Dateline Rice for Aug. 30, 2024

dateline rice

FEATURED ITEMS

Family of slain Rice student Andrea Rodriguez Avila speaks out about loss of 'sweet spirit'
Several articles feature the life of late Jones College junior Andrea Rodriguez Avila, who was a deputy parliamentarian of the Rice Student Association, peer academic adviser at Jones College and member of Rice’s Honor Council.
Houston Chronicle 
http://dateline.rice/aug-30-hc
Parents of Rice University student killed in murder-suicide remember her as loving, intelligent and independent
KHOU Online
http://dateline.rice/aug-30-khou
Andrea Rodriguez came to Rice University with big dreams before being gunned down
ABC 13 Online
http://dateline.rice/aug-30-abc13

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

New report shows 4 Houston intersections identified as particularly dangerous for kids
An article features a report by experts at Rice's Baker Institute for Public Policy into some of the most dangerous intersections for children who walk or bike to school in Houston.
MSN (This article originally appeared in ABC 13 Online, and this segment also aired on KTRK-TV in Houston.)
http://dateline.rice/aug-30-msn

Delightfully weird state symbols from across America
A slideshow mentions that scientists at Rice shared the 1996 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the discovery of "buckyballs," a new form of carbon.
MSN (United Arab Emirates; this article originally appeared in Stars Insider.)
http://dateline.rice/aug-30-msn.uae

The housing crisis needs risk takers that can change its course
An article mentions that a partnership between Rice and the Texas Department of Transportation developed ConnectSmart, an app that measures the carbon footprint of transit.
Forbes
http://dateline.rice/aug-30-forbes

HOUSTON/TEXAS

2 lab-stage Houston startups receive fresh funding from Rice University grant program
An article features recent recipients of Rice's One Small Step Grant, which supports Rice-developed, lab-stage innovations: LymphGuide, co-founded by graduate student Martha Fowler, who is part of the lab of Omid Veiseh, associate professor of bioengineering and faculty director of the Rice Biotech Launch Pad accelerator, and a member of Rice's Liu Idea Lab of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Innovation Fellows Cohort 2; and HEXASpec, co-founded by graduate student Tianshu Zhai, who is part of the lab of Jun Lou, associate chair and professor of materials science and nanoengineering. Alumnus Adrian Trömel, assistant vice president for strategy and investments at Rice's Office of Innovation and lecturer in entrepreneurship at the Jones Graduate School of Business, and Nafisa Istami, innovation manager at Rice, are quoted.
InnovationMap (This article also appeared in the "Daily Digest" newsletter.)
http://dateline.rice/aug-30-one.small.step

Houston Hillel welcomes back students with a bash
An article mentions that Rice students attended Houston Hillel's Back-to-School Bash, where President Reginald DesRoches made a surprise visit.
Jewish Herald-Voice
http://dateline.rice/aug-30-desroches

10+ can't-miss Houston business and innovation events for September
A roundup of upcoming events mentions that Claudia Zettner, professor in the practice in the Rice Center for Engineering Leadership, will lead a seminar on managing risk and uncertainty in new technology projects Sept. 5; the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship will co-host the inaugural Houston Climate and Energy Startup Week Sept. 9-13; and the Rice360 Institute for Global Health Technologies will host the Innovation for Day One conference Sept. 25-27. 
InnovationMap
http://dateline.rice/aug-30-zettner

An exploration of Houston's most important pieces of art
Leo Costello, associate professor and chair of art history, is quoted.
Houstonia
http://dateline.rice/aug-30-costello

Different HISD bond referendum poll, different result
An article cites a study by Rice's Kinder Institute for Urban Research into residents who support school bonds.
Off the Kuff
http://dateline.rice/aug-30-ok

BROADCAST

Ask the Expert: What can we learn from Kamala Harris tonight?
Mark Jones, the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies, professor of political science and fellow in political science at Rice's Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
KRLD on Audacy (This segment also aired twice on KRLD-AM in Dallas, and this article also appeared in MSN.)
http://dateline.rice/aug-30-jones

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

'Israel-Turkey Relations: How Can the Negative Momentum Be Reversed?'
An article mentions that David Satterfield, director of Rice's Baker Institute for Public Policy and former United States special envoy for Middle East humanitarian issues, participated in the Middle East Institute's "Israel-Turkey Relations: How Can the Negative Momentum Be Reversed?" webinar Aug. 27.
Middle East Institute
http://dateline.rice/aug-30-satterfield

2024 A Peer Apart honorees announced
Abbas Firoozabadi, distinguished research professor in chemical and biomolecular engineering, is featured.
Journal of Petroleum Technology
http://dateline.rice/aug-30-firoozabadi

Interdisciplinary Rice graduate program earns $3 million NSF grant
An article mentions that a research traineeship program developed by a team at Rice received an award of $3 million over five years from the National Science Foundation. The program is led by Junichiro Kono, the Karl F. Hasselmann Professor in Engineering, professor of electrical and computer engineering, physics and astronomy and materials science and nanoengineering and director of Rice's Smalley-Curl Institute. The article mentions that other Rice co-principal investigators include Alessandro Alabastri, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering and a Rice Academy Senior Fellow; Kaden Hazzard, associate professor of physics and astronomy; and Hanyu Zhu, the William Marsh Rice Chair Assistant Professor of Materials Science and Nanoengineering, assistant professor of physics and astronomy and a Rice Academy Senior Fellow.
Bioengineer.org
http://dateline.rice/aug-30-kono-alabastri-hazzard-zhu

