Close Up 09 10 Web

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CLOSEUP Eye on People

THE MAGAZINE OF THE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AT RICE UNIVERSITY

The School of Social Sciences at Rice welcomes continued growth

Project Gateway provides students with tools for the real world Rice social scientists establish new ties to Houston Innovative projects are underway among Social Sciences faculty members

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Dear Friends of the Social Sciences:

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This completes my third year as Dean of the School of Social Sciences. It has been an exciting time for the School. While we remain the smallest school at Rice teaching the largest number of students, we have grown. Over the past three years, eighteen new faculty have joined our five departments – Anthropology, Economics, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology. Next year, we will welcome three more faculty members. While the School continues to grow in faculty size, it is also growing in other ways which enhance the excellence of Rice Social Sciences. This bulletin outlines some of these new initiatives. Through a generous grant from the Houston Endowment, the Sociology Department will inaugurate a new Ph.D. program which will begin admitting students in Fall 2011. This program will focus on urban sociology and the city of Houston as a laboratory for research. The Houston Area Survey, a study which for twenty-seven years has charted the public attitudes of Houstonians, is enlarging as the Urban Research Center of Houston. This new Center will provide an expanded understanding of Houston’s growth and how Houstonians view their city. We are also pleased to announce the creation of the Harlan Program for the Study of State Campaigns and Elections which will provide curriculum, an archive, and outreach for the study of state government and elections. Our undergraduate Gateway Program is in its second year with avid student participation. We hope this program will eventually involve every social science major at Rice in a project that gets students out of the classroom and into the real world—through independent research projects, internships, and international experiences. This Social Sciences bulletin also focuses on several innovative projects that are underway among our faculty— these include programs on Africa and African America, European parliaments, classroom learning, and the tradeoffs between energy security and climate change. While we have space in this magazine for only a few of the many projects our Social Sciences faculty are undertaking, there are many other exciting research endeavors they are conducting. We invite you to experience the insights, innovations, and expertise that make up the School of Social Sciences at Rice University.

CLOSEUP

THE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AT RICE UNIVERSITY S P O T L I G H T

New Ph.D. Programin Sociology

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Urban Research Center of Houston

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Harlan Program in State Politics

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INNOVATIONS

Ties Between Africa and AfricanAmerican Cultural Heritage

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Multi-Racial Family Experiences inNeighborhoods

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the School of Social Sciences at Rice University Correspondence Rice University PO Box 1892 Houston, Texas 77251-1892 http://socialsciences.rice.edu Editor

Democracy, Representation, Enhancing Student Learning and European in the Classroom Parliaments

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The Dilemma of Energy Security and Climate Change

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Lisa Birenbaum Contributors Lisa Birenbaum Franz Brotzen Lyn Ragsdale Abbey Shaunessy Heather Willrich Stern

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Photography Ipek Martinez Design and Art Direction

Awards, New Endowed Chairs

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Close Up is produced by

School of Social Sciences, MS-27

INDIVIDUALS

Lyn Ragsdale Dean

Gateway to the Real World

Journals, New Faculty, Retirees

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Sulewski Design

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S P O T L I G H T

New Ph.D.Program in Sociology

Population change, economic growth, and social problems are at the heart of life in the world’s urban centers.

H

ow does racial and ethnic

Rice’s Sociology Department will urban centers around the world.”

its schools, churches, and

This is a major step for the Rice

be at the forefront of these discussions

government offices? Do city leaders

as the result of a $6.4 million grant

Sociology Department which has

address 21st Century problems head

from the Houston Endowment that

long been known as one of the

on or do they leave the problems for

will establish the first Ph.D. program

best undergraduate departments

future generations? How does a

in sociology in Houston. The new

on campus. The Department

city’s commitment to the

has nationally-known

environment, or the lack

experts on race and

thereof, affect the health of

ethnicity, health and

its citizens, regardless

environmentalism,

of their wealth or neighbor-

religion, demography,

hood? These questions

and elites who will now

face urban centers

bring that expertise to

throughout the world,

the Ph.D. program.

