Dateline Rice for Dec. 24, 2013

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

A democratic contract with America: How to retake the House and combat economic inequality
An op-ed column on democratic strategy to retake majority control of the House and address economic inequality mentions Rice research.
Huffington Post
http://huff.to/K2qail

HOUSTON/TEXAS

High-profile event creator Todd Fiscus dishes on his new Houston business and strange client requests
An article on the new Houston business Todd Events mentions the company’s local debut at the 2013 “Russian Rhapsody”-themed Symphony Ball, where a 15,000 square-foot tent was erected behind Rice’s Shepherd School of Music.
Houston Chronicle (This article also appeared in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.)
http://bit.ly/19KmJ9t

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Chinese wastewater plants ‘released drug immune gene’
Tests at two wastewater treatment plants in northern China revealed antibiotic-resistant bacteria were not only escaping purification but also breeding and spreading their dangerous cargo. Pedro Alvarez, the George R. Brown Professor and chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, is quoted.
Environmental Technology
http://bit.ly/1eCukLk

Improve financial status by taking a cyclical approach
Utpal Dholakia, professor of marketing at Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business, is mentioned in an article about the way people think about time and how it affects their financial planning.
Psych Central
http://bit.ly/1fEmixW

Best of 2013: New form of carbon is stronger than graphene and diamond
Rice researchers have determined that carbyne is twice as stiff as the stiffest materials known to science. Graduate student Mingjie Liu is mentioned.
MIT Technology Review
http://bit.ly/1fYj7BZ

Working globally: Linda Toyota
A column on the growth of the Asian-American community in Houston mentions research conducted by Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research.
Smart Business
http://bit.ly/1cPuVT4

Rebellion Photonics gains acclaim for innovative camera
Rice alumni Robert Kester ’11 and Allison Lami Sawyer ’10 are quoted in an article about their company, Rebellion Photonics
Smart Business
http://bit.ly/19nrsji

A growing gap: How black and white Christians now think about race
The latest findings from a significant ongoing study of religion and race in America suggest that divergent perceptions on race among black and white Christians have continued to widen since 2006. Michael Emerson, the Allyn and Gladys Cline Professor of Sociology and co-director of Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, is mentioned.
Christianity Today
http://bit.ly/1eCrrtK

‘Social’ bacteria that work together to hunt for food and survive under harsh conditions
Rice research into multicell bacterium could lead to new antibiotics or to development of new pest-resistant seeds. Oleg Igoshin, assistant professor of bioengineering, is quoted.
Phys.org
http://bit.ly/1cPxAvT

AkzoNobel to build powder pilot in felling, Solvay signs social and environmental agreement, Axalta to paint Beijing subway trains
Research by James Tour, the T.T. and W.F. Chao Chair in Chemistry and professor of mechanical engineering and materials science and of computer science, is mentioned.
Special Chem
http://bit.ly/1c3tHpH

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Grand lady of the violin: Camilla Wicks
The life of acclaimed violinist Camilla Wicks is profiled and mentions she once taught at Rice.
Epoch Times
http://bit.ly/1ld3qHs

Medical news of the weird for 2013: Improve your golf game with a breathing machine; help find real ‘cat poop’ coffee
Researchers at Rice found that post-harvest vegetables and fruits are still alive, or at least alive enough to react to light and follow a biological clock to change chemical signatures.
Knoxville News Sentinel
http://bit.ly/1c3pG4C

SPORTS

Rice will play Mississippi State in the Liberty Bowl Dec. 31 in Memphis.
WXVT-TV (Greenville, Miss.)
http://tinyurl.com/mcyttov
WCBI-TV (Columbus, Miss.)
http://tinyurl.com/mahvbyo

The University of Minnesota will play Syracuse University in the Texas Bowl. Reports mention that Syracuse will practice at Rice before the Dec. 27 game at Reliant Stadium.
WWTI-TV (Watertown, N.Y.)
http://tinyurl.com/lubwgdp
WTVH-TV (Syracuse, N.Y.)
http://tinyurl.com/mfmz2do