Dateline Rice for May 22, 2018

FEATURED ITEM

New nano building block takes a bow
Rice research is featured in “Picture of the Day” on the National Science Foundation’s homepage and in the May 22 issue of the NSF’s Science 360 newsletter. Scientists have found a way to enhance a unique class of nanotubes using a chemical process pioneered at Rice, making next-generation composite and polymer materials based on this new discovery possible. In the Phys.org article, Angel Martí, associate professor of chemistry, of bioengineering and of materials science and nanoengineering, is quoted; graduate student Carlos de los Reyes is mentioned and pictured and research assistant and alumna Kendahl Walz ’17 is pictured.
National Science Foundation
http://bit.ly/2ICNO3q
Researchers enhance boron nitride nanotubes for next-gen composites
Phys.org (This article appeared in more than 10 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/2ICNo0X

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

WBBM-AM (Chicago)
Michael Bloomberg’s commencement speech at Rice is cited.
CBS News Radio (Click on the audio button to listen to the broadcast. This segment aired on more than 400 other affiliate stations.)
http://bit.ly/2IIGi6X
Why won’t a commencement speaker just say the word ‘Trump’?
The Daily Beast
https://thebea.st/2IBCdFH

School shooting not likely to decide Texas runoff races
Mark Jones, the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies, professor of political science, fellow in political science at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and fellow at Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, is quoted in several articles and broadcasts about the partisan divide on gun safety facing legislators. Jones is interviewed in a broadcast on KUIK and podcast on FiveThirtyEight about Texas House races to watch. Jones is also quoted in The Realty Brief about the possibility of a Democratic win in the U.S. Senate race between Rep. Beto O’Rourke, D-El Paso, and incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Houston.
Associated Press (This article appeared in more than 250 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/2x29u7J
More than half of Texans polled wanted stricter gun laws; and that was before the Santa Fe school shooting
Houston Public Media (This article appeared in 10 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/2x5U9mI
Texas leaders want more screening and more guns to prevent more shootings
Reuters (This article appeared in more than 60 other media outlets.)
https://reut.rs/2ICh0HL
Gender, guns, partisan infighting define state nominating contests
Reuters (This article appeared in more than 50 other media outlets.)
https://reut.rs/2IEnUfs
Santa Fe school shooting renews debate over gun control
Click2Houston
http://bit.ly/2LlVQ2r
The Note: Democratic primaries the first test of electability in the South
ABC News
https://abcn.ws/2ICErVh
KRLD-AM (Dallas)
http://bit.ly/2ICHRrp (Click on the audio button to listen to the broadcast.)
‘KPRC Channel 2 News at 5 p.m.’
KPRC-TV (Houston)
http://bit.ly/2x4ZTgq (Click on the video button to watch the broadcast.)
KUIK-AM (Portland, Ore.)
http://bit.ly/2IBW5Zn (Click on the audio button to listen to the broadcast.)
Politics Podcast: A Democratic squabble in Texas
FiveThirtyEight
https://53eig.ht/2xcQGTx (Comments begin at the 20:30 mark.)
Texas Democrats think the unthinkable: Can they win deep in the heart of Trump country?
The Realty Brief
http://bit.ly/2IEKxR2

Understanding bacteria ‘switch’ could lead to new antibiotics
Scientists have deciphered the workings of a common but little-understood bacterial switch that cuts off protein production before it begins. T-box riboswitches are common in many bacteria, but not in humans, making them such attractive targets for new antibiotics. Edward Nikonowicz, associate professor of biochemistry and cell biology, is quoted.
Futurity (This article also appeared in Phys.org, News-Medical.net, Health News, Science Newsline and Science Daily.)
http://bit.ly/2LikroC

