Dateline Rice for Oct. 8, 2015

FEATURED ITEM

Gillis, former president who raised Rice to ‘new heights,’ dies at 74
Malcolm Gillis, the sixth president of Rice University, died Oct. 4 at age 74. President David Leebron and Provost Marie Lynn Miranda are quoted. The article notes a memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Oct. 28 in Stude Hall at Alice Pratt Brown Hall on the Rice campus.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1jerRLb
Chipola mourns the loss of alumnus Malcolm Gillis
Foster Folly News
http://bit.ly/1OnNVzO

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

The big trends in synthetic biology you need to know
According to the latest “U.S. Trends in Synthetic Biology Research Funding” report from the Wilson Center’s Synthetic Biology Project in Washington, D.C., the U.S. government funded more than $820 million in synthetic biology research programs from 2008 to 2014. A grant provided to Rice University for “a cellular system suitable for resource utilization on extraterrestrial planetary surfaces” is mentioned.
Washington Post
http://wapo.st/1ZgmPyb

HOUSTON/TEXAS

What are the steps for earning your MBA?
An article on applying to business school quotes George Andrews, associate dean of degree programs at the Jones Graduate School of Business.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1jdGJtf

A new house for author Sandra Cisneros
Author Sandra Cisneros will speak at Rice’s Stude Concert Hall Oct. 12.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1MgfrJh

20 Houston news stories that went viral in the last 20 years
Today marks 20 years since the Houston Chronicle went online with Chron.com. In those past two decades, certain Houston moments have grabbed the entire nation. Bernard “Bun B” Freeman, the Center for Engaged Research and Collaborative Learning’s Distinguished Lecturer, is mentioned and pictured in the eighth photo in the slideshow.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1NpUH80

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, comments on the Houston mayoral race and Mayor Annise Parker’s recent tweets. The Empower Texans article cites a study by Jones.
Poll shows Garcia, Turner leading in mayor’s race
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1N0h4he
HAR poll
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1jQtWwW
Pro-HERO money lead overshadowed by mayor’s anti-Berkman Tweets
Fox 26
http://bit.ly/1Zd1KEO
Bennett Ratliff touts ‘values’ endorsement of LGBT, Muslim-outreach activist
Empower Texans
http://bit.ly/1L6UQHF

Editorial: For HISD Trustee
Alumna Juliet Stipeche ’96 is endorsed for Houston Independent School District trustee by the Houston Chronicle.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1hst5QY

Berkman jab at Houston Equal Rights Ordinance draws fire
Houston Mayor Annise Parker used social media to express her disapproval of former Houston Astros star Lance Berkman’s public opposition to the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance. The article notes that both Parker ’78 and Berkman ’98 are Rice alumni.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram (This also appeared in the Dallas Sun, 1070-AM and AustinNews.net and more than a dozen other publications.)
http://bit.ly/1VGOs44
Berkman jab at Houston Equal Rights Ordinance draws fire
South Florida Gay News
http://bit.ly/1Omv2gq

EHS students attend ‘Intersections’ at Rice
Episcopal High School students attended the “Intersections” opening celebration at Rice University Art Gallery.
Village and Southwest News
http://bit.ly/1NnSdqs

Green’s Paying for College Workshop and Academy Day draws large crowd
Dist. 29 U.S. Rep. Gene Green hosted his Paying for College Workshop and Academy Day Oct. 5 at Stephen F. Austin High School. Representatives from Rice attended.
Kingwood Observer (This also appeared in the East Montgomery County Observer, the Humble Observer, the Lake Houston Observer and Sugarland online.)
http://bit.ly/1Gwz7GQ

Rice’s Shepherd School of Music Announces October performances
Events at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music during October include recitals and master classes by distinguished guest artists and the return of its ongoing Sharing the Spotlight series in which faculty and students share the stage.
Houston Style Magazine
http://bit.ly/1VGY35G

Culture scene: Oct. 8-14
Rice Theatre’s production of “Much Ado About Nothing” is mentioned.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1VFm1OI

Big Thicket Day: Oct. 10
Jim Blackburn, professor in the practice of environmental law, will speak at the annual Big Thicket Association meeting.
The Liberty County Vindicator
http://bit.ly/1Mhe1CI

