Dateline Rice for May 30, 2014

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

The Hill’s new contributors section
The Hill newspaper announced the launch of its new “Contributors” section with content from more than 100 scholars, think tanks, diplomats and strategists. Rice President David Leebron is listed as a contributor.
The Hill
http://bit.ly/1tu9NKJ

A closer look at how Ryan Sitton became the GOP nominee for Railroad Commission
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 race for the seat on the Railroad Commission and the results of the Texas primary.
NPR’s “State Impact”
http://n.pr/1mQeqxG
Fiery anti-immigration GOP nominee Dan Patrick shifts tone to appeal to Hispanic voters
Huffington Post
http://huff.to/1izvm7i
Impeach Obama is Texas Democratic Senate candidate’s platform who also loves Obama Hitler posters
Inquisitr
http://bit.ly/1kp8wPz
The brief: Dewhurst plans to keep working until next session
Texas Tribune
http://bit.ly/SY95dw
Ordinance backlash
My Fox Houston
http://bit.ly/1gIiFM8
Dan Patrick and tea party set to ride into Austin
Austin American-Statesman
http://bit.ly/1o67tbc
Head scratching over Democrats’ pick for agriculture chief
San Antonio Express-News (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1oRqtf3
Eyeing Hispanic voters, Patrick shifts his tone
The Gilmer Mirror (This article also appeared in the Monitor and My High Plains.)
http://bit.ly/1lXHrnS
Our view: Dewhurst’s election loss could spell trouble for South Plains
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
http://bit.ly/SY9xZc
On everything today
Campos Communications
http://bit.ly/1pEclFA

Half of Bristol voters would swap the polling booth for their iPads
Rice researchers studying a potential mobile voting system found that smartphone owners made fewer errors voting with their mobile devices in a mock election than they did voting via the traditional system.
Bristol Post
http://bit.ly/1oCGRm3

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Houston universities grab $3.4 million for STEM and lab classes
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute awarded a four-year grant to Rice to promote STEM majors. Rebecca Richards-Kortum, the Stanley C. Moore Professor and chair of the Department of Bioengineering and director of both Beyond Traditional Borders and Rice 360°: Institute for Global Health Technologies, is quoted.
Houston Business Journal
http://bit.ly/1gIv1UC
HHMI awards Rice $1.9 million for STEM innovation
Fort Bend Sun (This article also appeared in Memorial Examiner and Bellaire Examiner.)
http://bit.ly/1mPZ7oO

Houston Methodist announces projects in The Woodlands, Medical Center
The Texas Medial Center plans to expand into the city and growing suburbs. Vivian Ho, the James A. Baker III Institute Chair in Health Economics at the Baker Institute for Public Policy and professor of economics, is quoted about the Memorial Hermann Health System’s renovation plans.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/U0exgN

Houston Symphony’s Ima Hogg finalists are an international cast
Clarinetist Lin Ma is a finalist at the Ima Hogg Competition.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1kpbJyq
Houston Symphony’s 2014 Ima Hogg competition
Houston Public Media
http://bit.ly/1oRx9ty
Your weekly guide to Houston: 5 (plus) don’t-miss events — party time included
CultureMap
http://bit.ly/1prXz7M

Rice grad breaks world record with $54 Frappuccino
Alumnus Andrew Chifari ’08 broke the world record for creating the most expensive Starbucks drink. The giant Frappuccino cost $54.75.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1hD6zz5

The 10 best macarons in Houston
Maison Burdisso, a Parisian macaron vendor, sells some of Houston’s best macarons at the Rice Farmers Market.
Houston Press
http://bit.ly/1kd6YNh

BROADCAST

US birth rate rises
Steve Murdock, the Allyn and Gladys Cline Professor of Sociology and director of Rice’s Hobby Center for the Study of Texas, is quoted about the increasing birth rate being the product of a better economy.
KTRH-AM (This article also appeared on KPRC-AM.)
http://bit.ly/1hj6WEz
http://bit.ly/1kcJLdR

KRIV-TV
The family of missing Martel College senior Reny Jose is seeking help from the U.S. attorney general’s office.
http://bit.ly/1k89LZ6
Missing man’s family seeks attorney general’s help
The News Herald (This article also appeared in Ocala, NBC 6 South Florida and the Tribune.)
http://bit.ly/1gI2vSU
Family of missing man seeks federal help
News Channel 10 (This also appeared on KRHD-TV, Greenfield Daily Reporter, Austin American-Statesman, KSWO-TV and KDFW-TV.)
http://bit.ly/1wyWIUz
KTSA-AM (San Antonio, Texas)
http://bit.ly/SYmMsV

