Dateline Rice for Feb. 25, 2021

dateline rice

WINTER STORM

Why Texas broke: The crisis that sank the state has no easy fix
Daniel Cohan, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, is quoted or interviewed.
Bloomberg (This article also appeared in more than 20 other media outlets.)
http://dateline.rice/feb-25-cohan


Watch Live: Texas House, Senate hold hearings to investigate last week’s crippling power outages
The Dallas Morning News (Subscription is required. This article also appeared on the front of the Metro & Business section in the Feb. 25 print edition.)
http://dateline.rice/feb-25-cohan


Past efforts to reform the Texas power grid stalled. Lawmakers say this year is different.
Austin American-Statesman
http://dateline.rice/feb-25-cohan


Winter storm power outages subject of Texas House hearing
Fox 7 Online (This segment also aired on KTBC-TV in Austin.)
http://dateline.rice/feb-25-cohan


Energy experts weigh in on what happened during last week's storms
KVUE Online (This segment also aired on KVUE-TV in Austin.)
http://dateline.rice/feb-25-cohan


ERCOT board meets to respond to Texas power crisis
Fox 7 Online
http://dateline.rice/feb-25-cohan


When chickens roost, no red herrings
Chatham News and Record
http://dateline.rice/feb-25-cohan


Financial market — How Texas’s deregulated market for power led to exorbitant electric bills
FinTech Zoom
http://dateline.rice/feb-25-cohan

Fox Nation host’s unsupported claim that helicopters sprayed oil on frozen Texas wind turbines

Jim Krane, the Wallace S. Wilson Fellow for Energy Studies at Rice's Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
PolitiFact
http://dateline.rice/feb-25-krane

A college admissions rat race
An article mentions that Rice administered 800 COVID-19 vaccines to on-campus students, faculty and staff when the Harris County Public Health Department building lost power. The article cites a Rice Thresher article authored by Brown College senior Rynd Morgan.
The New York Times (Subscription is required.)
http://dateline.rice/feb-25-morgan

COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Pandemic has hollowed out downtown Buffalo
An article quotes Bill Fulton, director of Rice's Kinder Institute for Urban Research.
Investigative Post
http://dateline.rice/feb-25-fulton

Announcing the Lancet Commission on Vaccine Refusal, Acceptance, and Demand in the USA
An article mentions that experts from Rice's Baker Institute for Public Policy contributed to the featured research.
The Lancet
http://dateline.rice/feb-25-bipp

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Why atypical CEOs have an edge
An article features collaborative Rice research that found that firms' distinctive strategies are systematically linked to their CEOs' uncommon names. Co-author Yan "Anthea" Zhang, the Fayez Sarofim Vanguard Professor of Strategy at Rice's Jones Graduate School of Business, is cited.
Forbes
http://dateline.rice/feb-25-zhang

She sued her enslaver for reparations and won. Her descendants never knew.
An article quotes Caleb McDaniel, associate professor of history, who won the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for History for his book "Sweet Taste of Liberty: A True Story of Slavery and Restitution."
The Washington Post (Subscription is required. This article appeared in more than 30 other media outlets and yesterday's Dateline.)
http://dateline.rice/feb-25-mcdaniel

Biden orders review of US supply chain weaknesses in key industries
An article cites a 2020 Rice study into the nation's overdependence on Chinese-supplied materials and medications.
VOA (This article also appeared in the Malaysia Sun.)
http://dateline.rice/feb-25-voa

HOUSTON/TEXAS

In Fort Worth, Democrats and Republicans eye seat left behind by US Rep. Ron Wright

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 in the Dallas Observer. Alumna Jana Lynn Sanchez, who is running to replace the late Ron Wright in Congress, is mentioned in a story by NBC DFW.
Dallas Observer
http://dateline.rice/feb-25-jones


Candidates kick off campaigns to fill US Rep. Ron Wright's House seat
NBC DFW Online
http://dateline.rice/feb-25-sanchez

