Dateline Rice for Nov. 10, 2015

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

New magma chambers revealed beneath Mount St. Helens
Scientists from Rice, University of New Mexico, University of Texas at El Paso and the University of Washington found a pair of magma chambers beneath Mount St. Helens that could explain its latest eruption. Postdoctoral researcher Eric Kiser and Alan Levander, the Carey Croneis Professor of Earth Science and lead scientist for the study, are quoted.
United Press International (This article also appeared in OregonLive.com.)
http://bit.ly/1MxLp80
No indication that Mount St. Helens will erupt again: Geophysicist says
NHV.us
http://bit.ly/1Y2rAtC

The best graduate programs for entrepreneurs 2015
Rice is No. 6 on the Princeton Review’s list of the top 25 graduate programs.
Fox News (This article also appeared in Entrepreneur and Benzinga.)
http://fxn.ws/1O1ARxm

Why quotas are needed to achieve gender equality
Lindsay Benstead, contributing expert for the Women’s Rights in the Middle East Program, authored an op-ed about how to close the gender gaps in professional atmospheres, such as government offices.
Washington Post
http://wapo.st/1MUpOcb

If a solar panel uses natural gas, is it still green?
Daniel Cohan, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, authored an op-ed about the Ivanpah solar plant’s high CO2 emissions. Cohan was also the keynote speaker at West Virginia University’s celebration for the 50th anniversary of the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Epoch Times (This article also appeared in Renewable Energy World North America.)
http://bit.ly/1kKd2zX
Panel discusses different aspects of the European refugee crisis
The Daily Athenaeum
http://bit.ly/1HF6cB6

HOUSTON/TEXAS

How BCycle plans to triple bike-sharing in Houston
Ryan Holeywell, senior editor at Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, authored an op-ed about Houston’s B-Cycle bike-share expansion.
Houston Chronicle (This appeared in the Houston Chronicle’s “Gray Matters” online magazine. Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1QgjY5p

Why the HERO measure failed
Bob Stein, the Lena Gohlman Fox Professor of Political Science, authored a blog post explaining why voters rejected the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1WPjRN1
How HERO was defeated
TribTalk
http://bit.ly/1Y2hEAh

Tuesday letters: Rice University, Keystone XL pipeline, our veterans
In a letter to the Chronicle, a reader explains that the proposed new University of Texas building in Houston may also affect Rice.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1MU8YKx

Fisher & Phillips expanding in Houston
Alumna Teresa Valderrama ’83 joined the law firm Fisher & Phillips.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1lj2MPK

Arts under fire
Christopher Sperandio, assistant professor of visual and dramatic arts, is interviewed about contemporary art at Rice. Alison Weaver, executive director of Rice University’s Moody Center for the Arts, is mentioned.
Arts + Culture Texas
http://bit.ly/1WPBjRl

Educators seek more effective bilingual education strategies
English language learners, primarily Hispanics, are scoring low on state standardized tests and have high dropout rates. Steve Murdock, the Allyn and Gladys Cline Professor of Sociology and director of Rice’s Hobby Center for the Study of Texas, is cited for his projected growth of Texas’ Hispanic population.
The Eagle
http://bit.ly/1O1IQKS

BROADCAST

Federal ruling OKs gaming on Texas reservation
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 possibility of a casino opening in Texas. Jones also discusses the possibility that Houstonians didn’t understand they were voting to extend term limits for council members, Gov. Greg Abbott’s detainment request for criminal immigrants and President Barack Obama’s rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline expansion.
KHOU.com
http://bit.ly/1SfCGrd
Longer terms could boost business interest in mayor’s race
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1SG456o
http://bit.ly/1RLmuxT
Immigration a safe issue for Texas GOP, despite demographics
Jacksonville Progress
http://bit.ly/1PmV2cd
KCBS-AM (San Francisco)
http://bit.ly/1MUA5F4 (This also appeared on WCNS-NY and 11 other media outlets.)

Obama rejected Keystone XL, but crude flows through southern part of project
President Barack Obama rejected a Canadian company’s request to build the Keystone XL pipeline, though oil is already running through the southern half of the existing pipeline. Kenneth Medlock, senior director of the Center for Energy Studies, the James A. Baker III and Susan Baker Fellow in Energy and Resource Economics and lecturer of economics, comments.
KUT.org (This also appeared on State Impact.)
http://bit.ly/1WKOTuB

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Sun Belt cities’ bike-share users more likely to bike for recreation
A new report from Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research finds that Sun Belt city residents are most likely to use bike-share programs for recreation, compared with users in the Midwest or Northeast, who regularly use the same programs for their daily commute. Kyle Shelton, postdoctoral research fellow at Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, is quoted. Shelton is also featured for his study on Houston’s B-Cycle bike-share.
Phys.org
http://bit.ly/1WKGDL2
Researchers look into who’s using bike share in Houston
Houston Public Media
http://bit.ly/1NnQDjl

