Rice News Archive - 2024

ChatGPT could help people with creativity in everyday tasks, study says Aug. 20, 2024

ChatGPT, the generative artificial intelligence technology developed by OpenAI, could help humans with daily, creative tasks — even tasks typically thought to require the human ability to “read between the lines,” according to new research by the University of Houston and Rice University. Its capability has proven to be superior compared to traditional Google search or even human brainstorming without any technical assistance, the study authors argue.

‘Nothing is going to come easy’: A conversation between Olympians and astronauts Aug. 20, 2024

Rice helped bring together Olympic and Paralympic athletes with astronauts on board the International Space Station for a talk on the similarities between space exploration and elite sports.

‘Critical knowledge’: Weekly radio show deconstructs local, global environmental concerns Aug. 20, 2024

Gathered around the microphones in one of KPFT’s Houston studios, Weston Twardowski, Haley Schultz and Alondra Torres discussed the impact of the coal-powered W.A. Parish plant in Fort Bend County for episode 42 of “Gulf Streams.”

Rice’s Shepherd School clarinetist Najee Greenlee joins elite young artists with American Public Media feature, performance Aug. 19, 2024

Najee Greenlee, a clarinetist from Rice’s Shepherd School of Music, is making waves in the classical music world with his recent national performance, now live on the YourClassical platform hosted by American Public Media.

Musical powerhouses strengthen offerings at Rice’s Shepherd School of Music Aug. 19, 2024

Rice's Shepherd School of Music is celebrating the return of alumni Cristian Măcelaru and the addition of opera luminary Patrick Summers to its faculty.

Rice Emerging Scholars Program wraps 13th summer of operation Aug. 19, 2024

The Rice Emerging Scholars Program, an innovative, residential academic program designed to help first-year students prepare for the challenging pace, depth and rigor of the STEM curricula at Rice, recently concluded its summer programming with 50 students participating in the prematriculation program.

Rice welcomes the newest Owls into the nest at O-Week matriculation Aug. 19, 2024

“Welcome to Rice!” President Reginald DesRoches exclaimed at the Aug. 18 matriculation ceremony for the Class of 2028. After spending the day helping the new class of freshmen move into its residential colleges, DesRoches and university leadership celebrated the new students’ official entry into Rice at Tudor Fieldhouse to share their advice and support for the upcoming years.

Dateline Rice for Aug. 19, 2024 (Weekend Edition) Aug. 19, 2024

Dateline Rice for Aug. 19, 2024 (Weekend Edition)

Rice Innovation awards second cycle of One Small Step Grants Aug. 19, 2024

Rice Innovation announced its two most recent awardees of the One Small Step Grant , marking a significant milestone in accelerating the transition from lab to market for these Rice-developed technologies. Launched in September 2023, the grant aims to support lab-stage projects across campus, providing crucial capital for projects to spin out of the university and successfully attract investment from angel investors and venture capital.

‘Going abroad expanded my mind’: New international travelers explore Costa Rica as Moody Global Fellows Aug. 19, 2024

The Moody Global Fellows program funded 20 Rice students and student leaders for a two-week study abroad program in San Jose, Costa Rica, in partnership with the University of Costa Rica and the Latin American University of Science and Technology. The trip was coordinated by Rice’s Center for Civic Leadership.

‘The start of a new chapter’: Rice Class of 2028 greeted with open arms at move-in day Aug. 18, 2024

Rice greeted the incoming Class of 2028 for the first time during an eventful, emotional and celebratory O-Week move-in day Aug. 18.

Glaciers in peril: World’s first glacier graveyard and global glacier casualty list unveiled Aug. 18, 2024

Iceland is a land made famous by its glaciers, but these ancient ice forms in the island country and around the world are in danger amid rising global temperatures.

All eyes on Chicago: Rice expert available to discuss 2024 Democratic National Convention Aug. 17, 2024

Rice University political scientist Mark Jones is available to discuss what we can expect from Vice President Kamala Harris, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and party faithful who will speak in support of the Democratic party’s nominees for president and vice president Aug. 19-22.

Staff Spotlight: Pippa Jarvis-Flores  Aug. 16, 2024

Staff Spotlight: Pippa Jarvis-Flores

‘Out of all the unknowns in science, we have so much to discover’ Aug. 16, 2024

Rice’s Smalley-Curl Institute held its 38th annual Summer Research Colloquium Aug. 2 at Rice’s Duncan Hall, where undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral researchers gave presentations covering topics in nanoscience, quantum materials and quantum information science and technology to a multidisciplinary audience.