Arrests of Saudi women’s rights activists ‘point to the limits of change’
Just weeks before Saudi Arabia lifts its prohibition on women driving, 10 activists, mostly women’s rights campaigners, were arrested and denounced as “traitors” by Saudi media. Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, fellow for the Middle East at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
National Public Radio’s “parallels” (This article appeared in more than 25 other media outlets.)
https://n.pr/2xcASjF

Garnet could be stealing the iron from Earth’s continents, study suggests
Nutrient-rich ash from an enormous flare-up of volcanic eruptions toward the end of the dinosaurs’ reign kicked off a chain of events that led to the formation of shale gas and oil fields from Texas to Montana. Researchers Cin-Ty Lee, professor and chair of the Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences, and Ming Tang, postdoctoral research associate in Earth, environmental and planetary sciences, are quoted and pictured.
The Weather Channel
https://wxch.nl/2IBP4I1

US sanctions Venezuela and 14 nations limit diplomatic ties after Maduro claims win
Francisco J. Monaldi, fellow in Latin American energy policy at the Center for Energy Studies, the Mexico Center and the Latin America Initiative at the Baker Institute for Public Policy and a lecturer in energy economics at Rice, is quoted in a series of articles about the economic and diplomatic fallout from the recent and widely-disputed re-election victory of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Miami Herald
https://hrld.us/2IBOR7H
Venezuela in crosshairs of US after Maduro wins shunned election
Bloomberg (This article also appeared on Bloomberg Quint.)
https://bloom.bg/2IEcxUU
US condemns Venezuela election, readies sanctions
Platts
http://bit.ly/2ICaBwk

The 25 toughest colleges to get into in 2018
The school and neighborhood analysis tool Niche has broken down which universities are the most competitive in 2018. Rice is No. 17 on the list.
Mental Floss
http://bit.ly/2IAY53X

HOUSTON/TEXAS

40 Under 40 honoree and Rice professor’s latest research studies Harvey’s impact on mothers
Rachel Kimbro, professor of sociology and founding director of the Urban Health Program at Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, is featured and pictured. Kimbro was named one of the Houston Business Journal’s 2018 40 Under 40 honorees.
Houston Business Journal (Subscription is required.)
http://bit.ly/2xcIAKD

Rice Village to get Sixty Vines, Steel City Pops, Drybar locations
Rice is mentioned as a partner in the revitalization of Rice Village.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required. This article also appeared in the San Antonio Express-News.)
http://bit.ly/2x2xpE3

BROADCAST

Santa Fe shooting casts pall over runoff elections, unlikely to shift votes
Bob Stein, the Lena Gohlman Fox Professor of Political Science at Rice, is interviewed on the impact the recent school shooting in Santa Fe, Texas, may have on voter turnout.
Houston Public Media
http://bit.ly/2IE9dJn

KLIV-AM (San Francisco)
Rice alumnus John Doerr ’73 is interviewed. Alumna Ann Doerr ’75 is mentioned.
http://bit.ly/2IEIOvc (Click on the audio button to listen to the broadcast.)

‘CNN Newsroom’
History Professor Douglas Brinkley is interviewed about recent developments in the administration of President Donald Trump.
CNN International
http://bit.ly/2ICsUp5 (Click on the video button to watch the broadcast.)

KTXX-AM (Austin)
Former Rice assistant baseball coach David Pierce is interviewed. Former Rice baseball player Anthony Rendon is mentioned.
http://bit.ly/2LkLdwL (Click on the audio button to listen to the broadcast.)