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Physicists prove surprising rule of threes
Randall Hulet, the Fayez Sarofim Professor of Physics and Astronomy, is quoted about the infinite series of molecules otherwise known as the Efimov “trimer.”
Wired (This article also appeared in Economic Times.)
http://wrd.cm/1pE0gQU

Power source thinner than paper can now charge your phone
Rice chemists created a flexible material with the high energy of a battery or supercapacitor. 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.
Economic Times
http://bit.ly/1pEmnqo

Texas update: Localeur, Need raise new funds and plan expansions
Michael Brogioli, adjunct assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, is an angel investor for the travel website Localeur.
Xconomy
http://bit.ly/1hFQ6tV

‘Smart’ peg tests palsy patients’ dexterity
Rice engineering students created a Bluetooth-enabled device to boost cerebral palsy therapy.
Medical Design Briefs (This article also appeared in NASA Tech Briefs.)
http://bit.ly/1jAYkDA

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Holy Cross receives STARTALK grant for 3rd year in a row
Holy Cross has been awarded a STARTALK grant for a 10-day summer residential program on literacy development in Chinese as a foreign language. Meng Yeh, senior lecturer of Chinese, associate director of the Center for the Study of Languages, will serve as the instructional lead.
HolyCross.edu
http://bit.ly/1tuapzN

You can believe NASA or you can believe Rush; it’s your pick
John Anderson, the W. Maurice Ewing Chair in Oceanography, professor of Earth science and academic director of Rice’s Shell Center for Sustainability, is quoted about the sea-level implications of the melting Antarctic.
The Leader
http://www.theleadernews.com/?p=17701

10 ways nanotechnology is changing the world
Some nanodiamonds formed in hydrogenated coal can disappear when hit with an electron beam, according to Rice University scientists. Ed Billups, professor of chemistry, is mentioned.
Dazed Digital
http://bit.ly/1kd6ab0

A celebration of the first lady’s life
Alumna Beth Ray ’68 passed away March 21 after battling lung cancer.
The Daily Astorian (This article also appeared in the Daily Barometer.)
http://bit.ly/1nKudiF

Bloomer: The man behind the budget
Alumnus Sherman Bloomer ’76 is featured.
Wallowa.com
http://bit.ly/1o5PiCH

SPORTS

Rice will host the NCAA Regional this weekend.
Baseball makes final preparations for NCAA Tournament
Texas Sports
http://bit.ly/1jAzaou
Ranking the 4 pitching staffs in the Rice baseball regional
Examiner.com
http://exm.nr/1izLTYY
Locals Slemons, Nittoli helped Xavier qualify
Vindy.com
http://bit.ly/1hiQ9BB
Gamecocks look to build on home NCAA win streak
WSMV.com
http://bit.ly/RL4rhK

Southern Miss selected for 3 national TV football games
Rice football’s game against Southern Mississippi University will be televised on Fox College Sports Sept. 27.
SunHerald.com
http://bit.ly/1prJYx5

Brock Holt hopes it’s more than a short stop at third
Alumnus Brock Holt ’12 is featured.
BostonHerald.com
http://bit.ly/U03eVS

Methodist Sugar Land partners with FBISD to provide sports medicine for student-athletes
Elkins High School senior Tristan Gray signed a letter of intent to play baseball at Rice.
FreeNewsPos.com
http://bit.ly/U0sQlA

NEWS RELEASES

HHMI awards Rice $1.9 million for STEM innovation
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute today awarded a $1.9 million, four-year grant to Rice University to alter several of its introductory science courses to include strategies that have proven extraordinarily successful at increasing retention of science and engineering majors in Rice’s innovative hands-on global health technologies programs.
http://bit.ly/1nKOt3O

Hitchhiking nanotubes show how cells stir themselves
Chemical engineers from Rice University and biophysicists from Georg-August Universität Göttingen in Germany and the VU University Amsterdam in the Netherlands have successfully tracked single molecules inside living cells with carbon nanotubes.
http://bit.ly/1izNG05