Dateline Rice for March 25, 2019 (Weekend Edition)

FEATURED ITEMS

‘No collusion!’ goes from defiant mantra to re-election rallying cry
Douglas Brinkley, the Katherine Tsanoff Brown Professor in Humanities, is quoted in several articles about the conclusion of special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into possible collusion between Russia and officials from President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign. The Monterey County Herald mentions that Brinkley will speak May 27 at the 2019 Leon Panetta Lecture Series.
Washington Post (Subscription is required. This article also appeared on the front page of the March 25 print editions of the Post and the New Zealand Herald, and it appeared online in more than 50 other media outlets.)
https://wapo.st/2U7gVou 
‘If you took it all in in one day, it would kill you’: What Mueller’s investigation has already revealed
Washington Post (Subscription is required. This article also appeared on the front page of the March 23 print editions of the Post and the Dallas Morning News, and it appeared online in more than 50 other media outlets.)
https://wapo.st/2HF5gY6
Leon Panetta Lecture Series hosts Chris Christie, Mark McKinnon and Mark Shields
Monterey County Herald
http://bit.ly/2uuB49I

How Houston became ‘space city’
An article about the role of Houston in the development of the space industry mentions that Rice donated land in 1961 that would later become NASA’s Manned Spacecraft Center. Rice Centennial Historian Melissa Kean ’96 is quoted. The late alumnus George R. Brown, who was chairman of the Rice Board of Trustees at the time of the land donation, and the late alumnus and former U.S. Rep. Albert Thomas are mentioned.
Houston Chronicle (This article appeared on the front page of the March 24 print edition and a previous edition of Dateline when it was first posted online.)
http://bit.ly/2TtNybx

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Kamala Harris compares herself to LBJ as she swoops into Texas to ‘throw down the gauntlet’ to Beto O’Rourke
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 two articles.
Washington Examiner (This article also appeared in MSN.)
https://washex.am/2HSlkVU
Loosening his conservative ties
The Dallas Morning News (This article appeared on the front page of the March 24 print edition and a previous edition of Dateline when it was first posted online.)
http://bit.ly/2urs2dg

Amid contradiction and controversy, plans proceed for Arctic Refuge lease sale
Kenneth Medlock, senior director of the Center for Energy Studies at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted in an article about the Trump administration’s plans to auction off rights to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Medlock is also cited in a slideshow caption from the Houston Chronicle.
Audubon
http://bit.ly/2up17iv
Exxon-Chevron Permian slugfest expected to last years
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required.)
http://bit.ly/2HTbjYC

America’s richest universities
Rice is pictured in a slideshow.
MSN Money
http://bit.ly/2HWhPhf

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Austin jobless rate slips to 3 percent as area economy stays hot
Peter Rodriguez, dean of Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business, is quoted in an article about Austin’s low unemployment rate.
Austin American-Statesman (Subscription is required.)
https://atxne.ws/2HS07v9

Mexico’s leader taking nationalist tone
Tony Payan, the Françoise and Edward Djerejian Fellow for Mexico Studies at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and director of the institute’s Mexico Center, is quoted in an article about Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s first 100 days in office.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required. This article appeared in the March 24 print edition and a previous edition of Dateline when the article was first posted online.)
http://bit.ly/2HS4qGF

Houston’s beloved former county judge awarded a key prize in West U
Alumnus Ed Emmett ’71, senior fellow at Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, is featured and pictured in CultureMap Houston, and Katy News mentions that he will speak May 21 at the Junior League of Houston.
CultureMap Houston
http://bit.ly/2HNGVyG
Bayou Preservation Association’s Terry Hershey Bayou Stewardship Awards Luncheon set for May 21
The Katy News
http://bit.ly/2HPU0rf

E. Texas timber industry ready for new heights in building
Jesus Vassallo, the Gus Wortham Assistant Professor of Architecture, is quoted in an article about how a change in the International Building Code, which has doubled the allowed height of a wooden building to 18 stories, may affect Texas’ forestry industry.
Houston Chronicle (This article appeared in the March 24 print edition and a previous edition of Dateline when the article was first posted online.)
http://bit.ly/2utNA9c

