Dateline Rice for Nov. 25, 2014

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Where to go to college to make the most money — for each major
According to Payscale, Rice engineers earn the top midcareer salaries.
The Washington Post
http://wapo.st/1xShDU4

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.
Reuters (This article also appeared in Reuters India, Reuters UK, Chicago Tribune and Yahoo! News UK and Ireland.)
http://reut.rs/1uBlIWs

Accelerate Learning’s STEMscopes online science curricula named 2014 Digital Innovation in Learning Award winner
STEMscopes, the digital pre-K-12 science curriculum developed by Rice and Accelerate Learning, has won a Digital Innovation in Learning Award.
Reuters (This article also appeared in On Top of Politics, Money Show, BioSpace.com, Minyanvillege, Industrial Info and Townhall.)
http://reut.rs/15nKZzb

Will scandals in Mexico dampen investment?
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.
Forbes
http://onforb.es/11sIZmT

JFK tried to craft a creative course in another era of American insecurity and fear
John F. Kennedy’s speech given at Rice in 1962 is mentioned.
Huffington Post
http://huff.to/1vb2OJU

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Rice University researchers 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.
News-Medical (This article also appeared in HealthCanal.com, ScienceNewsline and e! Science News.)
http://bit.ly/1y8z81g

AI for software development
Computer scientists at Rice are leading an $11 million project called PLINY to develop software that makes it easier to write code. Vivek Sarkar, the E.D. Butcher Chair in Engineering, chair of the Department of Computer Science and the principal investigator for the PLINY project, and Swarat Chaudhuri, assistant professor of computer science, are quoted. The article includes a video produced by Rice’s Brandon Martin.
EDN.com
http://ubm.io/1zpUS88

Researchers tout supercapacitors for EV power boost
Researchers from Rice and Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia, co-developed lightweight “supercapacitors” that can be combined with regular batteries to boost the power of an electric car. Matteo Pasquali, professor and chair of the Department of Chemistry and professor of chemical and bimolecular engineering, is quoted.
Wards Auto (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1xXk6Ol

Hackerman Advanced Research awards 2 UT Arlington professors
Rice received a Norman Hackerman Advanced Research Program award from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
BioNews-TX
http://bit.ly/1pj7MVt

Return to Nepal: Snow sampling
Alumna Ulyana Horodyskyj ’07 is climbing Mount Everest to determine how much soot is settling on snow at the top of mammoth glaciers.
Scientific American
http://bit.ly/1C9qbd7

AAAS and University of South Florida announce 2014 Fellows
Former postdoctoral researcher Bill Baker has been named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Phys.org
http://bit.ly/1FoaY4a

A cosa serve il pollice umano? Forse per prendersi a pugni (tra maschi)
David Carrier, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Utah, explains the advantage of a dexterous thumb when forming a fist to use in combat. Suzanne Kemmer, associate professor of linguistics and cognitive sciences, is quoted about the thumb’s responsibility for the development of the brain.
GreenReport.it (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/1xXiuEf

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Women leaders to speak at Ridge High School in Basking Ridge
Lovett College senior Shannon McNamara will speak at Ridge High School’s Women’s Leadership Summit.
New Jersey Hills
http://bit.ly/1ro87Sv

Cornell professor Richard Johnson unlocks mysteries of paintings
Don H. Johnson, the J.S. Abercrombie Professor Emeritus of Electrical and Computer Engineering and professor of statistics, collaborated with Cornell University Professor Richard Johnson to develop digital weave density maps of canvases to make it easier for scholars to study paintings.
Fay Observer (This article also appeared in KAIT-TV, KRHD-TV, KXXV-TV, WVVA-TV, WSJV-TV, KLTV-TV and KWWL-TV.)
http://bit.ly/1vjvIZu

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.
KESQ-TV (This article also appeared in KTUU-TV and 21 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/1pjjjUK

Pittsburgh CLO to welcome Brandon Lambert and John Wascavage to cast of ‘Murder for Two’
Alumnus Eric Longo ’10 is a new cast member in “Murder for Two” at the CLO Cabaret in Pittsburgh.
Broadway World
http://bit.ly/1ybT307

SPORTS

Clark helps Rice take Hansel invite with 2 school records
Swimmer Casey Clark set her fifth school record at the Phill Hansel Invitational in Pearland, which beat alumna Mandy Mularz’s ’04 12-year-old record in the 100-yard free. She ended the invitational by breaking two school records and with five individual wins.
Swim Swam
http://bit.ly/1yRJpyh

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs versus Rice Owls — Nov. 29 college football pick, odds and prediction
Rice football will play against Louisiana Tech University Nov. 29 at Joe Aillet Stadium in Louisiana.
Sports Chat Place
http://bit.ly/1raZ5Od

Rice football beat University of Texas at El Paso 31-13 at Rice Stadium.
College standouts: C-USA showdown has local flavor
KDHNews.com
http://bit.ly/1vjyLAV

Mency named Conference USA freshman of the week
Rice basketball player Bishop Mency was named the Conference USA Freshman of the Week after averaging 12 points in games against Prairie View A&M University and the College of William & Mary.
Conference USA
http://bit.ly/1xzu5UJ

Colorado State vs. Mercer final score: Rams control the Bears for 3rd straight win
Rice basketball is mentioned.
WHIO.com (This article also appeared in WSOC-TV, WSB-TV and Dayton Daily News.)
http://bit.ly/1FnslEg

Koch named to PAC all-time basketball list
Alumnus Anthony DeCello ’81 has been selected as a member of the Pittsburgh Basketball Club Hall of Fame Class of 2014 in the Legends category.
TribLive.com
http://bit.ly/1trw4YZ