Dateline Rice for Aug. 4, 2015

FEATURED ITEM

NBC-TV’s ‘Today’
Rice University has two No. 1 spots in the 2016 edition of the Princeton Review’s “The Best 380 Colleges”: Best quality of life and lots of race/class interaction. Rice also appears on the list for happiest students, best health services, great financial aid and best-run colleges. The “Today” and Huffington Post reports mention Rice being No. 9 for happiest students. Rice President David Leebron is quoted in the Bellaire Examiner. (Similar broadcasts appeared on KPRC-TV in Houston and in 16 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/1IVYubt
Colleges with the happiest students in 2015-16, according to Princeton Review
Huffington Post
http://huff.to/1E6dmMY
Rice ranked No. 1 for best quality of life and racial interaction
Bellaire Examiner (This article also appeared in Fort Bend Sun and Memorial Examiner.)
http://bit.ly/1HnGFL3

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

2 local factors raise odds of smoking during pregnancy
Women are more likely to smoke during pregnancy when they live in areas where socio-economic resources are lower but also where smoking is more socially accepted, according to a new study from Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research. Heather O’Connell, postdoctoral fellow at Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, is quoted.
Futurity
http://bit.ly/1eQ4g0e
Study examines how local factors increase odds of smoking during pregnancy
News-Medical
http://bit.ly/1M8YTIk
Residential location affects pregnant women’s likelihood of smoking
Health Canal (This article also appeared in Medical News Today, NewsonFeeds.com, Topix, Medical Xpress, Science Newsline and Houston Style Online.)
http://bit.ly/1M32KoL

The danger of (mis)perceptions after the Iran deal
Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar, fellow for the Middle East at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, authored an op-ed about the complications of the nuclear agreement between Iran and the West.
The Washington Post
http://wapo.st/1g1e6NB

Kariann gets her treatment
Joshua Eyler, director of Rice’s Center for Teaching Excellence, said his pharmaceutical insurance has approved an experimental medication to treat the chronic pain that afflicts his wife, Kariann Fuqua.
Inside Higher Ed
http://bit.ly/1MKPju5

How users of ‘Chinese Twitter’ Sina Weibo are beating state censorship
Chinese Internet users are using a coded language to discuss “taboo” topics often censored by the Chinese government. Dan Wallach, professor of computer science and of electrical and computer engineering, is quoted.
The Independent
http://ind.pn/1ONu0qs
Internet censorship influences Chinese language
Language Magazine
http://bit.ly/1IK3KwW

15 states will fight Clean Power Plan in court; 9 others will defend it
The Clean Power Plan is being challenged by 15 states. Charles McConnell, executive director of Rice University’s Energy and Environment Initiative, is quoted.
Bloomberg BNA’s Daily Environment Report
http://bit.ly/1N7NzJB
http://bit.ly/1Ul6jcx

Astonishing report: Huge success for Obamacare in California
Texas’ uninsured population remains primarily Hispanic and middle-aged, with low incomes and no college degree, according to a new report from Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and the Episcopal Health Foundation.
Guide 2 Nigeria
http://bit.ly/1KO7gZw

Triaging textbook costs
College textbooks are becoming increasingly challenging for students to afford. Rice’s OpenStax College is mentioned as an example of a successful initiative that provides alternatives to expensive textbooks. David Harris, editor-in-chief of OpenStax College, is quoted.
Inside Higher Ed
http://bit.ly/1hhmwkR

Recruiting or academic poaching?
About 80 of the nation’s top cancer researchers have moved their labs to Texas with state funding from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. Rice is mentioned.
Science AAAS
http://bit.ly/1ImJ0Yt

What our perspiration reveals about us
Rice is cited for its study on the emotional value of human sweat.
BBC
http://bbc.in/1g4R8Fh

