Dateline Rice for Nov. 24, 2014 (Weekend Edition)

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Would huge Nicaragua canal be win for China?
The plan to build a giant transoceanic canal across Nicaragua is set to move forward despite skepticism. Pedro Alvarez, the George R. Brown Professor and chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, is quoted about his worry that the canal will never be completed and the potential damage to Lake Nicaragua.
CNN
http://cnn.it/1pfIyYb

To soothe investors, Mexico’s Pena Nieto must tackle graft
Major corporations are now hesitant to invest in Mexico since Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto canceled his contract with Chinese investors to build a high-speed railway and faces public furor. Tony Payan, the Baker Institute’s Françoise and Edward Djerejian Fellow for Mexico Studies and director of the institute’s Mexico Center, is quoted.
World Politics Review
http://bit.ly/1pfDx1v

Special report: Why metro Houston fears the next big storm
Galveston and Houston are still vulnerable to storms six years after Hurricane Ike. Houston has yet to decide on a storm surge protection plan, which includes Rice’s proposed Centennial Gate.
Yahoo! News
http://yhoo.it/11PzcqN

The importance of mentoring
Leslie Schwindt-Bayer, associate professor of political science, participated in a discussion on mentoring at the 2014 American Political Science Association conference. In a separate interview, Schwindt-Bayer answers additional questions on the necessity of mentoring and offers advice.
OUP Blog
http://bit.ly/1vFFo2B

Frederik de Wilde: NanoBlck-Sqr#1
Artist Frederik de Wilde collaborated with Rice and NASA to create a hue “blacker than black” with carbon nanotubes. His painting featuring the hue is on display at Carroll/Fletcher in London.
Time Out London
http://bit.ly/1xNy6ZI

3 local violinists make 1st cut
Graduate student Lijia Phang passed the first round of the inaugural edition of the Singapore International Violin Competition. Phang is quoted.
Asia One
http://bit.ly/1vFUQeG

The 7 reasons why JFK is 1 of the world’s greatest speakers, and what we can learn from him
John F. Kennedy’s speech given at Rice in 1962 is mentioned.
Huffington Post
http://huff.to/1xNgf4Z
Benefits of space flight deserve more enthusiasm
The Main Campus
http://bit.ly/1xMtiDU

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Texas universities broadening bandwidth
Local universities, including Rice, are preparing to expand their bandwidth to accommodate digital needs. Kamran Khan, vice provost for information technology, is quoted.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1y5QQCn

Straus foes may have more than 1 way to count a win
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, comments on the group Empower Texans’ mission to remove Joe Straus as House speaker, the benefit of President Barack Obama’s immigration executive order, minimum wage legislation and textbook adoptions at the Texas State Board of Education.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required. This article also appeared in San Antonio Express-News.)
http://bit.ly/1xsHiyv
Mixed emotions in Houston area regarding immigration reform
My Fox Houston
http://bit.ly/1uRFi63
Matthew Waller: Minimum wage raise not much of an issue in Texas
San Angelo Standard-Times (This article also appeared in Abilene Reporter-News.)
http://bit.ly/1HDcqDU
The week in quotes (Nov. 16-22)
TFN Insider
http://bit.ly/1zOWc5l

For sale: Swimming pool, lazy river and man cave instead of house
An article about various real estate deals mentions that Rice MBA alumna Molly Carter ’14 plans to build a fitness center in the Greenway Plaza area.
Houston Chronicle (This appeared on the front of the Business section in Sunday’s paper. Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1yyMMtQ

Board hopes to raise Texas college graduation rate
The Austin American-Statesman reported that the number of Texans enrolled in colleges and universities has increased, but it is not keeping up with Texas’ booming population. Steve Murdock, the Allyn and Gladys Cline Professor of Sociology and director of Rice’s Hobby Center for the Study of Texas, is quoted.
KTRK-TV (This Associated Press article also appeared in Fort Mill Times and 11 other media outlets.)
http://abc13.co/1uS2uBd

Administration taking health care to people
Health and Human Services Secretary Silvia Burwell is meeting with organizers across Texas to promote the Affordable Care Act to uninsured Texans. Elena Marks, scholar in health policy at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
San Antonio Express-News
http://bit.ly/1xt04WC