Plastic fluorescence microscope brings diagnostic care to rural poor
In a project funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s Grand Challenges in Global Health Initiative, Rice researchers have recently developed a plastic, miniature digital fluorescence microscope that can quantify white blood cell levels in patients in rural parts of the world. Tomasz Tkaczyk, associate professor of bioengineering, is quoted. Rebecca Richards-Kortum, the Malcolm Gillis University Professor, director of the Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineering and of Rice 360°: Institute for Global Health Technologies, co-authored the study.
Photonics.com
http://bit.ly/1MxGc05

Clay makes better high-temp batteries
Rice University scientists developed lithium-ion batteries with clay-based electrolytes for high-temperature environments. Pulickel Ajayan, the Benjamin M. and Mary Greenwood Anderson Professor in Materials Science and NanoEngineering and of chemistry, and graduate student Kaushik Kalaga are quoted.
Phys.org
http://bit.ly/1kmXjHy

COP21: Conergy to send 10 ‘future solar leaders’ to Paris climate talks
Global solar company Conergy chose Sid Richardson College senior Zach Bielak as one of the 10 students it will send to the COP21 climate change negotiations in Paris as part of its newly launched Future Solar Leaders program.
PV-Tech.org
http://bit.ly/1MUgVPQ

Rice U. offering free AP Physics online prep course
A free online course from Rice University helps high school students prepare for the Advanced Placement Physics 1 Exam. Jason Hafner, associate professor of physics and astronomy and of chemistry, co-teaches the course. Caroline Levander, vice president for strategic initiatives and digital education, the Carlson Chair in the School of Humanities and professor of English, and Cylette Willis, online education program director, are quoted.
eSchool News (This article also appeared in My Informs.)
http://bit.ly/1Y2kuFf

Public policy needed to reduce stem cell tourism, say experts
The continued marketing and use of experimental stem cell-based interventions inside and outside the United States is problematic and unsustainable, according to a new paper by science policy and bioethics experts at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and Wake Forest University. Disillusioned patients, tired of waiting for the cures they were promised, are seeking unproven stem cell-based treatments that are causing more harm than good, said the experts, who argue that public policy is needed to reduce this form of “stem cell tourism.”   Kirstin Matthews, an adjunct lecturer of sociology and a fellow in science and technology policy at the Baker Institute, is quoted.
News-Medical (This article also appeared in Medical Xpress, Science Codex, Topix, Biology News, Science Newsline, e! Science News, News On Feeds and My Informs.)
http://bit.ly/1NHFfDt

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Rice University students set for New York Philharmonic’s 2016 Global Academy Fellowship Program
Seven Rice University students have been selected to participate in the New York Philharmonic Global Academy Fellowship Program, part of the academy’s partnership between Rice’s Shepherd School of Music and the New York Philharmonic. The students selected are Jae-Won Bang, violin; Abraham Feder, cello; MuChen Jessica Hsieh, violin; Laura Liu, violin; Andrew Pedersen, double bass; Caleb Quillen, double bass; and Sergein Yap, viola.
Broadway World
http://bit.ly/1PzTIRN

SPORTS

Colleges: UT seeks solution to road struggles
Rice football player Sam Stewart may be out for a second time this season, due to a concussion. Players Stuart Mouchantaf, Preston Gordon and Carl Thompson are mentioned.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1O1LBf3

Volleyball team falls to Rice, clinging to postseason chances
Rice women’s volleyball beat Marshall University 3-0 at Marshall.
The Parthenon
http://bit.ly/1MUaoEG

Exclusive: Lance Berkman talks about persecution, tolerance and transgender people
Alumnus Lance Berkman ’98 explains his opposition to the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance.
NBC Sports (This article appears third on the page.)
http://bit.ly/1O1pwNH

NEWS RELEASES

Rice U. study: Analysts’ stock recommendations are not only independent, they’re useful
Contrary to common complaints, analysts’ stock recommendations are not only independent, they’re useful, according to a new study by financial accounting experts at Rice University, Baruch College and the University of Rochester.
http://bit.ly/1WL2kuC

Clay makes better high-temp batteries
Rice University scientists develop lithium-ion batteries with clay-based electrolytes for high-temperature environments.
http://bit.ly/1NHPGH1

Rice Shepherd School musicians selected for 2016 New York Philharmonic Global Academy Fellowship Program
Seven Rice University students have been selected to participate in the New York Philharmonic Global Academy Fellowship Program, part of the New York Philharmonic Global Academy partnership between Rice’s Shepherd School of Music and the New York Philharmonic.
http://bit.ly/1SG3CBc

Rice U. paper: End ‘stem cell tourism’
The continued marketing and use of experimental stem cell-based interventions inside and outside the United States is problematic and unsustainable, according to a new paper by science policy and bioethics experts at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and Wake Forest University. Disillusioned patients, tired of waiting for the cures they were promised, are seeking unproven stem cell-based treatments that are causing more harm than good, said the experts, who argue that public policy is needed to reduce this form of “stem cell tourism.”
http://bit.ly/1GVkR0e