including Bombay,

Using Houston as an

Buenos Aires, Cape Town, Houston,

graduate program will feature an

urban research laboratory will make

London, Los Angeles, Moscow,

innovative focus on Houston in the

it unique among Ph.D. programs

New York, Shanghai, and others.

context of a broader exploration of

in the U.S. To attract top students,

While the answers differ across these

major urban settings.

the program will be built around

cities, the world’s urban centers

a mentorship/ apprenticeship

In announcing the Houston

are important foci for

Endowment gift, Rice President

experience that will permit students

research. They are, in

David Leebron commented that

to work closely with individual faculty

effect, laboratories for considering

“The widespread challenges and

on their on-going research projects.

how certain solutions to urban

opportunities that come with

The program will admit its first

problems work in some

Houston’s growth and economic

students in 2011.

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vitality are also faced by other

settings and fail in others.

diversity shape a city and

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RICE’S SOCIOLOGY DEPARTMENT WILL BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF THESE DISCUSSIONS AS THE RESULT OF A $6.4 MILLION GRANT FROM THE HOUSTON ENDOWMENT THAT WILL ESTABLISH THE FIRST PH.D. PROGRAM IN SOCIOLOGY IN HOUSTON. THE NEW GRADUATE PROGRAM WILL FEATURE AN INNOVATIVE FOCUS ON HOUSTON IN THE CONTEXT OF A BROADER EXPLORATION OF MAJOR URBAN SETTINGS.

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S P O T L I G H T

THE HOUSTON AREA SURVEY, CONDUCTED BY PROFESSOR STEPHEN KLINEBERG OF RICE’S SOCIOLOGY DEPARTMENT, IS THE NATION’S LONGEST RUNNING STUDY OF PUBLIC ATTITUDES IN A SINGLE METROPOLITAN AREA.

Urban Research Centerof Houston

Houston is the 4th largest city in the United States. Only New York, Los Angeles and Chicago are larger. While many people know this ranking about Houston, they may not think about all of the other facets that go into making Houston one of the largest urban centers in the country.

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id you know that Houston is the most diverse

conducted by Professor Stephen Klineberg of Rice’s

of America’s large cities—a true “multi-ethnic

Sociology Department, is the nation’s longest running study

melting pot?” In 2007, 39 percent of

of public attitudes in a single metropolitan area. In order to

Houstonians identified

provide a permanent home for the survey, Rice is launching

themselves as Hispanic, 36

the new Urban Research Center of Houston.

percent as Anglo, 18 percent

This Center will expand the Houston Area Survey and enhance its value to Houstonians in the following ways:

as African-American, and 6 percent as Asian. Did you

• Its new interactive web

• It will make readily

• Its research will inform

• It will also initiate more

know that 90 percent of

site, http://urc.rice.edu,

available in-depth

the region’s economic

focused surveys and

Houstonians consider Houston to be a better place

will offer community

empirical information

development organiza-

research projects that are

to live than other cities in America? At the same time,

access to the current

required for effective

tions in their efforts

significant to Houston’s

Houstonians also see the challenges ahead. If you

survey and all past surveys.

strategic planning

to identify new growth

businesses, government

are a Houstonian, you probably would not be surprised

by public, non-profit,

opportunities in key

officials, neighborhood

by this number: a near majority of residents consis-

and corporate entities.

industries.

groups, faith-based and

tently see traffic as one of the city’s biggest problems.

educational institutions,

All of these many results can be found in the

and non-profit agencies.

Houston Area Survey which for the past 27 years has asked residents of the Houston metro area

A community thrives when the voices of its residents inform

what they think about their city and has mapped the

the vision of its future. The Urban Research Center of Houston

city’s amazing growth. The Houston Area Survey,

at Rice will be there to listen to Houston’s many voices.

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S P O T L I G H T

PEOPLE ARE OFTEN ELECTED TO POSITIONS THAT THEY KNOW LITTLE ABOUT. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND STATE POLITICS AND ACHIEVE BETTER POLICY MAKING.

Harlan Program in State Politics

Rice alumnus Douglas Harlan (’64) who died November 7, 2008 after a long illness loved politics, especially state and local politics. He had a life-long goal to make government function better. To that end, Harlan established the Douglas S. Harlan Program in State Elections, Campaigns, and Politics through a $1.3 million gift to Rice.

