Dateline Rice for June 26, 2015

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Study: Public opinion not swayed by atheist arguments
Two prominent scientists with drastically different views on the relationship of science and religion – Richard Dawkins and Francis Collins – have an equally different influence on these views among people who are unfamiliar with their work, according to new research from Rice University and West Virginia University. Elaine Howard Ecklund, the Herbert S. Autrey Chair and Professor of Sociology, co-director of the Boniuk Institute for the Study and Advancement of Religious Tolerance and director of Rice’s Religion and Public Life Program, is quoted.
World Magazine
http://bit.ly/1BPpRRC

Bobby Jindal’s ‘biggest troll’ is 21-year-old science education advocate Zack Kopplin, Mother Jones says
Hanszen College senior Zack Kopplin is featured in an article about Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal.
The Times-Picayune
http://bit.ly/1HjBuQV

HOUSTON/TEXAS

After Supreme Court’s Obamacare ruling, Texas needs to get on board
The Supreme Court’s June 25 ruling on the Affordable Care Act, the second such ruling that upholds Obamacare, means the act is here to stay, said Elena Marks, president and CEO of the Episcopal Health Foundation and a nonresident health policy fellow at the Baker Institute. Rice research is cited in the Dallas Observer article.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1CwBpUE
Supreme Court upholds health care law subsidies
Chron.com
http://bit.ly/1RA4Z2h
ACA Supreme Court ruling a relief to some, angering to others
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1GBLGj2
800k Texans keep their health insurance, pissing off Abbott, Paxton and Perry
Dallas Observer
http://bit.ly/1J8h8tf

Houston voters rate traffic one of city’s biggest problems
Bob Stein, the Lena Gohlman Fox Professor of Political Science, discusses results of a poll of Houston’s most important problems.
KHOU.com
http://bit.ly/1NiLHxo

Chávez H.S. girls race cardboard boats for RICE STEM initiative
Fifty girls capped a three-year experience in the Rice University STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) initiative Thursday when 12 teams competed in a cardboard canoe regatta race.
NewsFix
http://bit.ly/1JnAHkp

Percentage of uninsured women, Hispanics in Texas falls
Hispanics and women in Texas showed the largest percentage of reductions in rates of uninsured since enrollment began in the Affordable Care Act’s Health Insurance Marketplace, according to a report released by the Episcopal Health Foundation and Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. Vivian Ho, the James A. Baker III Institute Chair in Health Economics at Rice’s Baker Institute and professor of economics, and Elena Marks, president and CEO of the Episcopal Health Foundation and a nonresident health policy fellow at the Baker Institute, are quoted.
San Antonio Express-News
http://bit.ly/1HkBOyP

Bellaire/Rice/Med Center: Go ape over cool culture, shopping and green space galore
James Turrell’s “Twilight Epiphany” Skyspace on the Rice campus is featured as a top Houston destination.
Houston Chronicle’s “Explore” guide
http://bit.ly/1BPp4ju

Drive underway to delete Dixie from Houston ISD
Mark Jones, the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies, professor and chair of political science and fellow in political science at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, discusses the confederate flag controversy.
KRIV-TV
http://bit.ly/1eLShle
http://bit.ly/1TPdGtA

LETTER: Racism or ‘racialization’?
A book by Michael Emerson, the Allyn and Gladys Cline Professor of Sociology, is referenced.
San Angelo Standard-Times
http://bit.ly/1Kfkwpb

Austin Chamber Music Fest’s free concerts
An article mentions the Cordova Quartet began at Rice.
Austin 360
http://atxne.ws/1e68nFm

JHV wins statewide journalism awards
Houston Press Club’s annual Lone Star Award dinner was held at Rice Memorial Center.
Jewish Herald Voice
http://bit.ly/1FDphBg

Summer intern program rocks
Thanks to the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health, Easter Seals Greater Houston Transition Services and Jewish Family Service, young adults who have autism and co-occurring mental illness are receiving invaluable work experience this summer. The article mentions that two Rice students are serving as mentors.
Jewish Herald Voice
http://bit.ly/1eJUAoM

Frisco school board welcomes new member Chad Rudy as he, Classe, Hoxie take oaths of office
Chad Rudy ’01 was elected May 9 to the Frisco Independent School District Board of Trustees.
Frisco Enterprise
http://bit.ly/1dkTs9E

BROADCAST

‘Great Day Houston’
Houston Mayor Annise Parker ’78 is interviewed.
KHOU-TV
http://bit.ly/1NiMK0b

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Group calls for more transparency in science research, announces guidelines
An international group of academic leaders, journal editors and funding-agency representatives and disciplinary leaders, including Rick Wilson, the Herbert S. Autrey Chair of Political Science and professor of statistics and psychology, has announced guidelines to further strengthen transparency and reproducibility practices in science research reporting.
Phys.org (This article also appeared on Science Codex, (e) Science News and World Pharma News.)
http://bit.ly/1IgjHuE
New transparency and reproducibility initiative for science
Watts Up With That
http://bit.ly/1BPCFY0

Researchers stretch a thin crystal to get better solar cells
To make semiconductors useful, engineers must tweak their crystalline lattice in subtle ways to start and stop the flow of electrons. Rice research is mentioned.
Phys.org
http://bit.ly/1CwNclR
Thin crystal stretched to get better solar cells
ECN Magazine (This article also appeared in Product, Design and Development.)
http://bit.ly/1IgnuIu

