Dateline Rice for Aug. 19, 2021

Stefan De La Garza
– August 19, 2021Posted in: Dateline Rice

FEATURED ITEMS
Rice delays in-person classes for 2 weeks, moves to virtual learning-only
An article by ABC 13 Online cites a letter to the Rice community by Provost Reginald DesRoches about the university’s plan to transition to virtual learning until Sept. 3 due to the rapid rise of COVID-19 in Houston. Additional media outlets mention that Rice will require masks to be worn indoors at nearly all times and require regular testing for both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals on campus.
ABC 13 Online
http://dateline.rice/aug-19-desroches
College move-in festivities return despite lingering pandemic

Rice University to start school year with virtual learning due to COVID surge
KHOU Online (This segment also aired on KHOU-TV in Houston.)
http://dateline.rice/aug-19-khou
KTRH-AM (Houston)
http://dateline.rice/aug-19-ktrh

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL
The Hill’s Sustainability Report: Cities are making mammals bigger
A sustainability roundup features collaborative Rice research developing small carbon nanotube fibers for textile electronics and energy harvesting. Lead author and graduate student Natsumi Komatsu is quoted. This research is also featured in a roundup by The American Ceramic Society.
The Hill’s “Equilibrium” newsletter (This article also appeared in MSN.)
http://dateline.rice/aug-19-komatsu
Other materials stories that may be of interest
The American Ceramic Society
http://dateline.rice/aug-19-tacs

Middle East rivals scramble to retain influence as Taliban rises in Afghanistan
Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, fellow for the Middle East at the Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
Independent (Subscription is required.)
http://dateline.rice/aug-19-ulrichsen

International students remain a primary source of US tech talent
An article mentions that 80% of full-time graduate students in computer and information sciences at Rice are international students.
Forbes
http://dateline.rice/aug-19-forbes

HOUSTON/TEXAS
Prestigious Houston university declared No. 7 in the nation and best in Texas by new study
An article mentions that Rice is No. 7 in the nation and No. 1 in Texas according to Niche’s 2022 rankings. Additional national rankings include: No. 1 in architecture studies; No. 4 for best professors; No. 10 for best value; No. 10 for best campus; and No. 20 for best student life.
CultureMap Houston (This article also appeared in CultureMap Dallas, ABC 13 Online, CultureMap Austin and Our Community Now.)
http://dateline.rice/aug-19-cmh
3 Dallas-Fort Worth universities earn pomp and prestige on new list of top Texas schools
CultureMap Dallas
http://dateline.rice/aug-19-cmd

BROADCAST
Explore Space, STEM, Texas history and more at the Bullock Texas State History Museum
An article mentions President John F. Kennedy’s “moon speech,” which was delivered at Rice Sept. 12, 1962.
KXAN Online
http://dateline.rice/aug-19-kennedy

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL
Researchers refine estimate of amount of carbon in Earth’s outer core
An article features collaborative Rice research that better estimates the amount of carbon in the Earth’s outer core. Co-author Rajdeep Dasgupta, the Maurice Ewing Professor of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences, is quoted.
Phys.org
http://dateline.rice/aug-19-dasgupta

INSIGHT: Mexico’s petchem imports to grow as feedstock woes persist
Adrian Duhalt, postdoctoral fellow in Mexico energy studies at the Baker Institute for Public Policy’s Center for the United States and Mexico and Center for Energy Studies, is quoted.
Independent Commodity Intelligence Services
http://dateline.rice/aug-19-duhalt

Colburn School announces 2021-22 class of Salonen Fellows
An article features alumna Molly Turner, who has been named as a Colburn School Salonen Fellow in the Conservatory of Music’s Negaunee Conducting Program.
Broadway World
http://dateline.rice/aug-19-turner

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST
UVI gets $2.5 million to study stony coral tissue loss disease
An article mentions that Adrienne Correa, assistant professor of biosciences, will study how fish may be contributing to disease transmission within individual reefs as part of a $2.5 million National Science Foundation grant awarded to the University of the Virgin Islands.
The St. Croix Source (This article also appeared in the Virgin Islands Free Press.)
http://dateline.rice/aug-19-correa