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his Program will focus on

later ran for Congress twice from

of graduate and undergraduate

politics and policy making in

San Antonio and regularly wrote a

students in state politics. Lastly,

the American states. Harlan’s

political column for the San Antonio

the Harlan Program will establish a

Express-News.

certificate program through which

interest in state politics began when he worked for Senator

newly elected officials

John Tower who was

can learn about the

the first Republican

key aspects of their

elected to the U.S.

jobs such as bonding,

Senate from Texas.

budgeting, taxation,

Harlan recalled, “I

and state regulations.

was the press assistant,

Harlan saw this as

officially, but what I

especially valuable

really did was answer

training suggesting

all of the kook mail.”

that “People are often

He often responded to

elected to positions

some of the most unexpected communi-

that they know little about.”

The Harlan Program will create

cations—for example, a request from

an archive on state politics, including

The Program is designed to help

the National Nudist Association asking

an array of materials on state

people understand state politics

Tower, a conservative Republican, to

campaigns, elections, laws, and court

and achieve better policy making.

speak at the group's annual convention.

decisions that are not available

The Harlan Program will host a

Harlan’s employment with Tower

anywhere else in the U.S. In addition, national conference of state politics

sparked his interest in politics. Harlan

the Program will permit the training

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experts in Houston in 2012.

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S P O T L I G H T

Gateway to the Real World

While Rice students have an exciting, rewarding time as undergraduates, getting their degrees is still a means to an end: they inevitably must go out into the “real world” by beginning a career or going to graduate school, law school, medical school, or business school.

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ut how to get into the real world is often a

Advisor, Political Science Professor Dr. Richard Stoll.

challenging expedition with many students

While Project Gateway is only in its second year, initial

asking the question “What can I do with my

response from students has been positive. The SSURE

degree?” For many Social Sciences students the answer

received eight applications in its inaugural year and

to this question has come in the form of Project Gateway.

selected three students to pursue their independent

Established in Fall 2007, Project Gateway enhances

research projects. Their topics have included “How

Social Sciences students’ education with real-world

Should Students Study?” “Accessing Health Care: A

experience outside the classroom. This project

Latino Immigrant Experience,” and “Improving the

encompasses three elements: the Social Sciences

Role of Women in the Public Sphere of Pakistan.” The

Undergraduate Research Enterprise (SSURE), the Social

International Ambassador Program has sent students to

Sciences Internship Program, and the International

such countries as the Czech Republic, Egypt, France,

Ambassador Program. SSURE offers students the

Spain, Switzerland, and Turkey, while in the Social

opportunity to conduct their own independent research

Sciences Internship Program a number of students have

project with the help of a faculty member. The Internship

interned with Fortune 500 companies.

Program offers students an opportunity to work for a

THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF PROJECT GATEWAY IS TO INVOLVE ALL SOCIAL SCIENCES STUDENTS WITH EACH OF THE PROJECT’S THREE PROGRAMS SO WHEN THEY ARE READY TO PURSUE THEIR NEXT ENDEAVORS, THEY ARE ARMED WITH THE TOOLS TO MAKE THEM COMPETITIVE FOR ANY MARKET.

“It’s easy to teach general concepts in the classroom,

company, government agency, or non-profit organization.

but when you can put those concepts into practice, you

The International Ambassador Program sends Social

can really accomplish quality research and participation,”

Sciences majors to a foreign country where they meet

said Professor Stoll.

Rice alumni who live there and where they interview

The ultimate goal of Project Gateway is to involve

and learn from civic leaders in the area.

all Social Sciences students with each of the project’s three

“Project Gateway stems from the commitment

programs so when they are ready to pursue their next

by President Leebron to involve students on the

endeavors, they are armed with the tools to make them

international stage as well as get them involved in the

competitive for any market.

cultural aspects of the Houston area,” said Gateway

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W O R L D

Meet the Students. Here are some of the stories of the students who have participated in the three programs of Project Gateway. Social Sciences Undergraduate Research Enterprise (SSURE) The School of Social Sciences provides an undergraduate research program which selects students to work on their own research projects and provides stipends based on the budgets they submit. Student Jasmine Bright

Project “Cultural Adaptation of Burmese Refugee Families in Houston, Texas” “Improving the Role of Women in the Public Sphere of Pakistan” “Cross-Cultural Communications in the Workplace” “Southern Economic Trends and Public Education” “Accessing Health Care: A Latino Immigrant Experience” “How Should Students Organize Their Study Time?”