Upcoming events in the area
A business events roundup mentions that Allison Thacker, president and chief investment officer of Rice Management Co., will speak March 27 at the Urban Land Institute-Houston Urban Marketplace Conference at the Marriott Marquis in Houston.
Houston Chronicle (This article also appeared in the March 25 print edition and a previous edition of Dateline when it was first posted online.)
http://bit.ly/2urNTBq

Deer Park fire underscores why good companies plan for disasters
Terry Hemeyer, adjunct professor of management at Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business, is quoted.
Houston Chronicle (This article also appeared in the March 25 print edition.)
http://bit.ly/2upIqLs

Celebrating the 50th: UTSA professor Amina Qutub explores brain health in March 26 lecture
An article mentions that alumna Amina Qutub will speak March 26 at the 50th Anniversary Scholars Speaker Series at the University of Texas at San Antonio.
UTSA Today
http://bit.ly/2HSr0Pu

Always a heart for PA: Bun B a bridge to Astros’ aid?
Rapper Bernard “Bun B” Freeman, former distinguished lecturer at Rice, is featured
The Port Arthur News
http://bit.ly/2HWlvzz

Houston book events: March 24-30
A local events roundup mentions that Carmen Giménez Smith and Fady Joudah will read from their work on March 25 as part of the Inprint Margarett Root Brown Reading Series at Rice’s Stude Concert Hall.
Houston Chronicle (This article also appeared in the March 24 print edition.)
http://bit.ly/2HWUfk6

Habitat for Humanity volunteers tie the knot at rustic Hill Country wedding
An article features and pictures graduate student Jon Prosser.
Houston Chronicle (This article also appeared in the March 24 print edition with a different headline, “Taking the lead.”)
http://bit.ly/2HSdHie

Money’s muscle in campaign proves why politics is broken [Opinion]
Alumna Elisa Cardnell authored an op-ed.
Houston Chronicle (This op-ed also appeared in the March 24 print edition.)
http://bit.ly/2uttDiN

What else can $6.5 million buy for a kid?
Rice is mentioned.
Dallas Morning News (This article appeared in the March 23 print edition.)
http://bit.ly/2utvCE0

BROADCAST

New flood alert website launches to monitor White Oak Bayou
A radio broadcast about a new flood alert system developed by Rice experts to monitor and provide real-time information about White Oak Bayou, one of Houston’s most flood-prone waterways, mentions Phil Bedient, the Herman Brown Professor of Engineering and director of Rice’s Severe Storm Prediction, Education and Evacuation from Disasters Center, and Jamie Padgett, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering.
Houston Public Media
http://bit.ly/2HITlsm
As flood risk spreads, prediction tech proves vital
GCN.com
http://bit.ly/2HX2exA

’13 Eyewitness News at 6 a.m.’
Several television broadcasts mention that Anita Hill will give a talk titled “From Social Movement to Social Impact: Putting an End to Sexual Harassment in the Workplace” on March 25 at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.
KRTK-TV (Houston)
http://bit.ly/2uuJLAw
‘KHOU 11 News’
KHOU-TV (Houston)
http://bit.ly/2uumcrU (This segment aired twice.)
‘Fox 26 News at 7 a.m.’
KRIV-TV (Houston)
http://bit.ly/2uonVyS (This segment aired twice.)