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Indictment poses myriad of issues for Paxton
Mark Jones, the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies, professor of political science and fellow in political science at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted about the indictment against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and how not being included in the first televised presidential debate could hurt former Gov. Rick Perry’s campaign.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1hhOnBu
Paxton must navigate rough political waters
San Antonio Express-News
http://bit.ly/1P3wCRI
What an indictment can do to an attorney general’s reputation, even if acquitted
Texas Public Radio
http://bit.ly/1P4hyDj
Paxton indicted on securities law violation charges
Amarillo Globe-News
http://bit.ly/1N7SJFl
Texas attorney general charged with fraud
LidTime.com
http://bit.ly/1DquBOb
For Cruz, Perry, a few points matter when trying to stay relevant in 2016 race
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
http://bit.ly/1IVR1ck
Before indictment, former rival called Paxton’s potential violations ‘very troubling’
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
http://bit.ly/1DnqZfU

Close encounters
An article about collaboration among Texas Medical Center institutions mentions that Rice established its BioScience Research Collaborative to enable Rice University scientists to work with TMC physicians.
Houstonia
http://bit.ly/1IKf8sK

BROADCAST

Paxton far from first Texas politician to face indictment while in office
Bob Stein, the Lena Gohlman Fox Professor of Political Science, discusses significant indictments in Texas’ governor history and the inclusion of the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance on the mayoral ballot.
KHOU.com (This article also appeared in Poughkeepsie Journal.)
http://bit.ly/1IDHxMG
Council poised to affirm HERO, placing it on November ballot
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1UkKLNg
Paxton political future in doubt
KTRH-AM (This also appeared in KODA-FM.)
http://bit.ly/1JKc8x6
http://bit.ly/1KOO0bl

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Ethics of research not so black-and-white
With federally funded research under growing scrutiny from the public, researchers face more pressure than ever to defend their work and make ethical decisions regarding their research process. However, a new study from sociologists at Rice finds that the scientists see many scenarios in the research process as “gray areas” when it comes to ethical decision-making. Postdoctoral research associate David Johnson is quoted. Elaine Howard Ecklund, the Herbert S. Autrey Chair and Professor of Sociology and director of Rice’s Religion and Public Life Program, is mentioned.
Domain-b.com
http://bit.ly/1IhBPmC

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Akamai Workforce’s STEM interns to present work
Kealakehe High School 2015 Akamai intern Luke Van Der Spoel plans to attend Rice.
Maui Now
http://bit.ly/1g4JWZU

SPORTS

Auburn QBs utilizing virtual reality
Rice signed a contract with STRIVR Labs to provide virtual reality technology for the football program.
ESPN
http://es.pn/1K27Gpg

College: Rice announces Fan Fest for Aug. 22
Rice Athletics will host its first Fall Fan Fest at Rice Stadium Aug. 22. Head football coach David Bailiff, head soccer coach Nicky Thrasher Adams and head volleyball coach Genny Volpe will give season previews at the event.
Atascocita Observer (This also appeared in Bellaire Examiner, Fort Bend Sun, Sugar Land Sun and Memorial Examiner.)
http://bit.ly/1Ho9Nlm

NEWS RELEASES

Rice ranked No. 1 for best quality of life and racial interaction
Rice University has two No. 1 spots in the 2016 edition of the Princeton Review’s “The Best 380 Colleges”: Best quality of life and lots of race/class interaction.
http://bit.ly/1In1MyK

Researchers strategize to outsmart bacteria
Rice scientists have discovered a mechanism by which bacteria can become resistant to treatment with antibiotics. They hope to develop strategies to preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics.
http://bit.ly/1DnrYwP

Allies’ military strength, foreign-policy positions important for deterring potential challengers
When states form alliances, choosing allies with military strength and similar foreign-policy positions is important for deterring potential challengers, according to new research from political scientists at Rice University and the University of Kentucky. However, in the absence of an ally’s military strength, the similarity of foreign policy positions among allies becomes even more important for deterring threats, and vice versa. Alliances that provide for more peacetime military coordination among member states are more successful at deterrence.
http://bit.ly/1M9iKXF