Dateline Rice for May 10, 2013

(Editor’s note: Dagmar Beck is director of the professional science and engineering master’s program. An item in the May 9 edition of Dateline Rice used her previous title. We apologize for the error.)

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Young startups turn to pitch competitions as launching pads
Mary Lynn Fernau, marketing director for the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship, is quoted in an article about business plan competitions. The Rice Business Plan Competition is featured.
CNBC.com
http://www.cnbc.com/id/100720601

The education of venture capitalists: Midas list 2013 edition
Rice is mentioned in an article about the education of venture capitalists.
Forbes.com
http://onforb.es/16jApXM

Is Bibi striking a different tone on peace?
Research by Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy is cited in an op-ed about peace in the Middle East.
Newsweek/The Daily Beast
http://thebea.st/16kwtpM

USC gains Bruin brains as neuroscientists switch universities
An article about new neuroscientists at the University of Southern California notes that three University of California, San Diego researchers moved their labs to Rice.
Los Angeles Times
http://lat.ms/YyRB6I

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Spring commencement ceremonies set to begin
Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson will be the commencement speaker Saturday at Rice University’s 100th graduation ceremony.
Houston Chronicle (This article also appeared in the Connecticut Post and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.)
http://bit.ly/1799Ogc

Internships draw budding engineers to energy careers
Rice is mentioned in an article about oil industry internships.
Houston Chronicle (subscription required)
http://bit.ly/133Tx5v

BROADCAST/WEBCAST

KTMD-TV
Mark Jones, the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies, professor and chair of political science and fellow in political science at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, appeared twice on KTMD-TV to discuss immigration reform. Links to these broadcasts are not available.

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Ensysce’s bet: Combining two risky drug technologies that add up
Rice is mentioned in an article about Ensysce Biosciences.
Xconomy.com
http://bit.ly/193NsJJ

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Study: Voter turnout increased after precincts were eliminated in Colorado
Research by Bob Stein, the Lena Gohlman Fox Professor of Political Science, and alumnus Greg Vonnahme ’04 is cited in an article about voter turnout.
Tennessean
http://tnne.ws/11pNWfA

GOP Cuban-American Sen. Ted Cruz unfriendly to Mexican-American families in Texas
An op-ed about Sen. Ted Cruz cites a quote by Steve Murdock, the Allyn and Gladys Cline Professor of Sociology and a former director of the U.S. Census Bureau.
Tucson Citizen (Ariz.)
http://bit.ly/18x9Zkw

Robot economy could cause up to 75 percent unemployment
An article about the changing world job market includes a comment by Moshe Vardi, the Karen Ostrum George Distinguished Service Professor of Computational Engineering and professor of computer science, about routine jobs being performed by robots.
NowPublic.com
http://bit.ly/10wWbjG

Shimmering chain-link fence installation by Soo Sunny Park
An article discusses artist Soo Sunny Park’s Rice Gallery installation. Kim Davenport, director of the Rice Gallery, and Joshua Fischer, assistant curator, are mentioned.
ThisIsColossal.com
http://bit.ly/17R5Fv7

Charging nanotubes to produce fibers and films
A Rice University laboratory’s cagey strategy turns negatively charged carbon nanotubes into liquid crystals that could enhance the creation of fibers and films.
OverclockersClub.com
http://www.overclockersclub.com/news/34103/

Meet the lobbyists who are also think-tank scholars
An article reports that dozens of lobbyists also work as think-tank scholars. A conference at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy is mentioned.
New Republic
http://on.tnr.com/Yy5ceH

Fuel that gets more than it gives
Rice is mentioned in an op-ed about biofuels.
Providence Journal (R.I.)
http://bit.ly/17QVxTk

SPORTS

Nwosu honors former Owl Brigance with jersey
Martel College junior Cameron Nwosu changed his football jersey number to honor former Rice football player O.J. Brigance.
FoxSportsSouthwest.com (A link to this story appeared on FoxSports.com.)
http://bit.ly/YyNd7Q
Rice linebacker Nwosu honors ex-Owl O.J. Brigance
KHOU.com
http://bit.ly/18yqi0q

Rice breaks ground on new tennis facility
Rice University held a ceremonial groundbreaking for the new George R. Brown Tennis Complex. The new $8 million complex is named for the late George R. Brown, former chair of the Rice Board of Trustees. Trustee emeritus Ralph O’Connor provided lead funding for the project. O’Connor, Rice President David Leebron, athletics director Rick Greenspan, head women’s tennis coach Elizabeth Schmidt and head men’s tennis coach Efe Ustundag are quoted.
USTA.com
http://bit.ly/10dRxK9

Rice women’s tennis team has secret weapon in Anicete
Duncan College senior Kimberly Anicete is profiled for her performance on the Rice Owls women’s tennis team. Head coach Elizabeth Schmidt and Hanszen College sophomore Natalie Beazant are quoted.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/133Udb4

Rice posts a slew of season highs in pummeling Louisiana Tech
An article recaps a baseball game between Rice and Louisiana Tech University.
West University Examiner (Texas) (Coverage of this series also appeared in the Memorial Examiner, the Shreveport Times and LaTechSports.com.)
http://bit.ly/12iNUD2

NCAA baseball bids from state could drop to 25-year low
Rice is mentioned in an article about the NCAA baseball postseason.
Houston Chronicle (subscription required)
http://bit.ly/YyO7RZ

49ers draft picks 2013: A closer look at Vance McDonald
An article discusses Lovett College senior Vance McDonald’s career in football.
NinersNation.com (This article also appeared in the Austin American-Statesman, the Middletown Journal, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, TodaysPulse.com, AccessAtlanta.com, KIROTV.com [Seattle], WFTV.com [Orlando, Fla.], WJACTV.com [Johnstown, Penn.] and WPXI.com [Pittsburgh].)
http://bit.ly/12iJQkI

Memphis Tigers start C-USA track championships short-handed
Rice is mentioned in an article about the University of Memphis track-and-field teams.
South Bend Tribune (Ind.)
http://bit.ly/149XEiT

NEWS RELEASE

Regulator keeps vaccines at right temperature
Rice University students have created a way to help health care workers track vaccines and keep them at a safe temperature.
https://news2.rice.edu/?p=45135