Opinion: Why price gouging during disasters is illegal and unethical
Elizabeth Brake, professor of philosophy, authored an article.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required. This article also appeared in the Feb. 25 print edition.)
http://dateline.rice/feb-25-brake

These 3 Houston researchers are revolutionizing health science innovation
A roundup features Jeffrey Hartgerink, professor of chemistry and bioengineering, who is collaborating on a study to use hydrogels to treat oral cancers.
InnovationMap
http://dateline.rice/feb-25-hartgerink

Arts picks: Sin Muros theater fest, 'The Road So Far' are recommended
A roundup features the exhibit "Artists and the Rothko Chapel: 50 Years of Inspiration," which is on view at Rice's Moody Center for the Arts through May 15.
Houston Chronicle's "Preview" (Subscription is required.)
http://dateline.rice/feb-25-hc

Italian 3D printing firm establishes US headquarters in Houston
Rice is mentioned.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required. This article appeared on the front of the Business section in the Feb. 25 print edition.)
http://dateline.rice/feb-25-hc

Olney High School: Kiara Allen
An article featuring Kiara Allen mentions that she plans to study kinesiology at Rice next fall.
Olney Enterprise
http://dateline.rice/feb-25-allen

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

How policymakers could address the food-insecurity epidemic
An article cites a collaborative study by Alexander Butler, professor of finance at Rice's Jones Graduate School of Business, that considered the effects of financial distress on food-consumption choices.
Chicago Booth Review
http://dateline.rice/feb-25-butler

Ucross launches annual music fellowships with Rice University
An article mentions that Danielle Ward-Griffin, assistant professor of musicology at Rice's Shepherd School of Music, and graduate student Nicky Sohn have been selected for Ucross fellowships, which award two-week residencies at the foundation's 20,000-acre Wyoming ranch. Robert Yekovich, the Elma Schneider Professor of Music and dean of Rice's Shepherd School of Music, is quoted.
Broadway World
http://dateline.rice/feb-25-wardgriffin-sohn-yekovich

Houston Grand Opera presents 'Live from the Cullen with Jack Swanson'
Alumnus Jack Swanson is featured.
Broadway World
http://dateline.rice/feb-25-swanson

43 extraordinary undergraduates selected for the inaugural class of Patti Grace Smith Fellows
An article mentions that Wiess College junior Bria Romero has been awarded a Patti Grace Smith Fellowship, which aims to increase diversity in the U.S. aerospace industry.
SpaceRef
http://dateline.rice/feb-25-romero

Holding on to a cold plasma
An article mentions that graduate student Grant Gorman and colleagues have trapped ultracold neutral plasmas using magnetic fields.
APS Physics
http://dateline.rice/feb-25-gorman

Meet the MBA Class of 2022: Deepi Agarwal, UC Davis Graduate School of Management
Rice's Jones Graduate School of Business is mentioned.
Poets & Quants
http://dateline.rice/feb-25-jones-school

Utah FORGE selects 17 groups for up to $46M in DOE funding
An article mentions that a collaborative Rice team has been selected to study field-scale characterization of reservoir stimulation and evolution over time by the Utah Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy.
Think Geoenergy
http://dateline.rice/feb-25-tg

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

New master’s in data science emphasizes interdisciplinarity, residential and Coursera degrees
An article mentions that alumna Jane Wall has been appointed as the faculty director of the University of Colorado Boulder's master's degree in data science program.
CU Boulder Today
http://dateline.rice/feb-25-wall

SPORTS

SWIM: Feb. 10 Athletes of the Week
An article features Rice's Ellery Parish, who was named Conference USA's Swimmer of the Week.
Conference USA
http://dateline.rice/feb-25-parish

Herd heads west to take on Mean Green
An article mentions that Rice's women's basketball team defeated Marshall University 64-48 Feb. 20 but lost to the Thundering Herd 68-56 Feb. 21. Owls Nancy Mulkey, Lauren Schwartz and Sydne Wiggins are highlighted. The Eagle mentions that Mulkey is a semifinalist for the Naismith Women’s Defensive Player of the Year Award.
HerdZone.com
http://dateline.rice/feb-25-wbb


