Amy McCaig

State of the Union address: Rice U. expert available to discuss what world can expect from Biden’s big speech

As President Joe Biden prepares for his first State of the Union address Tuesday, Rice University political scientist Paul Brace is available to discuss what to expect.

Atheists more likely to hide beliefs if they’re women, Republicans, Southerners or were previously religious

Atheists in the United States are more likely to conceal their beliefs if they’re women, Republicans, Southerners or if they’ve previously been religious, according to new research from Rice University and West Virginia University.

Houston’s low-income neighborhoods hit hardest when disaster strikes, Harris County, Kinder Institute study shows

Houston’s low-income neighborhoods bear the biggest burdens during catastrophic events — from damage to older homes during natural disasters such as Hurricane Harvey and last year’s winter storm to economic hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic — according to a Harris County Community Services Department analysis prepared by Rice University's Kinder Institute for Urban Research.

Ancient DNA reveals surprises about how early Africans lived, traveled and interacted

A new analysis of human remains that were buried in African archaeological sites has produced the earliest DNA from the continent, telling a fascinating tale of how early humans lived, traveled and even found their significant others.

Rice archaeologists’ new video series gives inside look at historic plantation site

A team of Rice University students, faculty and staff at the Varner-Hogg Plantation Historic Site are in the midst of project to study newly discovered and long forgotten artifacts of slavery.

New Rice book: Democracies have more consistent foreign policy than nondemocracies

Democracies have had more consistent foreign policy than nondemocracies over the past 100 years, according to a new book from Rice political scientist Ashley Leeds.

As time goes on, Americans are moving less often

Migration in the United States has been on a downward trend since the 1960s, according to new research from Rice University.

Rice Shepherd School alumna picks up first Oscar nomination

Germaine Franco is going for gold — a gold-plated Oscar, that is.

Rice student Jasmine Manansala to compete in 'Jeopardy!' National College Championship Feb. 8

Rice's Jasmine Manansala, a Brown College senior majoring in computer science and cognitive science, is a contestant in the "Jeopardy!" National College Championship that begins airing Feb. 8.

Rice student Jasmine Manansala to compete in 'Jeopardy!' National College Championship

Rice‘s Jasmine Manansala, a Brown College senior majoring in computer science and cognitive science, is a contestant in the “Jeopardy!” National College Championship that begins Feb. 8. Manansala was selected from tens of thousands of hopefuls after a rigorous application process.

Pastors serve as primary source of mental health care for Black, Latino congregants

A new study of Black and Latino Christians found they often turn to their pastors for mental health care or information on mental health resources, even when those clergy feel ill-equipped to offer help or advice.

Opera singer Jennifer Johnson Cano returns to Rice to share advice from her 'wild and wonderful' career

Mezzo-soprano Jennifer Johnson Cano ’08, fresh off her Houston Grand Opera debut as Mother Marie in Poulenc’s “Dialogues of the Carmelites,” found herself back on a familiar stage Jan. 21 to speak with some of the Shepherd School of Music's aspiring opera stars.

'Cultures of Energy' podcast returns on Groundhog Day

The "Cultures of Energy" podcast, hosted by Rice University anthropologists Dominic Boyer and Cymene Howe, returns Feb. 2 with the first of 10 new episodes after a more than two-year hiatus.

Deep dive into juvenile justice data shows opportunity for targeted, early intervention

A Rice University Texas Policy Lab (TPL) analysis of juvenile justice data reveals most youths in the Harris County juvenile justice system are "one and done" — that is, they only have one interaction with it.

James Pomerantz named AAAS fellow

James Pomerantz has been named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the world’s largest general scientific society and publisher of the journal Science.