Newly emboldened GOP targets illegal immigration
Texas Republicans are attempting to reform illegal immigration without alienating Hispanic voters. Tony Payan, the Baker Institute’s Françoise and Edward Djerejian Fellow for Mexico Studies and director of the institute’s Mexico Center, is quoted.
Dallas Morning News
http://bit.ly/1tpX6jd

UH RED Labs, Rice OwlSpark collaborate in new facility
Rice’s OwlSpark and University of Houston’s Red Labs plan to host their accelerator programs in TMCx next summer. Managing Director Kerri Smith is quoted.
The Cougar
http://bit.ly/1uRAZrp

Hundreds attend special performance of Beethoven
Colombian violinist and conductor Andrés Orozco-Estrada debuted his Spanish-language innovative performance format to hundreds of Houston-area Hispanic residents at Rice’s Stude Concert Hall.
Bellaire Examiner (This article also appeared in Memorial Examiner, Humble Observer, Lake Houston Observer, Kingwood Observer and Fort Bend Sun.)
http://bit.ly/1xMopdR

The changing culture of killing for food
Jill Carroll, former professor of the philosophy of religion, is featured for her hunting lifestyle.
Texas Observer
http://bit.ly/1zRNgMB

Homestead: Noguess clan rooted in France
A Noguess family timeline that traces Menard County’s roots mentions that alumni Mary Noguess Godfrey ’61 and Brooks Godfrey ’58 met while attending Rice.
San Angelo Standard-Times
http://bit.ly/1y5B9eu

Artist Ed Wilson’s contract withdrawn as $830,000 GRB commission process collapses in turmoil
Houston artist Ed Wilson’s commission to produce a sculpture for the George R. Brown Convention Center in time for the 2017 Super Bowl has been withdrawn. Rice Gallery manager Christine Medina served on the Houston Arts Alliance’s selection panel that chose Ed Wilson.
Glasstire
http://bit.ly/1zlxNmX

BROADCAST

KTRK-TV
Richard Tapia, University Professor, the Maxfield-Oshman Professor in Engineering and a professor of computational and applied mathematics at Rice, is featured for his efforts in helping Hispanic students who wish to pursue a career in math and science. Visiting Scholar Leticia Velazquez; Duncan College senior Fernando Ramirez; and alumna Juliet Stipeche ‘96 are quoted.
http://bit.ly/11qXQhI

C-SPAN2 BookTV
Alumna Megan Francis ’03 discusses her new book, “Civil Rights and the Making of the Modern American State.”
http://bit.ly/1vG19iV

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Cell’s skeleton is never still: Scientists model dynamic instability of microtubules
Computer models developed at Rice University show how microtubules age. The models help explain the dynamic instability seen in microtubules, essential elements in cells’ cytoskeletons. Anatoly Kolomeisky, professor of chemistry and of chemical and biomolecular engineering, is quoted. Postdoctoral researcher Xin Li is mentioned.
Phys.org
http://bit.ly/1y5LjvN

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Fantasy (CD review)
Classical Candor writer John Puccio reviews Jon Kimura Parker’s CD “Fantasy.” Kimura Parker is a professor of piano.
Classical Candor
http://bit.ly/1zkkrYg

Accelerate Learning’s STEMscopes online science curricula named 2014 Digital Innovation in Learning Award winner
Accelerate Learning’s STEMscopes,the digital pre-K-12 science curriculum developed in conjunction with Rice, has been named a winner in the inaugural Digital Innovation in Learning Awards.
Fort Mill Times
http://bit.ly/1tpW8nc

How Skyrim is teaching university students about the decline of US empire
Donna Beth Ellard, a postdoctoral fellow in English, discusses the historicism in her Rice course “Scandanavian Fantasy Worlds: Old Norse Sagas and Skyrim.”
New Statesman
http://bit.ly/1rizTzS

SPORTS

NFL’s changing culture of playing in pain
The Houston Texans follow strict medication guidelines despite football’s history of painkiller abuse. Gary Hale, a nonresident fellow in drug policy at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, and former Rice lineman N.D. Kalu are quoted.
Houston Chronicle (This appeared on the front page. Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/11QEpQ3

