Dateline Rice for Feb. 15, 2023

FEATURED ITEMS

After early exit from Prairie View A&M, Ruth J. Simmons named presidential fellow at Rice UniversityNumerous articles report that Trustee Emerita Ruth Simmons, president of Prairie View A&M University, has been named a President’s Distinguished Fellow at Rice effective April 1. She will work with a variety of programs across campus, including the Center for African and African American Studies. President Reginald DesRoches is quoted.Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required.)http://dateline.rice/feb-15-simmons-desrochesPrairie View A&M University President Ruth Simmons takes new role with Rice UniversityHouston Business Journalhttp://dateline.rice/feb-15-simmons-desrochesPrairie View A&M University President Dr. Ruth Simmons joining Rice UniversityABC 13http://dateline.rice/feb-15-simmons-desrochesRuth Simmons to join Rice University after resigning as PVAMU presidentClick2Houston (This segment also aired on KPRC-TV in Houston.)http://dateline.rice/feb-15-simmons-desrochesPVAMU president leaves early, heads to RiceDefenderhttp://dateline.rice/feb-15-simmons‘KPRC Channel 2 News’KPRC-TV (Houston)http://dateline.rice/feb-15-simmons (This segment aired twice.)http://dateline.rice/feb-15-simmons-kprc2http://dateline.rice/feb-15-simmons-kprc3’13 Eyewitness News’KTRK-TV (Houston) http://dateline.rice/feb-15-simmons (This segment aired six times.)‘KHOU 11 News’KHOU-TV (Houston)http://dateline.rice/feb-15-simmons‘Fox 26 News: Isiah Factor Uncensored’KRIV-TV (Houston)http://dateline.rice/feb-15-simmons‘Wake Up! with SallyMac & Lina’KRIV-TV (Houston)http://dateline.rice/feb-15-simmons‘CW 39’KIAH-TV (Houston)http://dateline.rice/feb-15-simmons (This segment aired five times.)

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

For US in Venezuela, miscalculations and shifting prioritiesMark Jones, the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies, professor of political science and fellow in political science at the Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.France 24 (This Agence France-Press article also appeared in more than 10 other media outlets.)http://dateline.rice/feb-15-jonesMany anti-voucher lawmakers sit on House public education committeeSpectrum News (This segment also aired eight times on Spectrum TV in Austin.)http://dateline.rice/feb-15-jonesMajority of Texans back shift to solar energyUniversity of Houston News (This article also appeared in Mirage.)http://dateline.rice/feb-15-jones

STEM teacher training is a big win for Black girlsAn article features collaborative Rice research that found middle and high school students, especially Black girls, benefit when STEM teachers pursue continuing professional development. Co-author Carolyn Nichol, associate research professor of chemistry and director of Rice’s Office of STEM Engagement, is quoted.Futurityhttp://dateline.rice/feb-15-nichol

Team sees light make atoms ‘dance’ in perovskitesAn article features Rice research into the first direct measurement of structural dynamics under light-induced excitation in 2D perovskites. Co-authors quoted or mentioned include Aditya Mohite, associate professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, Jean-Christophe Blancon, senior scientist, and graduate students Hao Zhang and Wenbin Li.Futurityhttp://dateline.rice/feb-15-mohite-et-al

Living through lossA roundup features Rice research into coping with the loss of a spouse. “Futurity Today” newsletter for Feb. 15http://dateline.rice/feb-15-futurity.today

‘Quem mata bebê a tiros?’: O brutal assassinato de família que chocou a CalifórniaNathan Jones, nonresident scholar in drug policy and Mexico studies in the Center for the United States and Mexico at the Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted. BBC Brasil (An English translation is not available.)http://dateline.rice/feb-15-jones

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Nonprofit’s school scores one piece of puzzle, experts sayErin Baumgartner, director of the Houston Education Research Consortium at the Kinder Institute for Urban Research, is quoted.Austin American-Statesman http://dateline.rice/feb-15-baumgartner

Houston space company announces historic flight crewAn article features alumna and astronaut Peggy Whitson, who will lead Axiom Space’s second private mission to the International Space Station.InnovationMaphttp://dateline.rice/feb-15-whitson

Built to last: A look at how Texas Tech was designed for the futureAn article about the design of Texas Tech University’s campus mentions that it was influenced by the late architect Ralph Adams Cram, who designed Rice’s Lovett Hall, and the late William Ward Watkin, founding director of Rice’s architecture department.Lubbock Avalanche-Journalhttp://dateline.rice/feb-15-laj

The 15 best things to do in Houston this weekend: Feb. 17-19, 2023A roundup mentions that ROCO’s concert series will feature a performance of “Friends” at Rice’s Brockman Hall for Opera Feb. 18.365 Things To Do in Houstonhttp://dateline.rice/feb-15-365

Dallas delays vote on I-345 plansAn article cites employment research in the Dallas area by the Kinder Institute for Urban Research.Dallas Observer http://dateline.rice/feb-15-do

BROADCAST

A busy week in politics (Feb. 15, 2023)A “Houston Matters” segment features collaborative Rice research that suggests people are more likely to distrust the government when their family and friends are victims. Co-author and graduate student Alexander Priest is interviewed. The study used Hurricane Harvey data from the Kinder Institute for Urban Research.Houston Public Media (This segment also aired on KUHF-FM in Houston.)http://dateline.rice/feb-15-priest

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Rice scientists reengineer cancer drugs to be more versatileAn article features collaborative Rice research reengineering small molecules widely used in cancer therapy systems to control gene expression in mammalian cells, a feat that could change how diseases are treated. Xue Sherry Gao, the T.N. Law Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and an assistant professor of chemistry and bioengineeringNewswisehttp://dateline.rice/feb-15-gao

