Dateline Rice for Oct. 31, 2016 (Weekend Edition)

FEATURED ITEMS

Beyond silicon: Squeezing more out of chips
Computer scientists from Rice, Argonne National Laboratory and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have used one of Isaac Newton’s numerical methods to demonstrate how “inexact computing” can dramatically improve the quality of simulations run on supercomputers. Krishna Palem, the Ken and Audrey Kennedy Professor of Computer Science and Electrical and Computer Engineering, professor of statistics and RUCCAM director, is quoted.
The New York Times
http://nyti.ms/2f0W3dQ

Five Rice University faculty members were featured in full-page profiles in the Houston Chronicle’s “Houston: A City of Possibilities” special section in the Oct. 30 print edition: Anthony Pinn, the Agnes Cullen Arnold Professor of Humanities and professor of religion and fellow at Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research; James Tour, the T.T. and W.F. Chao Professor of Chemistry, professor of computer science and of materials science and nanoengineering; Edward Knightly, department chair and professor of electrical and computer engineering and professor computer science; Rebecca Richards-Kortum, the Malcolm Gillis University Professor, professor of bioengineering and of electrical and computer engineering and director of Rice 360° Institute for Global Health; and Ruth López Turley, associate professor of sociology and director of the Houston Education Research Consortium. Other Rice faculty, alumni and staff were quoted in this special section and are listed in the Houston/Texas section of this issue of Dateline Rice.
Pinn: Religious ‘free-thinkers’ as old as the country, but becoming the new norm
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/2eV01kI
Tour: ‘Nanotechnology’ could revolutionize construction, medicine, electronics
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/2fiPHaj
Knightly: Expanding Wi-Fi beyond our current bandwidth
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/2eTWHHA
Richards-Kortum: Expanding access to health technology can save lives
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/2eTZGzX
Turley: Educator-researcher partnerships show promise in HISD
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/2dLvfOV

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Presidential race in Texas tightens as voter registration total surges
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 about the 2016 election.
The Wall Street Journal
http://on.wsj.com/2erpcvy
County to add staff, equipment to reduce early voting lines
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/2e4mv55
Riding the wave in 2016
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required. This also appeared in the San Antonio Express-News.)
http://bit.ly/2eMjYgA
The economics of Donald Trump
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/2f5d0Se
Why Donald Trump’s fundraising efforts fell short in Texas
Austin American-Statesman
http://atxne.ws/2eTZfFv
http://atxne.ws/2e5NYQB
Why is voter turnout so low in Texas?
Texas Standard (This also aired on 24 other stations and appeared online in KUT, Texas Public Radio and Marfa Public Radio.)
http://bit.ly/2f1qMYn
Dem has edge in close Texas congressional race
El Paso Times
http://bit.ly/2fx4qPc
The Trump effect on the SBOE
Off the Kuff
http://bit.ly/2e5J9XB
It’s pathetic that Texas has 1 competitive congressional race
Dallas Morning News
http://bit.ly/2eMTjR6
Houston reacts to FBI reopening the Clinton e-mail investigation
KRIV
http://bit.ly/2f5LLXM
KPRC
http://bit.ly/2erMu4l

Experts say an Election Day cyberattack is inevitable (and not a big deal)
Dan Wallach, professor of computer science and of electrical and computer engineering, discusses election security.
Mashable
http://on.mash.to/2eMmtQ6
Why you should assume your email will get hacked or leaked eventually
Vox
http://bit.ly/2eeMQxA
Officials deny voting machine problems shared on social media
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/2eJrSYM
Rumors of rigged election spread as early voting continues
Houston Chronicle (This also appeared in Beaumont Enterprise.)
http://bit.ly/2f5fEr8
Election Day cyberattack: It’s coming, but probably won’t matter
AOL News
http://aol.it/2eUp08q

Most scientists don’t like Richard Dawkins, finds study that wasn’t anything to do with Richard Dawkins
Controversial British evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins is well-known for his criticism of religion, but a new Rice study of British scientists reveals that a majority who mentioned Dawkins’ work during research interviews reject his approach to public engagement and said his work misrepresents science and scientists because he conveys the wrong impression about what science can do and the norms that scientists observe in their work. Elaine Howard Ecklund, the Herbert S. Autrey Chair and Professor of Sociology and director of the Religion and Public Life Program, is quoted.
Independent
http://ind.pn/2fx2CFF
Most British scientists cited in study feel Richard Dawkins’ work misrepresents science
Phys Org
http://bit.ly/2dVd5KX

The new era of art: Contemporary architecture
Rice is mentioned.
The Huffington Post
http://huff.to/2f9zqQT

Ways and Means Chairman Brady: ‘I have the best job in hell’
An article mentions that Rep. Kevin Brady spoke at Rice.
The Wall Street Journal
http://on.wsj.com/2f9yrjM

