News Releases

What’s up with oil? Impact on consumers, policy focus of upcoming Baker Institute event

Oil industry experts will discuss market response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, investor reluctance to fund shale operations and OPEC’s production decisions during a June 22 event at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. 

Rice lab’s quantum simulator delivers new insight

A Rice University quantum simulator is giving physicists a clear look at spin-charge separation, a bizarre phenomenon in which two parts of indivisible particles called electrons travel at different speeds in extremely cold 1D wires. The research is published this week in Science and has implications for quantum computing and electronics with atom-scale wires.

Dittmar named new Rice University provost

Amy Dittmar, a distinguished scholar with an extensive background in economics, finance and university administration, has been named the new provost of Rice University.

Humans in the loop help robots find their way

Rice computer scientists develop a method that allows humans to help complex robots build efficient solutions to “see” their environments and carry out tasks.

Leadership expert Stefanie Johnson named director of Doerr Institute

Stefanie Johnson, acclaimed leadership author, professor and keynote speaker, has been named the new director of the Doerr Institute for New Leaders at Rice University. She will take over for outgoing director Tom Kolditz July 1.

Stressful events can take big toll on those struggling most with death of spouse

Widowed individuals experiencing intense grief after the loss of their spouse experience a significant increase in body inflammation following other stressful events, according to new research from Rice University.  

Schooling status during pandemic predicted parents’ resilience

A new study suggests parents accustomed to home schooling felt more resilient during the COVID-19 pandemic than those whose public-school children were suddenly housebound, especially when the latter parents did not meet recommendations for physical activity.

Immigration, diplomacy with Mexico focus of Baker Institute event

The president of El Colegio de México will speak on challenges testing the United States-Mexico relationship at a June 15 Baker Institute for Public Policy event.

New members elected to Baker Institute Board of Advisors

The Baker Institute Board of Advisors added five new members in April, with expertise ranging from business and health to energy, finance and software. The new members are Greg Armstrong, Paul Hobby, Rob Kaplan, Arshad Matin and Wade Rakes.

Bumps could smooth quantum investigations

Rice University materials theorists model a contoured surface overlaid with 2D materials and find it possible to control their electronic and magnetic properties. The discovery could simplify research into many-body effects, including quantum systems.

Grain boundaries go with the flow

Rice engineers mimic atom-scale grain boundaries with magnetic particles to see how shear stress influences their movement.

Bacteria-killing drills get an upgrade

Rice scientists have created light-activated molecular drills that can kill antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Rice U. research: Disbanding police departments doesn’t affect crime levels

Disbanding city police departments and shifting law enforcement responsibilities to county governments appears to have no affect on overall crime rates and leads to fewer police-related deaths, according to new Rice University research. But the same study indicates those communities may be less likely to report their crime statistics to the FBI.

Gun violence prevention, policies to be examined in Baker Institute health and biosciences event

Preventing firearm-related injury and death will be the topic of a June 21 event from Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.

Leading US diplomat David Satterfield named director of Rice’s Baker Institute

Ambassador David M. Satterfield, who has over four decades of diplomatic service and policy and management leadership experience in the United States and overseas in the Near East and Europe, has been named the new director of Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.