Dateline Rice for Feb. 24, 2015

FEATURED ITEM

University class examines hip-hop and religion
Religion and Hip-Hop Culture is a new free edX online course being offered by Rice University’s Center for Digital Learning and Scholarship. Anthony Pinn, the Agnes Cullen Arnold Professor of Humanities and professor of religious studies, and Bernard “Bun B” Freeman, the Center for Engaged Research and Collaborative Learning’s Distinguished Lecturer, will lead the course. In the Houston Chronicle story, Freeman notes that he has turned down offers to perform concerts at Rice to maintain the integrity of the course.
Voice of America
http://bit.ly/1vv4nWF
Bun B turned down ‘over 6 figures’ in performances at Rice
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/17tZ3rn

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Grexit for the good of the eurozone
Russell Green, the Will Clayton Fellow in International Economics at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and an adjunct assistant professor of economics, authored an op-ed about Greece leaving the eurozone.
The World Post
http://huff.to/17ulg8K

A global honor
Rice is receiving a 2015 Senator Paul Simon Spotlight Award for one of its international education initiatives.
University of Delaware
http://bit.ly/1zcRgEN

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Oil price woes ensnare manufacturers
Jay Timmons, president and CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers, spoke at Rice about the threat manufacturing facilities face from the proposed Environmental Protection Agency rules against pollutants.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1DQFoOP
Manufacturers say EPA proposals would halt expansions
Midland Reporter-Telegram
http://bit.ly/1MOCMoT

Tax holidays proposed for guns and ammo
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 pro-life movement’s promotion of four bills and Texas state lawmakers’ review of extending tax-free shopping.
KTRH-AM
http://bit.ly/1AGte96
http://bit.ly/1LzzNNJ
Abortion-related bills quietly appear on scene
Corpus Christi Caller-Times
http://bit.ly/1w7zF0W

Spelling bee competitors prepare for countywide competition
Cade Middle School sixth-grader Christian Valdois, a county spelling bee newcomer, expresses his interest in attending Rice.
Victoria Advocate
http://bit.ly/1LBU7jg

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Researchers develop accurate measure of aggregating particles that block oil production lines
Rice University researchers have developed an easy and accurate technique to detect and quantify the amount of asphaltene precipitated from crude oils, which bedevils the oil industry by clogging wells and flow lines. Francisco Vargas, assistant professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, is quoted.
Phys.org
http://bit.ly/1ad80XR

Study shows motor proteins prefer slow, steady movement
A new theoretical approach clarifies interactions between motor proteins and yields the discovery that both weak and strong forces influence how they keep a cell’s transport system robust. Anatoly Kolomeisky, professor of chemistry and of chemical and biomolecular engineering, is quoted.
Scicasts
http://bit.ly/17T0z6k
Motor proteins prefer slow, steady movement
R&D Magazine (This article also appeared in Phys.org and 10 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/1JHDKnO

Simulating superconducting materials with ultracold atoms: Rice physicists build superconductor analog, observe antiferromagnetic order
Rice University physicist Randy Hulet and his collaborators have used ultracold lithium atoms to create a state of matter that may help solve some of the mysteries of high-temperature superconductivity. Their results are described this week in the journal Nature. Hulet is the Fayez Sarofim Professor of Physics and Astronomy.
Nanotechnology Now (This article also appeared in Opli, Science Daily, Science Newsline and e! Science News.)
http://bit.ly/1D7pjAy
Simulating superconducting materials with ultracold atoms
Space Daily
http://bit.ly/1LCbWic

Multilayer QD solar cells promising for Natcore
Andrew Barron, the Charles W. Duncan Jr.-Welch Professor of Chemistry and professor of materials science and co-founder of Natcore, and scientists working with Natcore Technology Inc. formed a heterojunction solar cell using germanium quantum dots on an ordinary n-type silicon wafer.
Photonics.com
http://bit.ly/1FTl160

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Obama flexes muscles on resources with eye on legacy
The Obama administration introduced its major rules governing arctic oil exploration. Douglas Brinkley, professor of history and fellow in history at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
E&E News
http://bit.ly/1DjWxza

Pollak Library makes open resource textbooks available
California State University, Fullerton is using Rice’s OpenStax College textbooks for spring 2015.
CSUF News
http://bit.ly/1LCcrZC

SPORTS

UH, Rice players earn weekly conference honors
Rice baseball player John Clay Reeves was named the Conference USA Baseball Hitter of the Week.
KHOU.com
http://bit.ly/1DOlgi7

Broncos to meet with free-agent tight end/fullback James Casey
Alumnus James Casey ’11 is meeting with the Denver Broncos Thursday.
The Denver Post (This article also appeared in Fort Morgan Times.)
http://dpo.st/1GmyC32

NEWS RELEASES

Greece’s financial crisis provides long-needed reform opportunity, Baker Institute expert says
The threat of bankruptcy hanging over Greece and the risk that Greece might have to leave the eurozone and the 28-member European Union continue to dominate headlines in Europe this week. However, a “Grexit” does not have to be all bad, according to Russell Green, an economist at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.
http://bit.ly/1JHybpE

Rice honored with NAFSA award for international education
Rice is one of three schools that will receive the 2015 Sen. Paul Simon Spotlight Award from NAFSA: Association of International Educators.
http://bit.ly/1B8XQBZ

Media Advisory: Rice U. economist to testify before Congress Feb. 24
Rice University economics and tax expert John Diamond will testify before the United States Senate Committee on Finance at 9 a.m. CST Feb. 24.
http://bit.ly/1ErJdL5