Analyst talks on prospects for Israeli gas export to Europe
Jim Krane, the Wallace S. Wilson Fellow for Energy Studies at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, discusses prospects of Israeli gas. Krane also spoke at Louisiana State University’s Energy Summit Oct. 26.
Trend (This also appeared in OANA.)
http://bit.ly/2f5rjGc
Researcher: New challenges ahead for energy industry
St. Mary Now
http://bit.ly/2f9CigQ

Genetic architects untwist DNA’s turns with CRISPR
Erez Lieberman Aiden, adjunct assistant professor in computational and applied mathematics and in computer science, is quoted in an article about the powerful new gene-editing tool known as CRISPR.
Wired
http://bit.ly/2e5LHFm

‘Life’ trailer: Watch Ryan Reynolds and Jake Gyllenhaal fight for their lives in outer space
President John F. Kennedy’s famous “Moon Speech” delivered at Rice Sept. 12, 1962, is discussed.
E! News
http://eonli.ne/2f0TA34
The ‘Life’ movie trailer delivers stylish space terror
Coming Soon
http://bit.ly/2fn3j5x
Jake Gyllenhaal and Ryan Reynolds are on a terrifying Mars mission in 1st ‘Life’ trailer
Entertainment Weekly
http://bit.ly/2f0Sx3s

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Below are additional articles from the Houston Chronicle’s special section “Houston: A City of Possibilities” in the Oct. 30 print edition:

Innovation, challenge ahead for medicine
Vivian Ho, the James A. Baker III Institute Chair in Health Economics at the Baker Institute and professor of economics, is quoted in an article about innovation and challenges that lie ahead for medicine.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/2dLwqOy

5 people who could shape Houston’s future
Christof Spieler ’97, senior lecturer of architecture, is featured as one of the Chronicle’s “people who could shape Houston’s future.”
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/2dOFmxK

How technology is changing everything
Christof Spieler ’97, senior lecturer of architecture, and alumnus Tory Gattis ’91 are quoted in an article about advances in technology.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/2eenptz

Houston in 50 years: More hot days, more hurricanes, higher sea level
Jim Blackburn, professor in the practice of environmental law and co-director of the Severe Storm Prediction, Education and Evacuation from Disasters Center, is quoted about Houston’s climate.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/2ePORPA

Will lasers drill oil wells in 2050? Will there even be wells?
Jim Krane, the Wallace S. Wilson Fellow for Energy Studies at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, and Dominic Boyer, professor of anthropology, are quoted in an article about oil and gas drilling.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/2eJeNvC

By 2050, Houston to be 60 percent Hispanic, 15 percent white, 15 black, 10 percent Asian
Stephen Klineberg, founding director of Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research and a professor of sociology, and Steve Murdock, the Allyn and Gladys Cline Professor of Sociology and director of Rice’s Hobby Center for the Study of Texas, are quoted in an article about Houston’s demographics.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/2eySZW0

Houston development to grow in many directions
Kyle Shelton, postdoctoral research fellow at Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, is quoted about Houston roadways.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/2dODXHq
Robots are changing everything. Including Houston.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/2ePH2K2

In 25 to 50 years, a softer, cleaner, more equitable Houston?
Allyn West, assistant director of communications for the Rice Design Alliance, is quoted in an article about development in Houston.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/2eJgVDA

NASA could shift focus to truly difficult challenges
Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy hosted a “Lost in Space 2016” panel Oct. 3.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/2ePI48z
Mars: How will humans get there?
Voice of America
http://bit.ly/2f5pOrD

Eckels: Houston to remain a ‘beacon of opportunity’
Rice is mentioned.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/2eyWagl

Early voting numbers surge in Harris County
Stephen Klineberg, founding director of Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research and a professor of sociology, and 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, are quoted about early voting in Harris County.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required. This article appeared on the front page of the Oct. 29 print edition with a different headline, “Voter surge on track for record.”)
http://bit.ly/2f4q2Q6

Rice University evolutionary biologist offers glimpse at future humanity in new book
Scott Solomon, professor in the practice of ecology and evolutionary biology, discusses his new book, “Future Humans.”
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/2efINOV

Thumbs up, down
The Houston Chronicle editorial board jokingly suggests that the South Texas College of Law be sold to Rice University and renamed the David Leebron School of Law.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/2f9s2VF
Texas college weekly roundup: Rice chief gets coveted post, A&M does D.C.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/2dV4WGq

Business calendar
The Rice Energy Finance Summit will be held at Rice Nov. 4.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/2f4A7Ng
http://bit.ly/2e5d5De

Editorial: Voting glitches aren’t the same as voter fraud
An unnamed Rice professor is mentioned.
Houston Chronicle (This also appeared in Beaumont Enterprise.)
http://bit.ly/2f4DKmi

