Dateline Rice for May 26, 2021

FEATURED ITEMS

David Leebron, Rice's second-longest serving president, to step down
President David Leebron will step down in June 2022 after 18 years in the role.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required.)
http://dateline.rice/may-26-leebron

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Texas missing chance to avert deadly blackouts, experts say
Daniel Cohan, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering and a Rice faculty scholar at the Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
The Associated Press (This article also appeared in more than 100 other media outlets.)
http://dateline.rice/may-26-cohan
As Texas power grid reforms take shape, natural gas suppliers evade scrutiny
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required. This article appeared on the front page of the May 26 print editions of the Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News, and it appeared in yesterday's Dateline.)
http://dateline.rice/may-26-cohan
Legislative response to winter storm leaves some doubting
RTO Insider
http://dateline.rice/may-26-cohan

Oil producers face costly transition as world looks to net-zero future
An article cites the 2021 study "Winners and Losers in an Uneven Energy Transition" co-authored by Mark Finley, fellow in energy and global oil at the Baker Institute for Public Policy's Center for Energy Studies.
Financial Times (This article also appeared in 10 other media outlets.)
http://dateline.rice/may-26-finley

Limit on lab-grown human embryos dropped by stem-cell body
Aryeh Warmflash, assistant professor of biosciences and bioengineering, and Kirstin Matthews, fellow in science and technology policy at Rice's Baker Institute for Public Policy, are quoted.
Nature
http://dateline.rice/may-26-warmflash-matthews

How electric fish demand to be heard
Kory Evans, assistant professor of natural sciences, is quoted.
The Atlantic
http://dateline.rice/may-26-evans

Venezuela's Maduro receives harsh economic blow from an unlikely source: China
Francisco Monaldi, fellow in Latin American energy policy at the Center for Energy Studies, the Center for the United States and Mexico and the Latin America Initiative at the Baker Institute for Public Policy and a lecturer in energy economics at Rice, is quoted.
Miami Herald (This article also appeared in 10 other media outlets.)
http://dateline.rice/may-26-monaldi

The five biggest mistakes companies make with customer surveys
Utpal Dholakia, the George R. Brown Professor of Marketing at Rice's Jones Graduate School of Business, authored an article.
The Wall Street Journal
http://dateline.rice/may-26-dholakia

National Science Foundation (This article also appeared in Fior Reports.)
http://dateline.rice/may-26-tabor-brink

60th anniversary of JFK's 1961 speech to land Americans on the moon is in the spotlight as NASA gets set to return to the lunar surface in 2024
An article mentions President John F. Kennedy’s "moon speech," which was delivered at Rice Sept. 12, 1962.
Daily Mail (This article also appeared in MSN.)
http://dateline.rice/may-26-kennedy
60 years ago: President Kennedy proposes moon landing goal in speech to Congress

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Rice University crafts pivotal new flood tracking system for Houston's most vulnerable spots
An article and broadcast mention that Rice has collaborated on the development of a radar-based flood assessment and early warning system in Houston. Phil Bedient, director of Rice's Severe Storm Prediction, Education and Evacuation from Disasters Center (SSPEED), is quoted in the first item. A broadcast by Houston Public Media mentions that Jim Blackburn, Baker Institute Rice Faculty Scholar, a professor in the practice of environmental law and the co-director of SSPEED, will join the May 27 "Houston Matters" show to discuss this system.
CultureMap Houston
http://dateline.rice/may-26-bedient
Why Houston and Harris County missed out on the latest Harvey relief funds (May 26, 2021)
Houston Public Media (This segment also aired on KUHF-FM in Houston.)
http://dateline.rice/may-26-blackburn
KTRH-AM (Houston)
http://dateline.rice/may-26-flood-system (This segment aired four times.)

Moving up or pushing out? How one massive project could reshape a community
An article cites a 2020 report by the Kinder Institute for Urban Research on housing affordability in Houston.
Houstonia
http://dateline.rice/may-26-kinder-study

BROADCAST

Texas Standard for May 26, 2021
Mark Jones, the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies, professor of political science, fellow in political science at the Baker Institute for Public Policy and fellow at the Kinder Institute for Urban Research, is interviewed about potential police reform measures in Texas.
Texas Standard (This segment also aired on more than 20 stations across Texas.)
http://dateline.rice/may-26-jones
George Floyd Act mostly fails in Texas Legislature after being 'chopped up' into smaller bills
Texas Standard
http://dateline.rice/may-26-jones

'Mornings on 1'
A broadcast features former Rice roommates and alumni Barney Graham, deputy director of the Vaccine Research Center at the National Institutes of Health's Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and Bill Gruber, senior vice president of vaccine clinical research and development for Pfizer Inc.
NY1 (New York)
http://dateline.rice/may-26-graham-gruber (This segment aired four times.)