Shireen Nasir Catherine Ott-Holland Andrew Patterson Ariela Schachter Andrew Thompson

Internships The School of Social Sciences offers an opportunity for students to earn course credit for completing internships in organizations that provide rewarding educational and professional experiences. Student Jackie Ammons Adam Benaroya Robert Dahnke Murat Konuk Timothy Patuwo Allison Pye Tyler Raugh Atif Riaz Mario Samos Christine Shaheen Jordan Shanker

Internship UBS (Union Bank of Switzerland) MTV Networks/Spike TV Hubbard Pegman & Whitney Merrill Lynch Merrill Lynch Children’s Nutrition Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine Merrill Lynch Merrill Lynch Merrill Lynch Telemus Capital Partners, LLC Merrill Lynch 10

Andrew Thompson, a Psychology major from Hanszen College, explored “How Should Students Organize Their Study Time? The Role of Distributed Practice and Self-Testing in Learning Foreign Language Vocabulary” with Dr. Jessica Logan. He was also selected to present his research at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR). “SSURE provided me with a tremendous opportunity to perform cognitive psychology research with a faculty member at Rice. Not only did it allow me to understand the role of spacing and testing effects in memory, but it has given me many new ideas for future research projects.”

Shireen Nasir, a Political Science major from Brown College, focused on a study entitled “Improving the Role of Women in the Public Sphere of Pakistan.” Shireen traveled to Karachi and Islamabad to interview prominent women in politics, academia, and business first hand. “These are experiences that you just cannot gain from a textbook. Furthermore, the close relationship I developed with my research mentor, Dr. Balabanlilar, gave me the motivation and expertise to feel confident about my work. The SSURE program allows students in the social sciences field to truly explore their research interests.”

Ariela Schachter, a Sociology major from Baker College, explored the topic “Accessing Health Care: A Latino Immigrant Experience” with Dr. Roland Smith as her advisor. “Houston provides an ideal locale for researching the experiences of latino immigrant children within our current health care system. With the support of the SSURE program, I was able to volunteer several mornings a week with a local community health outreach organization in order to observe first hand the barriers parents are facing as they attempt to find affordable health care for their children.”

Andrew Patterson, an Economics major from Jones College, is researching "Southern Economic Trends and Public Education" with Dr. Peter Mieszkowski. “My experience with SSURE and other undergraduate research in the social sciences has been invaluable because of the willingness of my professors to dedicate time to questions and exploration of research methodology. My exploration of public education and the South over the summer will undoubtedly lead to more inquiry, and I am confident that the Rice University School of Social Sciences will be there to prepare me for the task.”

Allison Pye, a Policy Studies major from Martel College, who is interested in nutrition-related research, worked as an intern in the Children’s Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine. She was able to analyze data on child obesity research and observe pediatric medicine first hand. “Most people seem to think that medicine is strictly about the biosciences, but being a physician or an employee in health care is so much more than that. In addition to the natural sciences, the social sciences are important in the medical field because patient interaction is something you cannot learn in a basic science course.”

Adam Benaroya, a Mathematical Economic Analysis and Managerial Studies major from Wiess College, interned at the MTV Networks/Spike TV during the summer of 2008. “My major learning experience was acting as a production assistant at many shoots. I was responsible for preparing the set, purchasing necessary items, and making runs between the shoot location and Spike’s headquarters. My major career goal in taking this position was to learn more about the television industry.”

Tyler Raugh, a Math/Economics major from Jones College, interned at Merrill Lynch during the Spring 2008 semester. “One of the greatest strengths of my internship experience was the chance to do the same work as a first year analyst. I was responsible for conducting research on investing strategies, investment funds, and market conditions. Through this, I learned important vocabulary and interesting facts through seemingly mundane activities. Newly armed with key investment terms, I can decipher once coded and complicated conversations.”

