Dateline Rice for April 18, 2014

FEATURED ITEMS

Rice students design ‘Jedi Putter’ to help golfers make the shot
Rice students have designed a putter that helps golfers have a consistent putting stroke. Duncan College senior Matt Lopez, McMurtry College senior Yize Zhao and Jones College senior Sid Mullick are quoted. The story includes a video produced by Public Affairs’ Brandon Martin.
KHOU-TV
http://bit.ly/1r4Quq8
http://bit.ly/1h9AEon
TXCN-TV (Dallas)
http://bit.ly/1jQJ0px

What’s the ROI for a college degree in Texas?
Rice tops the list of the top 20 schools in Texas with the best 20-year return on investment, according to a new ranking by PayScale Inc.
Houston Business Journal (This article also appeared in Dallas Business Journal.)
http://bit.ly/1nfwEe7
Money Friday morning preview #Hounews
News 92 FM
http://bit.ly/1qUjD9l

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Students help Special Olympian gain independence on balance beam
A group of Rice students created an assistive device for a 10-year-old special-needs gymnast. Jones College sophomore Austin James is quoted.
Yahoo! Screen
http://yhoo.it/1nu5KMO
Beaming on a balance beam
Medical Design Technology
http://bit.ly/QkrC2h

Nonconsensual sex: How colleges rebranded rape
An article discusses Yale University’s use of the term “nonconsensual sex” instead of the terms rape or sexual assault. Rice’s wellbeing website is referenced.
Al Jazeera America
http://alj.am/1maVqMi

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Reports: More Texans, Houstonians get health insurance
According to a new report from Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and the Episcopal Health Foundation, the rate of Texans without health insurance has dropped slightly since the launch of the Affordable Care Act. Vivian Ho, the James A. Baker III Institute Chair in Health Economics at the Baker Institute and professor of economics, is quoted. Elena Marks, scholar in health policy at the Baker Institute, is mentioned.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1itkE5w
Survey: Percentage of uninsured Texans drops
San Antonio Express
http://bit.ly/1jduWEG

Moral awakening guides ‘The Retrieval’
Alumnus Chris Eska ’98 is featured for his movie, “The Retrieval.”
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1h9FZfu
Movie minute: ‘The Retrieval’
KHOU-TV (This article also appeared in KVUE-TV, WVEC-TV, NWCN-TV, KGW-TV, KREM-TV, KENS-TV, WFAA-TV and WHAS-TV.)
http://bit.ly/1jdmgOB

Crisis in Ukraine has far-reaching implications
Six fellows at Rice’s Baker Institute for Publicy Policy were asked to explain how growing tensions in Ukraine affect their expertise and the international economy. Kenneth Medlock III, the James A. Baker III and Susan Baker Fellow in Energy and Resource Economics; Jim Krane, the Wallace S. Wilson Fellow for Energy Studies; Andrew Bowen, the Baker Institute Scholar for the Middle East; George Abbey, the Baker Botts Senior Fellow in Space Policy; Steven Lewis, the C.V. Starr Transnational China Fellow and professor in the practice and interim director of the Chao Center for Asian Studies; and Russell Green, the Will Clayton Fellow in International Economics, are quoted.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1i2fRDy

Candidate changes course after conflict of interest accusations
Mark Jones, the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies, professor and chair of political science and fellow in political science at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted about the Texas primary.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1eQwFTu
Republican RRC candidate to put oil and gas firm in blind trust
Houston Chronicle (This article also appeared in San Antonio Express.)
http://bit.ly/1kIBIFv

The sounding world
Rice’s Shepherd School of Music and Nameless Sound will co-present a performance by Michael Pisaro at the James Turrell “Twilight Epiphany” Skyspace.
Arts and Culture Texas
http://bit.ly/Rva84n

Smarty pants young professionals get wet and wild — all in the name of being float champions
The Rice Design Alliance’s “Anything That Floats” Competition is featured.
CultureMap
http://bit.ly/1qU2rRa

Opinion: Please, new Union, don’t kill my vibe
A student reporter at University of North Texas calls for the re-establishment of an on-campus beer and wine lounge. Rice’s Willy’s Pub and Valhalla are referenced.
NTDaily.com
http://bit.ly/QtgYWO

UNT gender-neutral housing plan hits roadblock
Students at the University of North Texas are advocating for gender-neutral housing. Rice is mentioned.
Dallas Voice
http://bit.ly/1eHtc9i

Ted Cruz speaks at Marine Military Academy
Alumna Eleanor Darragh ’56 is mentioned.
The Monitor
http://bit.ly/Qk9FRu
Cruzin’ the Valley: Senator speaks at MMA during border stop
Valley Star
http://bit.ly/1jdkJIc

BROADCAST

KSL-TV (Salt Lake City)
According to a new study from Rice University and Iowa State University, consumers who traveled farther and made reservations while at the office were more likely to select higher quality hotels but were less satisfied after their stay. Ajay Kalra, the Herbert S. Autrey Chair in Business and professor of marketing, is mentioned.
http://bit.ly/1nu6S3e

One bin to rule them all: Houston moves toward all-in-one garbage and recycling
Houston is working toward residents being able to throw trash and recyclables in the same bin to be sorted at a processing plant. Jim Blackburn, professor in the practice of environmental law in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, is quoted.
NPR’s State Impact
http://n.pr/1gQ9C9O