Austin City Council election district 10: Meet Rob Walker
Alumnus Rob Walker ’69 is featured.
KVUE
http://bit.ly/2f0NOhU

Rather Prize seeks to improve Texas education through input
An article discusses the Rather Prize, which is being offered in partnership with Rice’s Center for Civic Leadership.
Tyler Morning Paragraph
http://bit.ly/2e5q1ZM

UTRGV professor a trailblazer in STEM
Alumna Karen Lozano ’96 is featured.
The Monitor
http://bit.ly/2fnbNcG

Black voters critique presidential, county candidates
A poll conducted by Rice and the University of Houston is mentioned.
Beaumont Enterprise
http://bit.ly/2eUdk5N

Talking politics with Barbara Bush, ‘amazing mom’ banquet honoree
An article mentions that Bob Sanborn, president and CEO of Children at Risk, has worked at Rice.
KRIV (This also appeared in Houston News Info.)
http://bit.ly/2ef7xcM
http://bit.ly/2f5e9K3

Justice, place 9, Texas Supreme Court
Alumna Savannah Robinson ’79 is featured.
Victoria Advocate
http://bit.ly/2dVqX7T

Rice among top schools in new statewide, national, global rankings
Rice is No. 61 on U.S. News and World Report’s list of best global universities.
Houston Business Journal (This article appeared in the Oct. 31 issue of TMC Today.)
http://bit.ly/2fn1vIy
KFDM
http://bit.ly/2eMKMgK (Similar broadcasts aired on KSAN and KWTX.)

It’s official: Emojis are ‘Art’
James Turrell’s “Twilight Epiphany” Skyspace on the Suzanne Deal Booth Centennial Pavilion on the Rice campus is mentioned.
Houstonia
http://bit.ly/2fnwSnn

BROADCAST

WCNC
A broadcast mentions that the Young Conservatives of Texas held a bake sale at Rice in 2006.
http://bit.ly/2fx4MW7

KEX
The Rice Design Alliance is mentioned.
http://bit.ly/2e5CPiX (This also aired on KTRH.)

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

People can tell if they are voting on a secure system
“Rigged” election rhetoric in the headlines aims to cast doubt about the security of the American voting system; however, people have a sense of whether a voting system is secure, according to new research from Rice. Postdoctoral fellow Claudia Ziegler Acemyan is quoted.
Science Daily
http://bit.ly/2f0QWuh

BrainCheck raises $3M for neurocognitive disorders tracking app
Former Provost George McLendon is mentioned.
HIT Consultant
http://bit.ly/2f4LcO0

Scientists develop computational tool to aid synthetic, systems biologists 
Protein pairs that control stimulus response in bacteria maintain a sensitive balance between interaction specificity and promiscuity, according to Rice University scientists. Jose Onuchic, the Harry C. and Olga K. Wiess Professor of Physics and Astronomy, postdoctoral researcher Ryan Cheng and alumnus Faruck Morcos are mentioned.
Phys Org
http://bit.ly/2f0XGbw

Weekend tech reading: MacBook trade-ins get up to $650 off Surface, Mozilla intros Firefox Quantum
Rice is mentioned.
Tech Spot
http://bit.ly/2f9IaGY

Hybrid nanostructures hold hydrogen well
Layers of graphene separated by nanotube pillars of boron nitride may be a suitable material to store hydrogen fuel in cars, according to Rice scientists. Rouzbeh Shahsavari, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, is quoted.
Energy Daily
http://bit.ly/2f1q3GJ

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

For New York City rats, getting here is easy, surviving is tough
Michael Kohn, associate professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, is quoted about brown rats.
6sqft
http://bit.ly/2e5jA99

Automatic driver now possible with this innovative self-driving truck but may result in millions losing their jobs
Moshe Vardi, director of Rice’s Ken Kennedy Institute for Information Technology, the Karen Ostrum George Distinguished Service Professor of Computational Engineering and professor of computer science, expects that within 30 years machines will be capable of doing almost any job that a human can.
News Everyday
http://bit.ly/2eeQHKO

‘Parting the Veil’ theme of Taos concert
An article mentions that Laurie Carney taught at Rice.
The Taos News
http://bit.ly/2eU1tVj

Winners of Philadelphia classical music competition perform at the Kimmel
An article mentions that the Rolston String Quartet is the ensemble in residence at Rice’s Shepherd School of Music.
News Works
http://bit.ly/2fn3n5e
WHYY
http://bit.ly/2erMu4l

Senior advisers join AlixPartners and The Brattle Group in the US
Alumnus David Hindman ’98 is mentioned.
Consultancy (This also appeared in Houston News Info.)
http://bit.ly/2e5oDq2