Robert Dahnke, a Political Science major from Martel College, interned at Hubbard Pegman & Whitney law firm in London, England during the Fall 2007 semester. Robert also completed three courses from professors at the London School of Economics during his time in the United Kingdom. “In general, I worked in the personal injury litigation department at Hubbard Pegman & Whitney, but I also worked in wills and probate and their property department. I was exposed to a fairly wide cross-section as those are the three principal departments at the firm. I learned a great deal about the British legal system, business operations in Britain, and British society in general - all through my internship.”

International Ambassadors The School of Social Sciences selects International Ambassadors who initiate dialogues with alumni, local officials and university officials to enhance their learning process while studying abroad, and then report their experiences to students upon their return. Student Conner Boyd Pamela Cosio Mallory Johnson Shireen Nasir Adnan Poonawala Steffi Russell-Egbert

Location Madrid, Spain Aix-en-Provence, France Cairo, Egypt Ankara, Turkey Prague, Czech Republic Geneva, Switzerland

Adnan Poonawala, an Economics major from Hanszen College, studied in Prague, Czech Republic. “I acquired a perspective that was unique and one that I would not have received here in the States. It definitely added to my study abroad experience in Prague.” Pamela Cosio, a Psychology major from Hanszen College, is studying abroad in Aix-en-Provence, France. “I look forward to overcoming language barriers and gaining skills that will help me grow as a person and help me become better suited for the business world.” Mallory Johnson, a Political Science and History major from Jones College, studied abroad in Cairo, Egypt. “Studying abroad is all about perspective. Being an international ambassador enabled me to reach out to people I might never have encountered otherwise and I was able to take advantage of unique circumstances.” Steffi Russell-Egbert, a Mathematics and Economics major from Hanszen College, is studying abroad in Geneva, Switzerland. “I am most excited about the opportunity to experience a different way of life, to see the world through another culture’s eyes.” 11

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Ties between Africa and African-American CulturalHeritage

“THIS IS ONE OF THE ONLY OPPORTUNITIES OF ITS KIND IN THE WORLD WHICH PERMITS STUDENTS TO EXAMINE THE ORIGINS OF CULTURE IN ONE COUNTRY AND ITS IMPLICATION FOR THE LIVES OF PEOPLE IN ANOTHER.” SUSAN MCINTOSH, PROFESSOR OF ANTHROPOLOGY

After the Civil War, Houston’s “Freedman’s Town” was settled by newly freed African-Americans leaving the enslavement of the plantations and drawn to the community and opportunities of Houston.

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oday, despite encroachment

Community

Susan McIntosh,

by Houston’s fast-paced

Archaeology

Professor of

growth, Freedman’s Town is

Project (YCAP),

Anthropology,

which is

focuses on

the only remaining historic district in

the United States settled by previously sponsored by

West Africa.

enslaved people that continues to

the Rutherford

Students spend

be inhabited by their descendants.

B.H. Yates

2 months

It offers not only a link to Houston’s

Museum, have uncovered china,

past, but a bridge from African

bottles, cookery, buttons, buckles, and cultural orientation and then pursuing

America to Africa. Rice archaeologists are working to

toys which provide

intensive digging at one of several sites.

evidence of the resi-

There the students uncover what life

dents' historical past.

was like in urban societies from 200

document life in

In addition to

AD to 1500 AD as they dig through

Freedman’s Town

this class, the Rice

artifacts found in homes, mosques,

from the late

Archaeological Field

and public places. Through these two

1800s onward and

School in Africa

programs, students are able to make

understand its links

readies the students

connections between African culture

to African cultural

to work in sites at

and African-American culture.

heritage. Rice

Goree Island, an

Professor McIntosh explains, “This

undergraduate and graduate students

island off the Senegal coast in West

is one of the only opportunities of

enrolled in the “Archaeological Field

Africa, and on the Swahili coast in

its kind in the world which permits

Technique” course have the opportu-

Tanzania in East Africa. Jeffrey Fleisher, students to examine the origins of

nity to get a glimpse of urban African- Assistant Professor of Anthropology,

culture in one country and its

American archaeology. The students,

concentrates his research along

implication for the lives of people

working in conjunction with the Yates

the east coast of Africa, while

in another.”