Rice football beat University of Texas at El Paso 31-13 at Rice Stadium.
Rice beats UTEP 31-13, strengthens bowl status
Fox Sports
http://foxs.pt/1xN5lMF
Hull, Rice topple UTEP to ensure winning record
Houston Chronicle (This appeared on the front of the Sports section. Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1viZ5eB
Senior WR Mario Hull comes up huge as Rice pulls away from UTEP
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1yNbVkF
Rice to play for C-USA West title
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1pfI1p5
UH and Rice survive the weekend weather and prepare to go bowling
Houston Press
http://bit.ly/1tq02wf
It’s the perfect football weather this weekend
Houston Press
http://bit.ly/11KIOUQ
UTEP Miners fall to the Rice Owls in C-USA play, 31-13
Best College Sports
http://bit.ly/11QAdQg
Rice pulls away from UTEP to win 31-13 Friday night
Underdog Dynasty
http://bit.ly/1y5HA14
Recap: Rice versus Texas-El Paso
Miami Herald (This article also appeared in Sacramento Bee and 13 other media outlets.)
http://hrld.us/1zlwbtr

Lance Berkman returns to college, seeks degree in kinesiology
Former Rice baseball player Lance Berkman, who is completing his kinesiology degree at Rice, is featured. Head baseball coach Wayne Graham is mentioned.
Yahoo! Sports (This article also appeared in Baseball News and 13 other media outlets.)
http://yhoo.it/1Fjlag6
Lance Berkman pulls a semi-Billy Madison, goes back to school for kinesiology degree
MLB.com
http://atmlb.com/1FjTJTx
Lance Berkman, retirement takes him back to school
Sports Blog
http://bit.ly/1vFhVi2

William & Mary defeats Rice 69-65
Rice men’s basketball fell to the College of William & Mary 69-65 at Tudor Fieldhouse.
CBS Sports
http://cbsprt.co/15fc4Eu
Men’s basketball rally falls just short against William & Mary
Conference USA
http://bit.ly/1xNfAka
Rice basketball rally falls just short against William & Mary
The Rancher (This article also appeared in Bellaire Examiner and Sugar Land Sun.)
http://bit.ly/11qGMIv
Saturday’s local interest college basketball roundup: Appalachian State upends Hokies; W&M, NSU, Richmond win, but HU loses
Daily Press
http://bit.ly/11Pu4mx
Walker lifts No. 5 Texas A&M over Rice 76-55
Winona Daily News
http://bit.ly/1C5U7Xv

Houston in good standing at Pearland Invitational
Rice’s swim team competed at the Pearland Invitational and is currently in first place with 431 points overall.
The Cougar
http://bit.ly/1AHFA2G
Top finishes lead Cougars through strong day 2
The Cougar
http://bit.ly/1uRLnzu

WBB: Ags are 1st to 4
Rice women’s basketball fell to Texas A&M University 76-55 at Reed Arena.
Austin American-Statesman (This article also appeared in WPXI-TV, WSOC-TV, Journal-News, WHIO-TV, WFTV-TV and WHJX-TV.)
http://bit.ly/1tq5T4G

2014 MAC football news: Week 14
An article analyzes which football team may play against Mid-American Conference-title-defending champion Bowling Green University. Rice football is mentioned in the lineup.
WOKV.com (This article also appeared in WHJX-TV and 12 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/11r38Kb

Round 2: Katy high school football playoff roundup
Katy High School played against Glenda Dawson High School Nov. 21 at Rice Stadium.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1vFTOzR
Katy overwhelms Memorial for playoff win
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1pfR4q5

3 Cy-Fair teams advance in football playoffs
Cypress Woods High School will play against Manvel high School Nov. 28 at Rice Stadium.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1pfPCnw

White Sox Joe Savery signing adds bullpen depth
Alumnus Joe Savery ’08 is featured.
Fansided
http://bit.ly/1xMsoHh

NEWS RELEASES

Human papillomavirus vaccines in focus at Rice’s Baker Institute Dec. 3
Leaders from academia, government and the media will gather at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy Dec. 3 to discuss the human papillomavirus (HPV), its impact on cancer and other diseases, and opportunities and challenges associated with prevention through vaccination programs. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.
http://bit.ly/1y5U5d4

Cell’s skeleton is never still
Computer models developed at Rice University show how microtubules age. The models help explain the dynamic instability seen in microtubules, essential elements in cells’ cytoskeletons.
http://bit.ly/1yNf581

Rice builds on-ramp to cloud computing
Rice University is building its own computing cloud that will allow for “bursting” to outside systems, offering researchers unlimited processing capacity for “big data” projects.
http://bit.ly/1AIgCQD