Dateline Rice for April 6, 2015 (Weekend Edition)

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Oil-price drop offers petro-states chance to curb domestic demand
The Middle East’s oil consumption has surpassed China, despite having less than half the population, which is unsustainable. Jim Krane, the Wallace S. Wilson Fellow for Energy Studies at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted. He is also cited for the Baker Institute study, “A Refined Approach: Saudi Arabia Moves Beyond Crude.”
Wall Street Journal (This article also appeared in Fiedlity.com, News Index.biz and Energy Monitor Worldwide.)
http://on.wsj.com/1IjV6We
OPEC role seems to be undergoing ‘real transition’
Dawn.com (This article also appeared in Congoo News, Saudi Gazette and Gulf Base.)
http://bit.ly/1DbyaFv
Saudi strategy to retain oil dominance
FT.com
http://on.ft.com/1ab9eCP

It’s not the inequality; it’s the immobility
George Sher, the Herbert S. Autrey Professor of Philosophy, is cited for an argument about equality from his book “Equality for Inegalitarians” in an article about the need to increase economic mobility.
New York Times
http://nyti.ms/1DGvnEI

Unlike Arab neighbors, Oman sees friend in Tehran
Tehran has reached out to Oman for its help to end the airstrikes in Yemen. Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, fellow for the Middle East at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
The Times of Israel (This article also appeared in Gulf News, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Maktoob English, Yahoo! News UK and Ireland, Oregon Herald and France 24.)
http://bit.ly/1y8HYjE

Activists visiting Washington blast Nicaragua’s $50 billion canal project as ‘illegitimate’
Pedro Alvarez, the George R. Brown Professor and chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, spoke at Inter-American Dialogue to express his opposition to Nicaragua’s plan to build a $50 million interoceanic canal.
Tico Times
http://bit.ly/1NNCkoE

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Can Houston parents say no to state-required tests?
Houston Independent School District students are opting out of taking the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness achievement test. Linda McSpadden McNeil, director of Rice’s Center for Education and professor of education, is quoted.
Houston Chronicle (This article appeared in the Houston Chronicle’s “Gray Matters” online magazine and is featured on the front of the Extra section in Saturday’s online Chronicle. Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1CNxndC

France’s Modigliani Quartet makes its Bayou City debut
The Modigliani Quartet will perform at Rice’s Stude Concert Hall April 9.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1GgUX5a

Designing a better way to study stomach flu
Rice University bioengineers are teaming with colleagues from Baylor College of Medicine and MD Anderson Cancer Center to apply the latest techniques in tissue engineering toward the study of one of the most common and deadly human illnesses — the stomach flu. Jane Grande-Allen, the Isabel C. Cameron Professor of Bioengineering, will participate in the study.
TMC Today (This article is featured in today’s newsletter from the Texas Medical Center.)
http://bit.ly/1JfHTLH

Critics blast UT’s Latino award to George P. Bush
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 potential presidential candidacy of alumnus George P. Bush ’98 and Texas’ role as a primary election state for Republicans.
San Antonio Express-News
http://bit.ly/1Ffx7RN
Texas gaining stature as a key presidential primary state
Star-Telegram
http://bit.ly/1y8wCvX

Nicole Longnecker Gallery presents ‘The Nature of Forms’ by Frank Sherwood White and ‘Intentionally Dirty’ by Julian Lorber
Frank White, lecturer of architecture, will present his exhibition “The Nature of Forms” at the Nicole Longnecker Gallery.
CultureMap Houston
http://bit.ly/1PcuVmh

BROADCAST

CNN International
Former U.S. Secretary of State James Baker, honorary chair of the Baker Institute, discusses the United States’ involvement in the Middle East.
http://bit.ly/1ID7du8

Hans Engel on the chemical sector and Texas-EU trade
Hans Engel, who recently delivered the keynote address at a conference on the U.S.-E.U. trade at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is interviewed.
Houston Public Media
http://bit.ly/1NXZv1z

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

How to make biofuel: Feeding algae with wastewater
In one of the first studies to examine the potential for using municipal wastewater as a feedstock for algae-based biofuels, Rice University scientists found they could grow high-value strains of oil-rich algae while simultaneously removing more than 90 percent of nitrates and more than 50 percent of phosphorous from wastewater. Meenakshi Bhattacharjee, faculty fellow and executive director of applied algal research, and Evan Siemann, the Harry C. and Olga K. Wiess Professor of BioSciences, are quoted.
Science Times
http://bit.ly/1CKyqtE
Algae grown on wastewater also removes nitrates and phosphorous
AZo Cleantech (This article also appeared in Terra Daily.)
http://bit.ly/1NNPZw0
Wastewater algae provides double benefits — biofuels and disposal
Bangalore Mirror
http://bit.ly/1CKyUA4