BROADCAST

Wikipedia’s bum rap
Diana Strassmann, the Carolyn and Fred McManis Distinguished Professor in the Practice of the Humanities and director of Rice’s Program on Poverty, Justice and Human Capabilities in the Center for the Study of Women, Gender and Sexuality, discusses the accuracy of Wikipedia.
American Radio Works
http://bit.ly/1LjUVv4

KPRC-TV
Caleb McDaniel, associate professor of history, comments on a McGraw-Hill world geography textbook that characterizes African slaves as immigrant “workers.”
(This story also appeared on KFYR-TV [Minot, N.D.], WMTV-TV [Madison, Wis.], KMIR-TV [Palm Springs, Calif.], WMTV-TV [Madison, Wis.], WLQP-TV [Lima, Ohio], WLIO-TV [Lima, Ohio], KBJR-TV [Duluth, Minn.], KWWL-TV [Iowa City, Iowa] and KAMR-TV [Amarillo, Texas].)
http://bit.ly/1JUS7Pv

KPHO-TV (Phoenix)
According to academic review site Niche.com, Rice is the hardest college to get admitted to in Texas.
(A similar story appeared on KTVK-TV [Phoenix].)
http://bit.ly/1LoaY6A

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Possible fungal control for leaf-cutter ants
Biologists have found new types of specialized fungal parasites that attack the nests of leaf-cutter ants and their relatives. The discovery could provide clues for controlling the agricultural and garden pests. Scott Solomon, professor in the practice of ecology and evolutionary biology, is quoted.
Science Daily (This also appeared in Phys.org, My Informs, Science Newsline and e!Science News.)
http://bit.ly/1P0zz8v

Houston is a lot more tolerant of immigrants than Copenhagen is
Residents of Copenhagen, Denmark, are more likely than Houstonians to believe immigration threatens their country’s culture. That’s one of several findings in a new survey from Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research. Michael Emerson, a fellow at the Kinder Institute, and graduate student Kevin Smiley are quoted.
Science 2.0 (This also appeared on e! Science News.)
http://bit.ly/1FTALaY

Theraclone Sciences forms OncoResponse with partner MD Anderson
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and Theraclone Sciences jointly launched OncoResponse, an immuno-oncology antibody discovery company, with $9.5 million in Series A financing. Rice is mentioned as a participant.
The Pharma Letter (Subscription required. This also appeared on Device Space and Pharma Live.) 
http://bit.ly/1jdD5zD
MD Anderson, Theraclone Sciences form OncoResponse
Pipeline Review (This also appeared on TMC.net and Science & Enterprise.)
http://bit.ly/1Gy4C3j

Chromatography provides new way to peer into pores
Rice University scientists led a project to “see” and measure the space in porous materials, even if that space is too small or fragile for traditional microscopes. Christy Landes, assistant professor of chemistry, is quoted.
Chromatography Techniques
http://bit.ly/1WPoj00

New study compares general measures of self-control with domain-specific measures
Researchers must pay attention to differences in individuals’ self-control when assessing the impact of public policies, according to a new study by marketing and consumer behavior experts at Rice University and Vanderbilt University. Utpal Dholakia, the George R. Brown Chair of Marketing and professor of management at Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business, and Scott Davis, a postdoctoral fellow in marketing at the Jones School, are quoted.
News Medical (This also appeared in Phys.org, My Informs, Science Newsline and e!Science News.)
http://bit.ly/1jQugLZ

Katrina Lenk, Richard Topol, Lenny Wolpe and more star in Yale Rep’s ‘Indecent,’ premiering tonight
Amy Boratko ’03 is the production dramaturge for Yale Repertory Theatre.
Broadway World
http://bit.ly/1JUS9ab

Whales could hold the answer for synthetic blood
The ultra-stable properties of the proteins that allow deep-diving whales to remain active while holding their breath for up to two hours could help Rice University biochemist John Olson and his colleagues finish a 20-year quest to create lifesaving synthetic blood for human trauma patients. Olson, the Ralph and Dorothy Looney Professor of Biochemistry and Cell Biology is quoted.
HospiMedia.com
http://bit.ly/1RvP0nz