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Rachel Clingman joins Noble Energy senior leadership team as general counsel
Alumna Rachel Clingman ’89 is featured.
Nasdaq (This article also appeared in GuruFocus.com and the Seneca Globe.)
http://bit.ly/2Lo6Z2u

Science on a shoestring
Alumnus Darren Ong ’12 is among several researchers featured.
Science News for Students
http://bit.ly/2LmWBbh

Congratulations, Class of 2018!
David Buck, adjunct professor of sociology, was the recipient of an honorary degree from Colorado College.
Colorado College News
http://bit.ly/2IBqLKd

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

The 9:01: The growing cycling culture of Memphis and holidays you didn’t know
An article mentions Rice research on the cultural changes that led to a boom in bicycling in Memphis, Tenn.
The Commercial Appeal
https://memne.ws/2IBFrsV

Belton High names valedictorian, salutatorian
An article featuring and picturing Serena Shedore mentions that she will attend Rice.
TDTNews.com
http://bit.ly/2IF8Pyw

2018 All Saints Episcopal School graduates earn $5.3 million in scholarships
Rice is mentioned.
EverythingLubbock.com
http://bit.ly/2LksIZq

SPORTS

Conference USA Tournament preview: Rice
A preview of the Conference USA baseball tournament quotes Rice head baseball coach Wayne Graham and features a television interview. Graham is pictured in two slideshows (images 5 and 33) in the Houston Chronicle. A video of when Rice Stadium hosted the 1974 Super Bowl is included. A post from Uncle Mike’s Musings also mentions that the Houston Oilers played their football seasons from 1965 to 1967 in Rice Stadium.
WXXV25.com
http://bit.ly/2IECKCJ
Rice hobbles way into C-USA tournament
The Daily News (Subscription is required.)
http://bit.ly/2x3RMAS
UH baseball’s Todd Whitting named AAC Coach of the Year
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required.)
http://bit.ly/2wZhOVW
Former Oilers running back Billy Cannon dies at 80
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required.)
http://bit.ly/2x11KD4
How to be a New York soccer fan in Houston — 2018 edition
Uncle Mike’s Musings
http://bit.ly/2x2Utmb

‘WKYT News at 4:30 p.m.’
Alumnus George Foreman III ’06 is featured.
WKYT-TV (Lexington, Ky.)
http://bit.ly/2IE4Q0Y (Click the video button to watch the broadcast.)
EverybodyFights partners with Aaptiv
CityBizList (This article also appeared in Benzinga.)
http://bit.ly/2IFfDMs

Texas O-line could get instantly better with Calvin Anderson
Former Rice football player Calvin Anderson is mentioned.
247Sports.com
http://bit.ly/2LlA3ru

Hilperton athlete Caitlin Wosika earns US scholarship
An article featuring and picturing Caitlin Wosika mentions that she will be a member of the women’s track and field team.
Wiltshire Times (This article also appeared in This Is Wiltshire.)
http://bit.ly/2ICA7S8

NEWS RELEASES

We Make Carpets to make US debut at Rice U.’s Moody Center for the Arts
Rice’s Moody Center for the Arts has commissioned Dutch collective We Make Carpets to create a site-specific installation for its Central Gallery. This exhibition marks the first time that the artists will show their colorful work in the United States. The public is invited to the Moody’s free opening celebration and artist talk Saturday, June 9. The installation will be on view through Sept. 8.
http://bit.ly/2x3Z7QW

Baker Institute expert examines valuing groundwater in Texas
Despite the economic and political stakes, debate on how to value groundwater in Texas has been sparse, according to an expert in the Center for Energy Studies at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. In a new article, Gabriel Collins, the Baker Botts Fellow in Energy and Environmental Regulatory Affairs at the Baker Institute, sets forth seven methods of economically valuing groundwater in Texas and uses case studies and hypotheticals informed by real data to assess the valuation techniques’ strengths and weaknesses under a range of conditions.
http://bit.ly/2x4R6uP

Magnesium magnificent for plasmonic applications
Rice University researchers have synthesized and isolated plasmonic magnesium nanoparticles that show all the promise of their gold, silver and aluminum cousins with none of the drawbacks. The Rice lab of materials scientist Emilie Ringe produced the particles to test their ability to emit plasmons, the ghostly electron bands that, when triggered by energy from outside, ripple across the surface of certain metals. The research appears in the American Chemical Society journal Nano Letters.
http://bit.ly/2x3Z6MS