No. 3 Texas A&M women's basketball team knows importance of Alabama game
The Eagle
http://dateline.rice/feb-25-mulkey

SWIM: C-USA Championships begin Thursday
An article mentions that Rice's swim team is competing in the 2021 Conference USA Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships.
Conference USA
http://dateline.rice/feb-25-swim-champs

Houston set to meet WKU on Thursday in Fertitta Center
An article mentions that Rice's men's basketball team was defeated by Western Kentucky University Feb. 13.
UHCougars.com
http://dateline.rice/feb-25-uhc

Cougars prepared for Roadrunners
An article mentions that Rice's soccer team defeated the University of Texas at San Antonio earlier this season.
UHCougars.com
http://dateline.rice/feb-25-uhc

USM’s Stanley named C-USA 'Pitcher of the Week'
An article mentions a 2018 baseball game between Rice and the University of Southern Mississippi.
WDAM Online
http://dateline.rice/feb-25-wdam

Notre Dame’s top 2022 recruiting targets: Midwest battles and five-star swings
Rice is mentioned.
The Athletic (Subscription is required.)
http://dateline.rice/feb-25-ta

Arizona baseball to take on SE Louisiana, hoping to bounce back from season-opening split
An article mentions the baseball series between Rice and the University of Arizona in 2016.
SB Nation
http://dateline.rice/feb-25-sbn

Preview: Greg Collins discusses FIU matchup
An article mentions that Rice's women's basketball team defeated Western Kentucky University 64-55 Feb. 12 and 77-74 Feb. 13.
College Heights Herald
http://dateline.rice/feb-25-wbb

Western Kentucky vs. Houston: NCAA basketball picks and predictions

An article mentions that Rice's men's basketball team was defeated by Western Kentucky University 77-71 Feb. 12 and 89-66 Feb. 13.
Sportsbook Review
http://dateline.rice/feb-25-mbb


Tops have big opportunity at Houston
Bowling Green Daily News
http://dateline.rice/feb-25-mbb

Shockers lose first match of Texas trip
An article mentions that Rice's women's tennis team is slated to play Wichita State University Feb. 26.
GoShockers.com
http://dateline.rice/feb-25-gs

Texas Tech volleyball opens spring season at Houston
An article mentions that Rice's volleyball team defeated the University of Houston 3-2 Jan. 23 and lost to the Cougars 3-0 Jan. 24.
TexasTech.com
http://dateline.rice/feb-25-ttech

NEWS RELEASES

Theory could accelerate push for spintronic devices
A new theory by Rice scientists could boost the growing field of spintronics, devices that depend on the state of an electron as much as the brute electrical force required to push it. Materials theorist Boris Yakobson and graduate student Sunny Gupta describe the mechanism behind Rashba splitting, an effect seen in crystal compounds that can influence their electrons’ “up” or “down” spin states, analogous to “on” or “off” in common transistors.
http://dateline.rice/feb-25-news-release-yakobson

Chip simplifies COVID-19 testing, delivers results on a phone
COVID-19 can be diagnosed in 55 minutes or less with the help of programmed magnetic nanobeads and a diagnostic tool that plugs into an off-the-shelf cellphone, according to Rice University engineers. Mechanical engineer Peter Lillehoj has developed a stamp-sized microfluidic chip that measures the concentration of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein in blood serum from a standard finger prick.
http://dateline.rice/feb-25-news-release-lillehoj

Why hasn’t President Biden delivered his first joint session address? Rice expert available to discuss delay
New presidents normally address a joint session of Congress the month after their inauguration, but President Joe Biden’s speech is still on hold. Rice political scientist Paul Brace is available to discuss the circumstances surrounding the delayed address, which he expects to include details of Biden’s economic recovery plan.
http://dateline.rice/feb-25-news-release-brace

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