98-year-old WWII veteran shares his incredible story of survival and service
An article about the Lone Star Flight Museum's exhibit "Fight to the Finish" mentions that it includes a personal account and items from alumnus Edward Clarac '50, who flew more than 30 missions in WWII and was awarded the Purple Heart and the Distinguished Flying Cross for his service.
Click2Houston
http://dateline.rice/may-26-clarac

U of U engineering professor to work on jetlag-fighting medical implant
An article features collaborative Rice research to develop a wireless, fully implantable device that can control the body's circadian clock.
ABC 4 Online
http://dateline.rice/may-26-abc4

Flour Bluff ISD hosts first senior walk for graduates
An article featuring Ona Isiofia mentions that she plans to attend Rice next semester.
KRIS 6 News Online
http://dateline.rice/may-26-kris

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Impact of coal burning on Yangtze River is comparable to natural processes
An article mentions that postdoctoral research associate Hongrui Qiu collaborated on the featured research.
Caltech News (This article also appeared in AZo Cleantech.)
http://dateline.rice/may-26-qui

Electrospun bioscaffold helps to build strong muscles
An article features Rice research into the regeneration of injured skeletal muscle. Co-authors Antonios Mikos, the Louis Calder Professor of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and graduate student Mollie Smoak are quoted.
Materials Today
http://dateline.rice/may-26-mikos-smoak

New quantum material discovered
An article mentions that Qimiao Si, the Harry C. and Olga K. Wiess Professor of Physics and Astronomy, collaborated on the featured research.
ChemEurope.com (This article also appeared in Nanowerk.)
http://dateline.rice/may-26-si

Data assimilation method improves coastal storm surge modeling
An article mentions that experts from Rice are part of a team of researchers who created DesignSafe, a database for natural disaster information.
HPCWire
http://dateline.rice/may-26-hpcw

Graphene-enhanced concrete could save cash and planet
An article mentions that Rice scientists have optimized a process to convert waste from rubber tires into graphene that can, in turn, be used to strengthen concrete.
Engineering and Technology
http://dateline.rice/may-26-et

Temperature affects protein folding differently than previously thought
An article mentions that Rice collaborated on the research.
Science World Report
http://dateline.rice/may-26-swr

PFAS leachate treatment breaking down the bond barrier — Part 2: Breaking the bond barrier by advancing current treatment technologies
An article cites Rice research that discovered that adding boron nitride to water containing perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA, removed 99.9% of the compound from water when exposed to UV light.
Waste360
http://dateline.rice/may-26-waste

Harpist Yolanda Kondonassis and trumpeter Michael Sachs partner for world premiere video performance
An article mentions that Michael Sachs is a former faculty member at the Shepherd School of Music.
Broadway World
http://dateline.rice/may-26-bw

Check out this Penn-backed summer coding boot camp for high school students
An article mentions that Rice offers coding boot camps for high school students.
Technical.ly
http://dateline.rice/may-26-tech

An article mentions Rice's eSports Club.
Yahoo! Finance (This article originally appeared in NewsDirect.)
http://dateline.rice/may-26-yf

The first in their families to go to college, this is how these two students got into their dream schools
An article mentions that Padilla Colin plans to attend Rice next semester and highlights the Kinder Institute for Urban Research.
MarketWatch (This Nerd Wallet article appeared in a previous edition of Dateline.)
http://dateline.rice/may-26-mw

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Ann Arbor native wins chemistry award; develops kids video explaining vaccines
Alumna Leah Witus is featured.
The Detroit Jewish News
http://dateline.rice/may-26-witus

DHS to have 4 commencement ceremonies Friday
An article featuring Pamela Duarte, valedictorian of Douglas High School, mentions that she plans to attend Rice next semester.
Douglas Dispatch
http://dateline.rice/may-26-dd

SPORTS

Bohls: There are lots of bombs bursting in the air over the national anthem
A roundup mentions that Rice's athletics department is conducting a national search for a new head baseball coach. Athletics Director Joe Karlgaard is mentioned on KTRH.
Austin American-Statesman (The search was also mentioned in an article in Baseball America.)
http://dateline.rice/may-26-aas
Texas Tech baseball: Tim Tadlock extension solidifies future
FanSided
http://dateline.rice/may-26-fs
KTRH-AM (Houston)
http://dateline.rice/may-26-karlgaard (This segment aired four times.)

Stumler, Skinner to train with USA Volleyball
An article mentions that Rice volleyball player Anota Adekunle will train with the USA Volleyball women's collegiate national team.
WYMT Online (This article also appeared in Lex 18 Online.)
http://dateline.rice/may-26-adekunle

Houston sports TV legend reveals shocking Houston Rockets tales
A Q&A featuring Bill Worrell mentions that his father, "Dub" Worrell, formerly served as a team dentist at Rice.
CultureMap Houston
http://dateline.rice/may-26-worrell

Born to perform: Will Allday didn't let society norms deter him from the 'perfect mesh' of pro wrestling

Wrestlezone
http://dateline.rice/may-26-allday

Track and field set for NCAA West preliminary round
An article mentions Rice's Victor Lopez Classic, held March 27, and J. Fred Duckett Twilight invitational, held April 24.
GoUTRGV.com
http://dateline.rice/may-26-utrgv

How the Charlotte 49ers shrugged off doubters to become a college baseball contender
An article mentions the four-game series between Rice's baseball team and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte May 14-16.
The Charlotte Observer
http://dateline.rice/may-26-co

NEWS RELEASES

Leebron to step down from Rice presidency in June 2022
Rice President David Leebron has announced he plans to leave his position at the end of the next academic year after nearly two decades at the helm of one of the nation's premier institutions of higher learning.
http://dateline.rice/may-26-news-release-leebron

Bioengineering department adds single-cell expert via CPRIT grant
The little things of life mean a great deal to Julea Vlassakis, who will bring her study of protein complexes and their role in cancer proliferation to Rice this year. Vlassakis will join the Department of Bioengineering faculty as an assistant professor this summer with the support of a $2 million grant by the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas.
http://dateline.rice/may-26-news-release-vlassakis