Hyperbaric oxygen shows promise in fibromyalgia
A proof-of-concept trial led by researchers at Rice University and institutes in Israel finds hyperbaric oxygen therapy can help patients with fibromyalgia.
6minutes.com
http://bit.ly/1LtR2TT

American Water names Greg Panagos VP of investor relations
American Water Works Company Inc., a water and wastewater utility company, has named alumnus Greg Panagos ’85 its new vice president of investor relations.
Positions & Promotions
http://bit.ly/1NkGaH3
American Water names VPs of investor relations, business development, strategy
Water World
http://bit.ly/1QTlJqm

Emergency floor: Help refugees worldwide ‘get off the ground’
The Emergency Floor project initiated by Rice School of Architecture students through the Rice Building Workshop has been flagged for funding by the federal government’s USAID program. Alumnus Scott Austin Key ’13 and alumnus Sam Brisendine ’14 are mentioned.
ArchDaily.com
http://bit.ly/1NfOur7

New ways to flight the flu
Researchers are trying to gauge how flu evolves, searching for vulnerabilities common to all types of flu and looking for ways to stop new flu strains. Jeffrey Noel, the Robert A. Welch Postdoctoral Fellow in Physics and Astronomy, is quoted.
Student Science
http://bit.ly/1KfxkKM

Thailand’s PTT names subsidiary head Tevin as new CEO
Tevin Vongvanich ’82 has been named chief executive officer of PTT, Thailand’s biggest energy firm.
RigZone
http://bit.ly/1GNwym2
Background in energy, chemicals
Bangkok Post
http://bit.ly/1SPVI8Z

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

NAU getting new provost
James Coleman, former vice provost for research at Rice, was selected as the new provost at Northern Arizona University.
Flagstaff Business News
http://bit.ly/1GuHvqe

Charles Walter named Mayborn Museum director
“CSI: The Experience,” developed and administered by Rice’s Center for Technology in Teaching and Learning, is mentioned.
Baylor.edu
http://bit.ly/1Hjwhsn
Baylor names new director of Mayborn Museum
Waco Tribune
http://bit.ly/1LtQZrh

TWU lists spring graduates
Texas Woman’s University (TWU) held spring commencement ceremonies May 8-9 in Pioneer Hall on TWU’s Denton campus and May 10 in the Tudor Fieldhouse at Rice University in Houston.
Bay Area Citizen
http://bit.ly/1HjE2hW

Blinn College artists in residence advance music education and appreciation
The Marian Anderson String Quartet is profiled. Alumni Marianne Henry ’01 and Diedra Lawrence ’02 are mentioned.
KWHI-AM
http://bit.ly/1Ly3iUl
Artists in residence advance musical education, appreciation at Blinn College
KBTX.com (This story also appeared on KAGS.com.)
http://bit.ly/1LzwBpE

It sounds like a melody
Timothy Morton, a philosopher and the Rita Shea Guffey Chair in English, is mentioned.
The Baffler
http://bit.ly/1KdJ4xw

Thomas Jefferson High valedictorian wins full Rice scholarship
Tram Nguyen, one of three top graduates at the Gretna academy, has received a full, four-year Rice scholarship.
The Times-Picayune
http://bit.ly/1IhERZF

Obama hosts Iftar dinner to mark Ramadan
At an Iftar dinner hosted by President Barack Obama, the president mentioned several people he considers model Muslim Americans, including Batoul Abuharb ’12.
The Arab American News
http://bit.ly/1LzwJ8G

SPORTS

The NFL is at it, again!
An article mentions Will Rice College junior David Wilganowski.
Huffington Post
http://huff.to/1JnBqSy

Dustin Pedroia to DL; Red Sox bring up Jackie Bradley Jr., Deven Marrero
Alumnus Brock Holt ’12 and head baseball coach Wayne Graham are mentioned.
Boston Herald
http://bit.ly/1CwBUxQ

Take your dog to the ballgame
The Houston Bulls baseball team will play at Rice’s Reckling Park.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1GL6Nma

Brooks: Opportunistic Kizirian finds himself, dream job
Former Rice tennis player Blair Fraser is mentioned.
CUBuffs.com
http://bit.ly/1GKTySp

#OurAthletes: Meet Nicole Sifuentes
An article mentions that the author’s aunt attended Rice.
CBC News
http://bit.ly/1Ly2C1u

Texas in December: Men’s hoops to face SMU
A former Rice basketball player is mentioned.
UNHWildcats.com
http://bit.ly/1FDpF2s

NEWS RELEASES

Rice health care experts available to discuss US Supreme Court ruling on ‘Obamacare’
Rice University health care experts Marah Short and Elena Marks are available to discuss the much-anticipated U.S. Supreme Court ruling on President Barack Obama’s health care law (King vs. Burwell).
https://news2.rice.edu/?p=77890

Group calls for more transparency in science research, announces guidelines
An international group of academic leaders, journal editors and funding-agency representatives and disciplinary leaders, including Rick Wilson, the Herbert S. Autrey Chair of Political Science and professor of statistics and psychology at Rice University, has announced guidelines to further strengthen transparency and reproducibility practices in science research reporting.
https://news2.rice.edu/?p=77863

Rice U. expert available to discuss US Supreme Court ruling on legality of same-sex marriage
In the next few days, the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to release its much-anticipated decision on the legality of same-sex marriage. Brian Riedel, assistant director of Rice University’s Center for the Study of Women, Gender and Sexuality, is available to discuss this timely issue.
https://news2.rice.edu/?p=77856