Several town hall meetings scheduled in wake of Deer Park fire
An article mentions that Rice held a town hall meeting for residents and community leaders of Deer Park in the wake of a recent industrial park fire.
KPRC Click2Houston Online
http://bit.ly/2HPVCBj
Several town halls planned after fire reignites at Deer Park ITC facility
KTRK Online
https://abc13.co/2HTcWpc
UPDATE: Texas sues Deer Park petrochemical company for violations of clean air act
Houston Public Media
http://bit.ly/2HQGX8R

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Moshe Vardi on social implications of technology and our responsibility as academics
Moshe Vardi, University Professor and Karen Ostrum George Distinguished Service Professor in Computational Engineering, a professor of computer science and director of the Ken Kennedy Institute for Information Technology at Rice, is featured in a podcast, which is highlighted in ACM News.
Changing Academic Life
http://bit.ly/2usaT3d
ACM News
Communications of the ACM
http://bit.ly/2usaH3Z

Another ‘black eye’ for America’s energy capital
Daniel Cohan, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, is quoted.
E&E News
http://bit.ly/2HSekrP
Towering plumes, benzene fumes leave Houston noses, eyes fouled
Woonsocket Call (This article appeared in the March 24 print edition, and it also appeared in the print editions of the Mercury News Weekend, The Press and the Dominion Post.)
http://bit.ly/2HSFPBC

Hash your way to a better neural network
An article cites research by Anshumali Shrivastava, assistant professor of computer science, and graduate students Beidi Chen and Tharun Medini, which determined that specialized hardware for neural networks may be optimized for the wrong algorithm.
IEEE Spectrum
http://bit.ly/2ut3e4O

Chemicals induce dipoles to damp plasmons
An article about collaborative research between Rice, the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz and Princeton University, which determined that molecules placed on the surface of a single gold nanorod affect its plasmonic response, is featured. Stephan Link, professor of chemistry and computer and electrical engineering and associate chair for graduate studies, is quoted.
Phys.org
http://bit.ly/2uqc5UR

Giedion and America
An article about architecture critic Sigfried Giedion quotes Reto Geiser, associate professor and director of undergraduate studies at Rice’s School of Architecture.
Seriously Architecture (This article also appeared in Archidose.)
http://bit.ly/2usanCj

The future of data storage
Reinhard Heckel, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, is quoted.
Communications of the ACM
http://bit.ly/2utVnns

Are health apps putting your privacy at risk?
Kirsten Ostherr, the Gladys Louise Fox Professor of English and director of Rice’s Medical Futures Lab, is quoted.
PressFrom.info
http://bit.ly/2uADi7z

Street talk: A buyer’s market
An article featuring OpenStax, a Rice-based publisher of open educational resources, quotes Daniel Williamson, its managing director.
Grand Rapids Business Journal
http://bit.ly/2uAEbwV

Get excited! The 78th Annual AHA Conference is virtually around the corner
An article mentions that Rice is a partnering institution for the American Humanist Association’s 78th Annual Conference and will hold a symposium June 7.
The Humanist
http://bit.ly/2up3u4T

Steve Currall has worked for major universities in California and Texas
An article featuring Steve Currall mentions that he formerly held the William and Stephanie Sick Professorship of Entrepreneurship at Rice’s George R. Brown School of Engineering.
Business Observer (This article also appeared in WJCT News.) 
http://bit.ly/2uutVWW
Steve Currall named University of South Florida president-elect
USF News Channel
http://bit.ly/2utn8g8

New Juilliard ensemble, led by Joel Sachs, performs contemporary works on April 1
Alumnus Ross Griffey is featured.
Broadway World
http://bit.ly/2utyfpj

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Genetic scientists must not violate ethics and existing rules
An article about gene editing in humans mentions Michael Deem, the John W. Cox Professor of Biochemical and Genetic Engineering and a professor of physics and astronomy, and that He Jiankui, the Chinese scientist who claimed he produced the first genetically engineered twins, attended Rice.
China Daily USA (This article also appeared in the March 23 print edition of China Daily USA and China Daily Hong Kong.)
http://bit.ly/2utABEt

US sanctions on Venezuela likely to reroute crude oil to China, India
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.
Milbank Monitor
http://bit.ly/2utwqsw

Crawford House welcomes back one former student of the elementary as future resident
An article quotes Lon Wilson, professor of chemistry.
Ames Tribune
http://bit.ly/2uqfyml