Reparations issue continues to languish in Congress as other topics take precedence
An article cites Caleb McDaniel, associate professor of history, who won the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for History for his book “Sweet Taste of Liberty: A True Story of Slavery and Restitution.”
South Florida Times
http://dateline.rice/aug-19-mcdaniel

‘Developed countries must do their part to fight climate change’ — VP Jagdeo
An article mentions that Bharrat Jagdeo, Vice President of Guyana, addressed Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy Aug. 17 on “Climate Change Aspirations and the Viability of Small Development Countries.”
iNews Guyana
http://dateline.rice/aug-19-ing
Jagdeo recognised for commitment to environment, economic partnership with US

Guyana Chronicle
http://dateline.rice/aug-19-gc

Utah Arts Festival 2021: Jazz commissions feature Utah’s Steve Erickson, Tyler Chen in three world premieres
Alumnus Steve Erickson is featured.
The Utah Review
http://dateline.rice/aug-19-erickson

The Chicago Architecture Biennial takes a fresh approach
An article featuring David Brown mentions that he formerly taught at Rice.
Chicago Magazine (This article also appeared in Illinois News Today.)
http://dateline.rice/aug-19-cm

SPORTS
HISD inducts 16 sports legends into inaugural HISD Athletic Hall of Honors
An article features former Rice football player Joe Tusa, who was inducted into the Houston Independent School District’s Athletic Hall of Honors Aug. 14.
Forward Times
http://dateline.rice/aug-19-tusa

Former Rockets star James Harden to host start-studded JH-Town Weekend
An article mentions that Rice’s Reckling Park is slated to host a celebrity softball game Aug 22.
Click2Houston
http://dateline.rice/aug-19-c2h

Women’s soccer opens season against ECU on Thursday

An article mentions that Rice’s soccer team defeated Old Dominion University in last season’s Conference USA Tournament Quarterfinals.
ODUSports.com
http://dateline.rice/aug-19-odu

VB: Rice, WKU ranked in AVCA preseason top 25 poll
An article mentions that Rice’s volleyball team is ranked No. 23 on the American Volleyball Coaches Association’s preseason poll.
Conference USA (A similar article also appeared in WBKO Online.)
http://dateline.rice/aug-19-cusa

Charlotte hosts Owls to kick off soccer season
An article mentions that Rice’s soccer team defeated the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in last season’s Conference USA Championship Final.
KSUOwls.com
http://dateline.rice/aug-19-ksu

Loaded with returners, UTEP soccer has high hopes for season.
An article mentions that Rice’s soccer team is slated to play an away game against the University of Texas at El Paso.
El Paso Times
http://dateline.rice/aug-19-ept

Tramel’s ScissorTales: SEC expansion might create pods, but beware the WAC fate
Rice is mentioned.
The Oklahoman
http://dateline.rice/aug-19-to
North Texas makes early offer, strong push on 2023 WR target
247Sports.com
http://dateline.rice/aug-19-247

College football expert picks, predictions: Week 1
An article mentions that Rice’s football team will play an away game against the University of Arkansas Sept. 4.
Report Door
http://dateline.rice/aug-19-rd

REPORT: Bearkat football to face Houston in 2023, 2028
An article mentions that Rice’s football team is slated to play Sam Houston State University in 2024.
The Huntsville Item (This article also appeared in FBSchedules.)
http://dateline.rice/aug-19-thi

Blaze Alldredge is ready for the spotlight
Former Rice football player Blaze Alldredge is featured.
SB Nation
http://dateline.rice/aug-19-sbn

NEWS RELEASES
Rice, Baylor win defense grant to advance metastasis study
Rice chemist Han Xiao and biologist Xiang Zhang at Baylor College of Medicine have won a $2.3 million Department of Defense grant to expand their efforts to halt bone cancer metastasis.
http://dateline.rice/aug-19-news-release-xiao-zhang

National 2D materials research center wins NSF funding
A national research center that brings together university, industry and government partners to develop atom-thin 2D coatings with wide-ranging industrial applications is expanding thanks to a grant from the National Science Foundation. The Center for Atomically Thin Multifunctional Coatings is one of more than 70 Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers established by NSF to encourage scientific collaboration between academia and industry.
http://dateline.rice/aug-19-news-release-atomic

About Stefan De La Garza

Stefan De La Garza is a news analyst in Rice University's Office of Public Affairs.