State treasurer challenges NC health system executive pay as medical costs riseVivian Ho, the James A. Baker III Institute Chair in Health Economics at the Baker Institute for Public Policy’s Center for Health and Biosciences, is quoted.MSN Money (This article originally appeared in The Charlotte Observer, and it appeared in The News & Observer.)http://dateline.rice/feb-15-ho Magnetars are extreme in every way, even their volcanoesAn article features Rice research into the rare slowdown of a highly magnetic type of neutron star known as a magnetar. Co-author Matthew Baring, professor of physics and astronomy, is quoted.Universe Todayhttp://dateline.rice/feb-15-baring

Automated feeding platform to study mosquito disease transmissionAn article features collaborative Rice research that developed a fake skin to study how mosquitoes feed. Co-authors Omid Veiseh, assistant professor of bioengineering, is quoted. A “Futurity Today” roundup and an article by WGNO also feature the research.Medgadgethttp://dateline.rice/feb-15-veisehTo spare research volunteers, robot gets mosquito bites“Futurity Today” newsletter for Feb. 14http://dateline.rice/feb-15-futurity.today‘Fake skin’ fools mosquitos for research at Tulane UniversityWGNO Online (This segment also aired three times on WGNO-TV in New Orleans.)http://dateline.rice/feb-15-wgno

Sherlock Breaux in the Creaux’s NestDouglas Brinkley, the Katherine Tsanoff Brown Professor in Humanities, is mentioned.The Recordhttp://dateline.rice/feb-15-brinkley

11 things you need to know for a successful aromantic relationship Elizabeth Brake, professor of philosophy, is quoted.Bonobologyhttp://dateline.rice/feb-15-brakeLet’s stop pressuring people to be in relationships this Valentine’s DayLGBQT Nationhttp://dateline.rice/feb-15-brake

The big open question for AI: How to tell the truth in a world of dataAn article featuring Swarat Chaudhuri mentions that he formerly taught at Rice.The Recursivehttp://dateline.rice/feb-15-tr

Gene editing could change future generations. Are we ready?An article about gene editing cites Rice research.HealthNews.comhttp://dateline.rice/feb-15-hn

CurePSP appoints Rich Spain as director of development and Jennifer Brummet as associate directorAn article featuring Rich Spain mentions that he formerly worked with Rice.CityBizhttp://dateline.rice/feb-15-cb

VC JKHEC shares road map for capacity-building of the faculty and making master’s programs socially relevantRice is mentioned.Jammu Linkshttp://dateline.rice/feb-15-jl

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

For proof of love, I look to bathroom graffitiRice is mentioned.Emory University’s The Emory Wheel (This article also appeared in the Feb. 14 print edition.)http://dateline.rice/feb-15-tew

20-year-old alumna from Paterson starts Ph.D. studies at PurdueAn article featuring Jehan Shalabi mentions that she presented her work at the Gulf Coast Undergraduate Research Symposium hosted by Rice. TAP into Wayne (New Jersey; this article also appeared in TAP into Passaic Valley, New Jersey.)http://dateline.rice/feb-15-tap

SPORTS

ITF: Feb. 14 Athletes of the WeekAn article features Rice track and field athletes Elena Siemens and Elian Ahmar, who have been named Conference USA’s Female and Male Field Athletes of the Week, respectively.Conference USAhttp://dateline.rice/feb-15-siemens-ahmar

Santiago De La Fuente wins title at Border OlympicsAn article mentions that Rice’s golf team competed in the recent Border Olympics tournament in Laredo, Texas. Owl Raghav Chugh tied for third place.UHCougars.com (Similar articles also appeared in 10 other media outlets.)http://dateline.rice/feb-15-chugh

Rice hosts Medor and UTSAAn article mentions that Rice’s men’s basketball team is slated to play the University of Texas at San Antonio Feb. 16.Toronto Star (This Associated Press article also appeared in 50 other media outlets.)http://dateline.rice/feb-15-ts

Morehouse welcomes Gerard Wilcher as new coachAn article features former Rice assistant football coach Gerard Wilcher.D2Football.comhttp://dateline.rice/feb-15-d2football

Roughriders revamp roster on Day 1 of CFL free agencyFormer Rice football player Peter Godber is featured.CJME Online (This article also appeared in Our Sports Central, CKOM Online and CKRM Online.)http://dateline.rice/feb-15-godberCKRM-AM (Saskatchewan, Canada)http://dateline.rice/feb-15-godber

Bohls: Move over, SEC, and make room for the the Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma SoonersRice football is mentioned.Austin American-Statesmanhttp://dateline.rice/feb-15-statesmanTexas ranks No. 9 in preseason SP+ rankingsSB Nationhttp://dateline.rice/feb-15-sbnTale of the tape and prediction: Arkansas vs. Texas A&M247Sports.com (Subscription is required.)http://dateline.rice/feb-15-247

MBB preview: Arkansas at No. 25 Texas A&MAn article mentions Rice’s men’s basketball team.Arkansas Razorbacks (This article also appeared in Rivals.)http://dateline.rice/feb-15-ar

NEWS RELEASE

Rice Business ranks best in Texas according to Financial TimesRice’s Jones Graduate School of Business ranks 17th among U.S. business schools and 29th globally — up from 28th and 47th a year ago, respectively — and is No. 1 in Texas, according to 2023 rankings from the Financial Times. http://dateline.rice/feb-15-news-release-rodriguez