New system to check for dangerous natural gas leaks
An article mentions that Rice contributed to the development of the Autonomous, Low- cost, Fast Leak Detection System that locates and quantifies natural gas leaks quickly, safely and inexpensively.
Albuquerque Journal (This article also appeared in the March 24 print edition.)
http://bit.ly/2ut5Hw6

SPORTS

Rice women aim to build on groundbreaking season
Several articles mention that Rice’s women’s basketball team, which was ranked No. 21 in the nation and was the No. 12 seed in the Chicago Region of the NCAA Tournament, lost March 22 to fifth-seeded Marquette University 58-54 in overtime in their first-round game.
Houston Chronicle (This article also appeared in the March 24 print edition with a different headline, “Banner season bodes well for future success.”)
http://bit.ly/2HT6iiK
Rice comes up short in NCAA Tournament to Marquette
Houston Chronicle (This article also appeared in the March 23 print edition with a different headline, “Offense goes into deep freeze at bad time.”)
http://bit.ly/2HOaBvu

Late rally falls short in series finale at Rice
Three articles mention that Rice’s baseball team dropped two of the three games against the University of Texas at San Antonio March 22-24 at Reckling Park.
UTSA Athletics
http://bit.ly/2HEf1FX
Offense explodes in historic series win at Rice
UTSA Athletics
http://bit.ly/2HDJ0xY
Patel, Rock push Roadrunners past Rice in series opener
UTSA Athletics
http://bit.ly/2HF4Voi

Sooners take first 2 games from Tech
Three articles mention that Rice’s men’s tennis team was defeated by Texas Tech University and Dartmouth College at the 61st annual Ralph O’Connor Rice Invitational.
Valley Town Crier
http://bit.ly/2utCi52
Men’s tennis closes weekend with 4-1 win over Rice
The Daily Toreador
http://bit.ly/2urDB4n 
Local roundup: Big Green baseball goes batty on Princeton
Valley News
https://bit.ly/2FqJ14K

Remember Harvey? Houston remains unprepared for the next big flood. [Editorial]
An editorial mentions a 1914 football game between Rice and Texas A&M University.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required. This article also appeared in the March 24 print edition with a different headline, “Remember Harvey.”)
http://bit.ly/2TrTKAY

Dayton Dragons 2019 preview, part 7: Starting pitchers 
An article features former Rice baseball player Ricky Salinas.
Our Sports Central
http://bit.ly/2utmYVY

15 coaches Vanderbilt basketball should consider to replace Bryce Drew
Former Rice head men’s basketball coach Mike Rhoades is featured in two articles.
The Tennessean
http://bit.ly/2uxcvIV
For Schuylkill County native Mike Rhoades, a new role in NCAA Tournament: Head coach 
The Morning Call
http://bit.ly/2uv5TuA

NEWS RELEASES

Mexico has historic chance to fight corruption, says Baker Institute expert
Campaigns against deep-seated corruption have been a normal part of elections and new presidential administrations in Mexico. The country’s new president, Andres Manuel López Obrador, has assumed office at a unique time in the history of the nation with respect to anti-corruption efforts, according to a new issue brief from Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.
http://bit.ly/2HDtjXv

Maria Oden elected AIMBE Fellow
Rice bioengineer Maria Oden has been elected to the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering College of Fellows. Oden is a teaching professor of bioengineering, director of Rice’s award-winning Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen and co-director of the Rice 360° Institute for Global Health.
http://bit.ly/2uq5KZw

Gold soaks up boron, spits out borophene
In the heat of a furnace, boron atoms happily dive into a bath of gold. And when things get cool, they resurface as coveted borophene. The discovery by scientists from Rice, Argonne National Laboratory and Northwestern University is a step toward practical applications like wearable or transparent electronics, plasmonic sensors or energy storage for the two-dimensional material with excellent conductivity.
http://bit.ly/2uoKqUm