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Democracy,Representation, and European Parliaments

How do citizens’ preferences affect what legislatures do? At the heart of representative government is the idea that elected members of a legislative body should follow citizens’ preferences. Yet, do they?

A

ssociate Professor of Political

and Sweden are often

the Green Left, and the

Science Lanny Martin is

key partners in forming

Party for Animals. These

set to answer this question

a government, but do

parties often continue to

regarding European parliaments.

not always act to reflect

represent their base of

Martin was awarded a major $625,000

majority opinion. Instead,

supporters who may

three-year CAREER grant from the

they continue to represent

have views that are quite

National Science Foundation which

the narrower views of

opposite the wishes of the

supports early career development

their key supporters. Unlike the

majority. Martin says that “one of the

activities of top people in a field of

United States where there are two

most rewarding parts of the project is

study. Martin is one of only five

main political parties, in most

working with a research team which

people who have received an NSF

European countries there are many

includes Rice graduate students

CAREER grant in political science

parties which represent various

and undergraduate and law students

in the entire country during the

aspects of the political spectrum,

from each country being studied.”

10 years of the program.

different regions of a country, and,

Each research team collects data on

Professor Martin examines

in some cases, different religions.

the legislation that political parties

how small political parties in Austria,

So, for instance, there are twelve

introduce into parliaments. The study

Belgium, Denmark, Germany,

parties with seats in the two houses of

promises to have major implications

Luxembourg, The Netherlands,

the Dutch Parliament, including such

not just for understanding European

parties as the Christian

parliaments but also other parliaments

Democratic Appeal,

throughout the world.

PROFESSOR MARTIN EXAMINES HOW SMALL POLITICAL PARTIES IN AUSTRIA, BELGIUM, DENMARK, GERMANY, LUXEMBOURG, THE NETHERLANDS, AND SWEDEN ARE OFTEN KEY PARTNERS IN FORMING A GOVERNMENT, BUT DO NOT ALWAYS ACT TO REFLECT MAJORITY OPINION.

the Labour Party,

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I N N O V A T I O N S

Multi-Racial Family Experiences in Neighborhoods

DO THESE MULTI-RACIAL FAMILIES EXPERIENCE THE SAME DEGREE OF SEGREGATION AS SINGLERACE FAMILIES DO? THIS IS THE QUESTION THAT RICE SOCIOLOGIST JENIFER BRATTER WILL ANSWER AS THE RECIPIENT OF THE PRESTIGIOUS WOODROW WILSON NATIONAL FELLOWSHIP FOUNDATION CAREER ENHANCEMENT AWARD.

In America, an estimated 7 percent of all married couples are composed of two racially distinct partners.

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ased on categorizations in

prestigious Woodrow

at the ways race matters

the U.S. Census, this figure

Wilson National Fellowship

in the lives of individuals

involves marriages between

Foundation Career

who cross the color line.

Enhancement Award.

She will investigate how

any of the following racial partners: white, African-American, Asian,

Bratter’s initial work

American Indian, Native Hawaiian,

on the topic has uncovered

patterns of multi-racial

and Pacific Islander. Such a figure

that the largest racial and

families by exploring

varies across the country, with

ethnic groups in the United States

if these families tend to reside in

more than 10 percent of couples in

tend to intermarry the least, while the

predominantly white, black, or other

California and Texas being of mixed

smallest groups tend to intermarry

racial neighborhoods. She will also

races with lesser percentages in

the most. There are differences

forecast where residential trends are

states like Alabama, Georgia, and

by age, gender, and whether or

headed. In addition, Professor

Mississippi. Do these multi-racial

not the person was born in the

Bratter’s research will assess what

families experience the same degree

U.S. For instance, white men are

the socio-economic implications are

of segregation as single-race families

the least likely of any group to have

for multi-racial couples who reside

do? This is the question that

non-white spouses.

in specific neighborhoods and for

Rice Sociologist Jenifer Bratter will

In the current phase of her

answer as the recipient of the

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race affects the residential

their children’s future.

research, Professor Bratter is looking

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I N N O V A T I O N S

Enhancing Student Learning in the Classroom

As students, we all remember sitting through boring courses, watching the clock, and waiting for the class to end. We may not have been aware of the significant research being conducted on how people learn which could have been used to create better experiences for students in college classrooms.