Nanoparticulate carbon black found in the lungs of smokers
An invisible pollutant produced by car tires and tobacco, among other things, has been found to be even more damaging to lungs than previously thought. Researchers studying the effects of carbon black have found it causes emphysema and DNA damage in smokers. James Tour, the T.T. and W.F. Chao Professor of Chemistry, professor of computer science and of materials science and nanoengineering, is quoted.
SciTech Daily (This article also appeared in foreign language publications Finanz Nachrichten, Globalo News Natur and Pressetext.) 
http://bit.ly/1hswyiK

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Ghosts for atheists
Jeffrey Kripal, the J. Newton Rayzor Professor of Religion, is quoted in a column on irreligion in culture.
The American Conservative (This also appeared on Dreher Blog.)
http://bit.ly/1jczilh

NASA confirms that liquid water flows on present-day Mars
David Alexander, professor of physics and astronomy and director of the Rice Space Institute, comments on the streams of salty water found on Mars.
Rapid News Network
http://bit.ly/1JUQXUk

Granite Bay doctor Ed Hendricks going strong after 80th birthday bash
Alumnus Ed Hendricks ’57 is profiled.
Press Tribune
http://bit.ly/1WNMZ95

In our opinion: Manned mission to Mars would be inspiring, unifying challenge
President John F. Kennedy’s famous “Moon Speech” delivered at Rice Sept. 12, 1962, is mentioned.
Deseret News
http://bit.ly/1LoajlP

Architect Kevin Daly to present ‘City of Voids’ lecture Oct. 12
Alumnus Kevin Daly ’85 will present a lecture titled “City of Voids” at 5 p.m. Oct. 12 as part of the University of Arkansas’ Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design lecture series.
University of Arkansas News
http://bit.ly/1PjQSR9

Texas A&M-Galveston receives grant to study coastal flooding
Rice is mentioned in an article on a Partnerships for International Research and Education $3.6 million grant by the National Science Foundation.
Gilmer Mirror (This also appeared in Houston Style.)
http://bit.ly/1L8MlMc

WHS to induct 1982-83 state champion basketball team, 5 legends into Hall tonight
Alumnus John Rodgers ’13 has been inducted into the Waxahachie High School Athletic Hall of Fame.
Daily Light
http://bit.ly/1R15TFU

Amazon Prime: The millenials’ toystore
Jones College senior Sierra Butler authored an article about her love of Amazon Prime.
The Odyssey
http://bit.ly/1JUXYnZ

SPORTS

It might be time for the Rice Owls to panic
Rice’s football season is discussed. Head coach David Bailiff is mentioned.
Today’s U Sports
http://bit.ly/1NpPm0d

10 Texan things you probably didn’t know
An article mentions that head football coach David Bailiff attended Douglas MacArthur High School in San Antonio.
Toronto Star
http://on.thestar.com/1j92N7M

First quarter of 2015 season finds Pittsburgh Steelers more than a few bricks shy
Alumnus Chris Boswell ’13 is mentioned.
SP Nation
http://bit.ly/1OlYjGL
Steelers news: Bryant, Boswell and Chargers in week 5
CBS Pittsburgh
http://cbsloc.al/1LjQTmf
Getting to know Steelers kicker Chris Boswell
Today’s Pigskin
http://bit.ly/1LBiul6

Alumni notebook: Conroe native Wohlschlaeger having big year at Arkansas
Volleyball player Madison McDaniel is mentioned.
The Woodlands Villager (This also appeared in the Conroe Courier and Sugar Land Online.) 
http://bit.ly/1FULj9K

Raiders travel to play Golden Eagles and Owls
Middle Tennessee heads back on the road this weekend to travel to Hattiesburg, Miss., to take on the Southern Miss Golden Eagles Friday, followed by a trip to Houston to take on the Rice Owls Sunday.
GoBlueRaiders.com
http://bit.ly/1VGvoD7

Volleyball freshmen assure future success for program
Rice volleyball is mentioned.
The Daily Reveille
http://bit.ly/1L7Oacc

NEWS RELEASE

Research points to possible fungal control for leaf-cutter ants 
A 15-year study of leaf-cutter ants and their relatives across North and South America found that their nests are susceptible to infection by a diverse group of specialized fungal parasites. The discovery by biologists from Rice University, São Paulo State University in Rio Claro, Brazil, and the University of Texas at Austin could provide new clues for controlling the agricultural and garden pests.
http://bit.ly/1R1fzQu