6 overlooked restaurants to digest pro chef practices near Deer Park, Texas
Rice is mentioned.
The Exception
http://bit.ly/2eU5GIE

Pedals to the mettle
Alumna Monica Czausz ’16 is mentioned.
Theater Jones
http://bit.ly/2e5iB8I

Go East
Shih-Hui Chen, professor and chair of composition and theory, is mentioned.
Theater Jones
http://bit.ly/2f0TpFi

SPORTS

Rice tries to keep momentum going at Louisiana Tech
Rice football fell to Louisiana Tech University 16-61.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required. Similar stories appeared in 13 other articles.)
http://bit.ly/2dV21NO

Gameday Central: High school football, week 10
The Kinkaid School played St. John’s School Oct. 28 at Rice Stadium.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required. Similar stories appeared in six other articles.)
http://bit.ly/2e54DDX
http://bit.ly/2f5gpjK

3 Houston men prepare to row the Atlantic
An article mentions that David Alviar and Mike Matson ’12 coached Rice’s rowing team.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/2f9rShi

Volleyball: Oak Ridge pursues 1st state championship, perfect season
Rice pledges and commits are mentioned.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/2fwBfff
Hines carries on Memorial’s running back tradition
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/2eMk5J4
Plano East versus Hebron highlights the handful of 5A and 6A playoff that are already set; see the full list
Dallas Morning News
http://bit.ly/2e5t6cr
Score predictor: What happens when No. 4 Allen (Texas) faces Plano East (Texas)?
USA Today
http://bit.ly/2eMFj9G

Sports can help, but equality comes with systemic change
Former Rice football player David Grenardo authored an op-ed about sports and racial equality.
Houston Chronicle (This also appeared in My San Antonio and San Antonio Express-News.)
http://bit.ly/2eMojQZ

Rice Owls win on the road against Mean Green
Rice swimming is mentioned. Head coach Seth Huston and swimmers Hanna Huston, Sarah Nowaski, Anniina Ala-Seppala, Marie-Claire Schillinger, Kiley Beall, Jaecey Parham, Rylee Linhardt, Sydney Franzen, Shelbi Ragsdale, Harper Gillentine, Lauren Rhodes and Alicia Caldwell are mentioned.
Swim Swam
http://bit.ly/2errM4u

North Texas volleyball struggles to find offense in loss to Rice
Rice volleyball defeated the University of North Texas 3-1.
North Texas Daily
http://bit.ly/2dV7tAs

Voss paces Roadrunners at Saturday’s C-USA Championship
Duncan College senior Cali Roper is mentioned.
UTSA Athletics
http://bit.ly/2fnfJdp

FBS college football HERO of the week (9)
Wiess senior Tyler Stehling is mentioned.
Hero Sports
http://bit.ly/2fwZlqc

Stars select 4 players in 2016 NBA D-league draft
Alumnus Jarelle Reischel ’15 is mentioned.
Salt Lake City Stars
http://on.nba.com/2f1eKyn

KDRV
Former Rice football players Luke Willson, Ryan Pollard and Billy Howton are mentioned.
http://bit.ly/2f1gCH7 (Similar broadcasts aired on KOIN, KING and KLSR.)
WWZN
http://bit.ly/2f5bGz1
2016 Hall of Fame inductees: Tony Anderson and Ryan Pollard
Great American Rivalry
http://bit.ly/2f9XvqG

Arte Culver named head men’s basketball coach at Covenant
Alumnus Arte Culver ’06 is mentioned.
D3 Hoops
http://bit.ly/2aewQdh

NEWS RELEASES

Public school performance significantly impacts housing value in Houston super neighborhoods
A new report from Rice University’s Shell Center for Sustainability evaluates a missing component of the current affordability equation in Houston — high school performance and its impact on housing prices and subsequent location decisions. According to the report, for every one percentage point increase in high school graduation rates, housing value is predicted to increase by $7,945.
http://bit.ly/2e5U2sg

Model expands landscape for signaling protein mutations
Protein pairs that control stimulus response in bacteria maintain a sensitive balance between interaction specificity and promiscuity, according to Rice University scientists.
http://bit.ly/2fa4Ial

Most British scientists cited in study feel Richard Dawkins’ work misrepresents science
Controversial British evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins is well-known for his criticism of religion, but a new Rice University study of British scientists reveals that a majority who mentioned Dawkins’ work during research interviews reject his approach to public engagement and said his work misrepresents science and scientists because he conveys the wrong impression about what science can do and the norms that scientists observe in their work.
http://bit.ly/2f1pix8

Media Advisory: Rice to ‘Shut Out Trafficking’
Starting Monday, Rice students will participate in a weeklong effort to help end human trafficking and forced labor, an issue that affects an estimated 21 million people globally.
http://bit.ly/2f5P5SI