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essica Logan, Assistant

multi-disciplinary team

Rice classrooms. A

Professor of Psychology,

to conduct her research.

consortium of professors,

received a major three-year

Professor Logan’s research is at least

will implement those

Foundation to bring her research

partially inspired by Rice’s

best suited to the courses

on learning, literally, into the

distinctive student body.

being taught. The research

classroom. Professor Logan is

Rice students are more

team, led by Professor

interested in interactive learning than simply

performance in the new course

receive one of these

listening to a lecture or

structures to determine whether

prestigious Teagle

absorbing information

they improve learning. Professor

for the sake of passing an

Logan states “We hope that by

She will use cutting-edge concepts

exam. Through Professor Logan’s

understanding how courses are

from cognitive neuroscience

research, several new teaching

taught, we will be able to improve

and cognitive psychology and a

methods are being considered for

what students learn.”

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Logan, will then evaluate student

member ever to

Foundation awards.

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JESSICA LOGAN, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF PSYCHOLOGY

students, and administrators

$150,000 grant from the Teagle

the first Rice faculty

“WE HOPE THAT BY UNDERSTANDING HOW COURSES ARE TAUGHT, WE WILL BE ABLE TO IMPROVE WHAT STUDENTS LEARN.”

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I N N O V A T I O N S

The DilemmaofEnergy Security and ClimateChange

HARTLEY SUGGESTS THAT THE REAL WAY TO PROMOTE ENERGY SECURITY AND ALSO REDUCE CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS SIMULTANEOUSLY IS THROUGH AN ENERGY TAX THAT WOULD INCREASE ENERGY EFFICIENCY. THIS TAX WOULD ENCOURAGE CONSUMERS TO USE LESS ENERGY AND THE REVENUE COULD BE USED TO DEVELOP NON-FOSSIL FUEL ENERGY SOURCES AND MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE PROBLEMS.

On many television news shows, there is considerable coverage of two topics: dependence on foreign oil and climate change. While often the two topics are treated separately, they are, as former British Prime Minister Tony Blair once called them “two sides of the same coin.”

E

conomics Professor Peter Hartley

shale. But these fuels

Western Europe, and

and his co-author Kenneth Medlock, actually produce more Adjunct Assistant Professor of

Economics and Fellow in Energy Studies

North-East Asia on both

carbon dioxide than

the Middle East and

does refined oil. This

the former Soviet Union

at the James A. Baker III Institute for Public would only lead to

states as these areas

Policy, have a new study which suggests

greater problems of

contain some of the

that Prime Minister Blair was right: many

climate change as

world’s richest remaining

policies aimed at ameliorating one of these problems will likely

more carbon dioxide is emitted into

natural gas resources.” Hartley

the atmosphere.

suggests that the real way to promote energy security and also

Professor Hartley also shows

worsen the other.

reduce carbon dioxide emissions

In his research, that moving to an increased use Professor Hartley shows that if the United States moves away

simultaneously is through an energy

dilemma either. While using natural

tax that would increase energy

gas reduces climate change concerns, efficiency. This tax would encourage it does nothing to create greater

consumers to use less energy and

energy security. Hartley observes

the revenue could be used to develop

domestic supplies of

that “An increase in demand for

non-fossil fuel energy sources and

fossil fuels, such as

natural gas would actually exacerbate

mitigate climate change problems.

from reliance on foreign oil, it could turn to

coal, tar sands, and oil

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of natural gas does not solve the

Y

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the reliance of the United States,

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I N D I V I D U A L S

Awards

New Endowed Chairs

John Alford, Associate Professor of

Michael Emerson, Allyn R. & Gladys

Phil Kortum, Professor in the Practice

Michael Lindsay, Assistant Professor of

Lanny Martin, Associate Professor of

Political Science, received a National

M. Cline Professor of Sociology and

of Psychology, received an Exxon

Sociology, received the Best Article Award

Political Science, received a National

Science Foundation (NSF) grant

Director of CORRUL, received a Russell

Mobil Award for “Software Ergonomics

from the Society for the Scientific Study of

Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER grant

for “Genes and Politics: Providing

Sage Foundation grant with Elaine

Assessment Tools.”