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

A solution for graphene production
Scientists have discovered a way to product large quantities of graphene. 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 quoted.
Chemical and Engineering News
http://bit.ly/1kIyhOV

The pros and cons of the mortgage-interest deduction
John Diamond, the Edward A. and Hermena Hancock Kelly Fellow in Public Finance at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and an adjunct professor of economics, is interviewed about mortgage-interest deduction.
Investopedia
http://bit.ly/RuUDt2

The link between energy security and foreign policy options
Energy security is under debate among oil countries. Edward Djerejian, founding director of Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and former U.S. ambassador to Syria and Israel, is quoted from his address at Rice’s Geopolitics of Natural Gas conference.
Rigzone
http://bit.ly/1lgcSLA
Shale brings mixed results for oil giants
Bismarck Tribune
http://bit.ly/1gGH3Z0

Photoluminescent nanoparticles kill cancer
Researchers at the University of Texas at Arlington are featured for their potential breakthrough cancer treatment. Rice is referenced for its study of light exposure to nanoparticles.
IEEE Spectrum
http://bit.ly/1pgijjs

ASME announces 10 collegiate entrepreneur teams for the 2014 IShow
Rice’s Team BiliQuant will compete at the ASME Innovative Showcase.
Tech Cocktail
http://bit.ly/1jcZZiH

National Space Biomedical Research Institute funds eye-tracking technology and software-enabled therapeutics for brain health
The National Space Biomedical Research Institute is funding EyeBoxCNS and eFormulations. Rice is mentioned.
BioNews Texas
http://bit.ly/1f2q17h

A no-surgery solution for eardrum repair? Tulane team’s gel patch could be applied in-office
Forty-two teams from around the world competed at the 14th Rice Business Plan Competition.
Med City News
http://bit.ly/1iwHfOx
Funding digest: BetaGlide, iKure Technosoft
MediaNama.com
http://bit.ly/Qt9d3g
RWTH-Forscher gewinnen US-Wettbewerb
WDR (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/PbOboK

Rice CENHS hosts ‘Cultures of Energy’ symposium
Rice’s Center for Energy and Environmental Research in the Human Sciences is hosting a “Cultures of Energy” spring symposium.
AZoCleanTech.com
http://bit.ly/1lg7YhC

Tall City Exploration appoints Marziani as CFO
Alumnus Michael Marziani ’97 is featured.
Oil and Gas Investor
http://bit.ly/1jdwqyN

Diamond-mineral oil mix may be best heat transfer nanofluid, say researchers
Rice scientists discovered that a mixture of diamond nanoparticles and mineral oil outperforms other fluids created for heat-transfer applications. Alumnus Jaime Taha-Tijerina ’13 is quoted.
Electronics Cooling
http://bit.ly/1hTNX2e

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Rice University students bring deft touch to amputees in program that’s had global reach
A group of Rice students created the “Magic Touch” to help people with prosthetic hands manage their grip. McMurtry College senior Bryan Solomon; Maria Oden, director of Rice’s Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen and co-director of Beyond Traditional Borders; and Jocelyn Brown ’10, senior program associate at Rice 360°, are quoted. Students Julie Walker, Michael Schubert, Caitlin Makatura and Xuejiao Liang are mentioned.
The Republic (This article also appeared in Bellingham Herald and 35 other affiliates.)
http://bit.ly/1ntWTuP

Adventurers, artists, activists and more
Douglas Brinkley, professor of history and fellow in history at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, will speak at the Telluride Mountainfilm Festival.
Telluride Daily Planet
http://bit.ly/1r4NABI

SPORTS

Track and field ready for UTSA invite
Rice women’s track and field will compete against New Mexico State at Holloway Field.
NMStateSports.com
http://bit.ly/1lg6FiJ
NMSU track and field heads to San Antonio
KTSM.com (This article also appeared in KDBC-TV.)
http://bit.ly/1pgwaGL

Texas A&M football: Offseason arrests shouldn’t be an indictment of the program
A Texas A&M football player was arrested for an alleged assault on the Rice campus.
Bleacher Report
http://bit.ly/1mjQkuD

Pittsburgh Steelers hosting Ra’Shede Hageman
Senior cornerback Phillip Gaines is mentioned.
Fansided
http://bit.ly/1eQAibZ

NEWS RELEASES

Rice’s Kinder Institute to release 2014 Houston Area Survey findings April 24
Stephen Klineberg, co-director of Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research and a sociology professor, will release findings from the 2014 Kinder Institute Houston Area Survey at a downtown luncheon April 24.
http://bit.ly/1gQdRCt

Could ‘Jedi Putter’ be the force golfers need?
Putting is arguably the most important skill in golf; in fact, it’s been described as a game within a game. Now a team of Rice engineering students has devised a training putter that offers golfers audio, visual and tactile feedback to help them learn a consistent putting stroke.
http://bit.ly/1eQMcmp

‘Cultures of Energy’ brings together leading energy, environmental and humanities scholars at Rice
Leading local, national and international scholars working at the intersection of energy, the environment and the humanities will gather at Rice University April 24-26 for the third annual Cultures of Energy Spring Symposium.
http://bit.ly/1hTxSZw