Rice graduate students awarded NSF INTERN grants for real-world research opportunities
An article features graduate students Eric Wuesthoff and Esther Jimenez, who are the recipients of the National Science Foundation's INTERN awards, a program designed to support nonacademic research experiences and training. Seiichi Matsuda, the E. Dell Butcher Professor of Chemistry, professor of chemistry and biosciences, director of the Rice Academy of Fellows and dean of graduate and postdoctoral studies, is quoted.
Scienmag
http://dateline.rice/aug-30-matsuda-wuesthoff-jimenez

Ten women professors appointed to new academic positions
A roundup featuring Betsy Barre mentions that she formerly worked at Rice.
Women in Academia Report
http://dateline.rice/aug-30-wiar

Mexico’s natural gas development seen pivotal to nearshoring push
An article features a report by experts at Rice's Baker Institute for Public Policy into stabilizing Mexico's electric grid.
Natural Gas Intelligence
http://dateline.rice/aug-30-ngi

TGIF time-saver: All of the rankings are now rolling in
An article mentions that Rice is ranked No. 9 in the nation on Forbes' America's Top Colleges list.
University Business (This article also appeared in Philanthropy News Digest.)
http://dateline.rice/aug-30-ub
America's top 10 universities in 2024
MSN Money (India; this article originally appeared in The Economic Times.)
http://dateline.rice/aug-30-msn.money

Brass and organ concert will trumpet 100th anniversary of Chicago Temple Building
Alumnus Phillip Kloeckner is featured.
BroadwayWorld
http://dateline.rice/aug-30-kloeckner

Diverse crop rotations reduce risk of crop loss under poor growing conditions
An article mentions that experts at Rice contributed to the featured research.
Biobased Diesel Daily
http://dateline.rice/aug-30-bdd

WMC announces new director of environmental and energy policy
Alumnus Adam Jordahl is featured.
In Business
http://dateline.rice/aug-30-jordahl

Top 10 pre-MBA summer courses
Rice's Jones Graduate School of Business is featured.
Find-MBA.com
http://dateline.rice/aug-30-find.mba

DOE consortium awards $3 million for 6 projects to advance heliostat technology and workforce for commercial readiness
An article mentions that Rice is part of a team of researchers awarded a grant to advance heliostat performance.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory 
http://dateline.rice/aug-30-nrel
 
Googles new AI tools for students seem genuinely helpful, but the best features will cost you
An article mentions OpenStax, a Rice-based publisher of open educational resources.
Yahoo! Tech (This article originally appeared in Android Police.)
http://dateline.rice/aug-30-yt

Microwaves zap lithium from used Li-ion batteries
An article features Rice research into the rapid, efficient and environmentally friendly method for selective lithium recovery from lithium-ion batteries.
EEPower.com
http://dateline.rice/aug-30-eep

Transitioning waste into hydrogen energy
An article features Rice research turning plastic into hydrogen gas and graphene.
EnergyNews.biz
http://dateline.rice/aug-30-en

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Dr. Suzanne Berman named 2024 Pediatrician of the Year
Alumna Suzanne Berman is featured.
Crossville Chronicle
http://dateline.rice/aug-30-berman

Sustainability Accelerator welcomes entrepreneurial postdoctoral fellows
A roundup features alumni Alex Al-Zubeidi and Peng Zhu.
Stanford University's Stanford Report
http://dateline.rice/aug-30-al.zubeidi-zhu

SPORTS

Rice football preview: Owls begin sophomore year in American Athletic Conference against Sam Houston
An article features Rice football ahead of its season-opening game against Sam Houston State University Aug. 31. Head coach Mike Bloomgren is quoted.
Houston Chronicle
http://dateline.rice/aug-30-bloomgren
Bearkats open at Rice to kickstart season
The Huntsville Item
http://dateline.rice/aug-30-hi
'Wake Up! with SallyMac & Lina'
KRIV-TV (Houston)
http://dateline.rice/aug-30-kriv
'KPRC Channel 2 News'
KPRC-TV (Houston)
http://dateline.rice/aug-30-kprc (This segment aired twice.)
'CW 39 Weather & Traffic'
KIAH-TV (Houston)
http://dateline.rice/aug-30-kiah (This segment aired twice.)
KTRH-AM (Houston)
http://dateline.rice/aug-30-ktrh

Cardinals battle Rice tough
An article mentions that Rice's soccer team defeated Lamar University 2-1 Aug. 29.
LamarCardinals.com
http://dateline.rice/aug-30-lc

Bastidas tallies 11 saves in road loss to North Texas
An article mentions that Rice's soccer team is slated to play Texas Southern University Sept. 1.
TSUSports.com
http://dateline.rice/aug-30-tsu

PSU head basketball coach Mike Rhoades makes stop at Narrow Valley Sportsplex
Former Rice head men's basketball coach Mike Rhoades is featured.
Times News
http://dateline.rice/aug-30-tn

Here's how to watch UTSA Roadrunner football in the 2024-25 season
An article mentions that Rice's football team is slated to play the University of Texas at San Antonio Oct. 12.
MySA
http://dateline.rice/aug-30-mysa

VB: Huskies kick off 2024 season at Rice Invitational
An article mentions that the Owls will play Houston Christian University and Texas State University in the Rice Invitational volleyball tournament at Tudor Fieldhouse Aug. 30-31.
HCUHuskies.com
http://dateline.rice/aug-30-hcu

NEWS RELEASE

Interdisciplinary Rice graduate program earns $3M NSF grant
A research traineeship program developed by a team of Rice faculty led by Junichiro Kono has received an award of $3 million over five years from the National Science Foundation to equip a new generation of scientists and engineers with the skills needed to serve as leaders in quantum technology innovation.
http://dateline.rice/aug-29-news-release-kono-nsf.grant

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