Cells exercise suboptimal strategy to survive
Analysis of suboptimal metabolic pathways gives a more realistic picture of why organisms are able to adapt to new environments, according to researchers at Rice studying systemic response to hypoxia and exercise. Graduate student André Schultz and Amina Qutub, assistant professor of bioengineering, are quoted. The article includes a video produced by Rice’s Brandon Martin.
Phys.org
http://bit.ly/1FvPd4J

Tiny bio-robot is a germ suited-up with graphene quantum dots
Postdoctoral fellow T. S. Sreeprasad is a lead co-author of a study for an electromechanical device called Nano-Electro-Robotic Device.
Domain-b.com
http://bit.ly/1F699hl

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Danish ‘starchitect’ Bjarke Ingels forays into faucets
Visiting professor Bjarke Ingels is featured for his newest collaboration with Kohler to design bathroom fixtures.
Quartz (This article also appeared in Computer Magazine.)
http://bit.ly/1GYvnB6

Daily stock price dependent upon supply and demand
A Rice study by David Ikenberry, a former associate professor of management at the Jones Graduate School of Business, is cited in an article about stock splits.
The Northwestern.com
http://oshko.sh/1CKCcDp

American architect duo explores HCM City
Alumnus Archie Pizzini ’82 co-designed the exhibition “In Situ,” which is on display at Galerie Quynh in Vietnam.
Vietnam.net (This article also appeared in Viet Nam Net, Bao Moi.com and Vovnews.vn.)
http://bit.ly/1FvO7pB

Achiever | Trinity teen aces AP Spanish exam
Trinity High School junior Jorge Rojas-Ortega lists Rice as one of his top college choices.
The Courier-Journal
http://cjky.it/1y8Majb

SPORTS

KRIV-TV
Head football coach David Bailiff commends the NFL’s hiring of the first full-time female official.
http://bit.ly/1xWUKRN

A&M becomes 1sy team to 30 wins with doubleheader sweep
Rice baseball will play against Texas A&M University April 7 at College Station.
TheBatt.com
http://bit.ly/1GYJir0
Home runs help No. 1 Aggies sweep UK
247Sports.com
http://bit.ly/1FfNLRm
A&M completes doubleheader sweep over UK
SECSports.com
http://bit.ly/1y8NK4A

College baseball scores: Vanderbilt, Louisville win
Rice baseball played against Middle Tennessee State University in a three-game series at Reckling Park.
College Baseball Central
http://bit.ly/1y8GPIT

Owls open Utah weekend with 5-2 win over BYU
Rice women’s tennis beat Brigham Young University 5-2 in Utah.
Fort Bend Sun (This article also appeared in West University Examiner, Memorial Examiner and Sugar Land Sun.)
http://bit.ly/1GYSoUo

Several universities competed at Rice’s Victor Lopez Bayou Classic last weekend.
Sam Houston State track and field wins at Rice
KBTX.com (Similar articles appeared in 14 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/1ICLWRv
Bararaza wins 5K at Rice Victor Lopez Bayou Classic
Memorial Examiner (This article also appeared in Bellaire Examiner, Fort Bend Sun and Sugar Land Sun.)
http://bit.ly/1xX0eft
Mustang runners compete at Rice
The Tribune
http://bit.ly/1NX47ot
Outdoor track and field recaps April 3-5
SWAC.org
http://bit.ly/1C6rkgv
Track: MSU, Olney meet results
Times Record News
http://bit.ly/1aaGlXi
Kingwood High School Mustang track teams compete at Rice
The Tribune
http://bit.ly/1CbPncZ
Cougars cruise on Day 2 of Victor Lopez Classic
The Katy Rancher (This article also appeared in Fort Bend Sun, Bellaire Examiner, Memorial Examiner and Sugar Land Sun.)
http://bit.ly/1PcoEHn

Temple would be perfect landing spot for Villanova transfer Dylan Ennis
Former Rice basketball player Dylan Ennis is leaving Villanova University following commencement to complete his final season of eligibility at another university.
Rant Sports
http://bit.ly/1CKZ6dJ

NEWS RELEASES

Rice Kinder Institute expert available to comment on inequality in different areas of Houston
Not all areas of Houston are created equal for African-Americans when it comes to home ownership, education and poverty, according to a recent study of American metropolitan areas from Arizona State University (ASU). Kyle Shelton, a postdoctoral research fellow at Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, examines the research in a recent blog post and is available to discuss the findings with the media.
http://bit.ly/1C6Jpev

How do you feel? Video of your face may tell all
Rice University researchers are developing a touch-free system that monitors patients’ vital signs via video while compensating for skin tone, lighting and movement.
http://bit.ly/1JfC6Wx

Water makes wires even more nano
Rice University researchers create sub-10-nanometer wires from a variety of materials by using water as a mask in a simple etching process. The process is promising for microelectronics manufacturers who seek to shrink the circuits in their devices.
http://bit.ly/1y8KSF3

Cells exercise suboptimal strategy to survive
Analysis of suboptimal metabolic pathways gives a more realistic picture of why organisms are able to adapt to new environments, according to researchers at Rice University studying systemic response to hypoxia and exercise.
http://bit.ly/1FvQuJ4