-MIT Award for Global Innovation
HHMI.org (A similar article also appeared on Equities.com.)
http://www.hhmi.org/news/lemelson-mit20130501.html

Rice’s open textbook arm to double its offerings
Rice University-based publisher OpenStax College announced plans to more than double the number of titles in its catalog of free, online textbooks by 2015, thanks to a grant from the Laura and John Arnold Foundation.
InsideHigherEd.com
http://bit.ly/ZBaOWi

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Syria at the crossroads
Edward Djerejian, founding director of Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, discusses the Syrian civil war.
Al Arabiya
http://bit.ly/10Wtoeg

Negative echoes in Washington
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 articles about reactions to judicial reforms in Argentina and comprehensive immigration reform legislation. English translations of these articles are not available. Jones also appeared on KPRC-TV to discuss the possibility that Sen. Ted Cruz may run for president.
La Nación (Argentina)
http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1578120-ecos-negativos-en-washington
The undocumented: Revising the stereotype about the future law’s beneficiaries
La Voz
http://bit.ly/ZQvzwH
KPRC-TV
http://bit.ly/15aGC8Y

Senators reject repeal of Science Education Act
A Louisiana law that allows public school science teachers to use supplemental materials in their classrooms will remain on the books, despite criticism that it’s a back-door way to teach creationism. Hanszen College sophomore Zack Kopplin is quoted.
San Francisco Chronicle (This Associated Press article also appeared in the Alexandria Town Talk, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, WFTV.com [Orlando, Fla.] and nearly 30 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/103N88B

Why the ripple effect for change starts with educating girls
Lovett College sophomore Shannon McNamara is interviewed about her work as an activist for gender rights and girls’ education.
Forbes.com
http://onforb.es/10VCPuF

HOUSTON/TEXAS

City crime lab names expert advisers
Antonios Mikos, the Louis Calder Professor of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, was named to an expert panel that will advise the Houston crime lab’s board on technical forensic matters.
Houston Chronicle (subscription required) (This article appeared on the front of the City & State section.)
http://bit.ly/18u9Zio

NRA lands in Houston
An editorial about the 142nd NRA annual national meeting in downtown Houston cites the annual Kinder Houston Area Survey.
Houston Chronicle (This editorial also appeared in the Connecticut Post.)
http://bit.ly/12Yx6Bl

Singing her way to the top
An article features alumna Lauren Snouffer ’09 for her career in music.
Austin American-Statesman
http://bit.ly/18pp70H

BROADCAST/WEBCAST

KHOU-TV
Bob Stein, the Lena Gohlman Fox Professor of Political Science and fellow in urban politics at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted in a story about attorney Ben Hall’s run for Houston mayor.
http://bit.ly/ZAYHIO

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Young musician: Church organ thriving
Daryl Robinson, a graduate student in music, is profiled for his career in music.
Associated Baptist Press
http://bit.ly/160hxNw

Maestro from Mexico City leads Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra: Nuestro Pueblo
Alumna Eva Liebhaber ’08 will perform with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra.
New Orleans Times-Picayune
http://bit.ly/YoX7uX

Nonprofit group to arm ‘vulnerable’ residents in high-crime areas with free shotguns
A nonprofit group in Houston has begun an ambitious new effort to help an entire neighborhood. Kyle Coplen, assistant director of aquatic programs, is quoted.
LatinosPost.com
http://bit.ly/YgV2is

Student’s essay a popular read among peers choosing colleges
Rice is mentioned in an article about a Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology student.
Fairfax Times (Va.)
http://bit.ly/YgVRaV

SPORTS

Rice returns from break with win
An article recaps a baseball game between Rice and Lamar University.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/10uyPcY

No. 20 Owls to meet Pepperdine in first-round NCAA Tournament match
Conference USA champion Rice will face Pepperdine in the opening round of the NCAA women’s tennis tournament in Palo Alto, Calif.
Houston Chronicle (subscription required)
http://bit.ly/18sfFJK
Rice’s NCAA Tournament opponent, venue both in California
Examiner.com
http://exm.nr/Yn2ivo
In other news
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/18eWdTy

Woodchucks add four players
Rice baseball players Matt Ditman, Ryan McCarthy, Austin Orewiler and Kirby Taylor will play for the Wisconsin Woodchucks.
WSAU.com (Wausau, Wis.)
http://bit.ly/130DZCY

Oklahoma embraces Texas club pro Lardon at PGA
Alumnus Brad Lardon ’88 is profiled for his career in golf.
Cybergolf.com
http://bit.ly/11CNe9I

KROI-FM
Baseball players Enrique and Jose Cruz will graduate from Rice this year.
http://bit.ly/Yp0KkH

KHOU-TV
KHOU-TV’s Daniel Gotera participated in the Caray Cup singing competition at Reckling Park.
http://bit.ly/ZpmBUb

Travis gets back to playoffs
Rice is mentioned in an article about the Fort Bend Travis High School baseball team.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/YgTu8d

Humble runner completes Flying Owls 5K
A runner from Humble, Texas, completed the Flying Owls 5K race at Rice.
UltimateLakeHouston.com (This news brief also appeared on UltimateCyFair.com.)
http://bit.ly/15bKXZw

NEWS RELEASES

Rice’s OpenStax College doubles down on free, online textbooks
Rice University-based publisher OpenStax College announced plans to more than double the number of titles in its catalog of free, online textbooks by 2015, thanks to a grant from the Laura and John Arnold Foundation.
https://news2.rice.edu/?p=44610

Rice students offer simple solution to reduce IV infections
The latest student invention from Rice University’s award-winning engineering design program — a set of intravenous tubing that could slash IV-related infections — looks so simple. But looks can be deceiving.
https://news2.rice.edu/?p=44635

Heart cells change stem cell behavior
A new study by researchers at Rice University and Texas Children’s Hospital has shown that these stem cells can communicate with mature heart cells and form electrical couplings with each other similar to those found in heart tissue.
https://news2.rice.edu/?p=44644

More diplomacy and political skill required in US-Mexico relations, Baker Institute expert says
As President Barack Obama prepares to visit Mexico and meet with still-new Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto this week, the relationship between the two countries may be poised for a rocky time; more diplomacy and political skill will be required from Washington if the relationship is to work, according to Tony Payan, a scholar for immigration studies at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.
https://news2.rice.edu/?p=44604