Religion for his paper “Evangelicals in the

for “Government Policy Responsiveness in

the Necessary Data” and an NSF

Ecklund, Assistant Professor of Sociology,

Power Elite: Elite Cohesion Advancing a

Multiparty Parliamentary Democracies.”

grant for “Investigating the Genetic

for “Religion and the Changing Face of

Basis of Economic Behavior.”

American Civic Life,” and the George R. Brown Award for Superior Teaching.

Jenifer Bratter, Assistant Professor

His book, People of the Dream: Multiracial

of Sociology, received the 2009 Career

Congregations in the United States, received

Enhancement Fellowship from the

the Oliver Cromwell Cox Award from the

Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship

American Sociological Association, Racial

Foundation.

Sociology and Director of the Urban Research Center of Houston, received the George R. Brown Prize for Superior Teaching and the George R. Brown Certificate of Highest Merit – Lifetime Teaching Award.

and Ethnic Minorities Section. Previously,

David Lane, Associate Professor of

Michael Byrne, Associate Professor of

it was named one of Choice’s “Outstanding

Psychology, received a University of Texas

Psychology, received an Office of Naval

Academic Titles” for 2006.

Health Science Center Award to participate

Research grant for “Systematic Error

Bridget Gorman, Associate Professor of

and Slowdown in the Execution of

Sociology, received the George R. Brown

Isomorphic Routine Procedures.”

Prize for Excellence in Teaching.

Royce Carroll, Assistant Professor of

Holly Heard, Assistant Professor of

Political Science, received a National

Sociology, received a National Center for

Science Foundation (NSF) grant for

Marriage Research at Bowling Green State

“How Nominations Affect Government Formation” and a Dirksen Congressional Center Award in conjunction with the University of Arizona for “Changing Congressional Rhetoric, Polarization, and

University grant for “Family Instability

in their NIH grant for “ADHD Symptoms in Autism: Cognition, Behavior, Treatment.” Ashley Leeds, Albert Thomas Associate Professor of Political Science, received the Karl Deutsch Award for outstanding international relations scholar under the age of 40.

Movement.” His book, Faith in the Halls of Power: How Evangelicals Joined the American Elite, received the Best Book Award from the Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action. Previously,

Randi Martin, Elma W. Schneider Professor of Psychology, received a National Institutes of Health (NIH) award for “Short-term Memory and Syntactic Deficits in Aphasia.”

the book received the “Best Book of 2007”

Fred Oswald, Associate Professor of

award by Publishers Weekly and the

Psychology, received an award from the

Christianity Today Book Award in 2008.

U.S. Navy for “SYRUS-Individual Differences

Jessica Logan, Assistant Professor of Psychology, received a Teagle Foundation grant for “Implementing and Evaluating the in the Classroom.”

received an award from the Spencer Foundation

Foundation grant for “Immigrant Civic Engagement and Political Participation.”

entitled “A Multi-year Study of Undergraduates Writing Performance.” Robert Stein, Lena Gohlman Fox Professor of Political Science, received a grant from

The Cumulation and Timing of Family

the Pew Charitable Trust for “Increasing

Transitions Across Childhood.”

Turnout Among the Less Engaged: A Pilot Study of Election Day Vote Centers.”

Mikki Hebl, Associate Professor of

in the U.S. House of Representatives.”

Psychology, received the Charles R.

Randolph Stevenson, Associate Professor

Duncan Achievement Award for

of Political Science, received a National

Elaine Ecklund, Assistant Professor of

Outstanding Faculty and the Nicolas

Science Foundation (NSF) grant for “Political

Sociology, received a National Science

Salgo Distinguished Teaching Award.

Context and Political Knowledge in Modern

of Women in Academic Science” and a Michael Emerson, Professor of Sociology, for “Religion and the Changing Face of

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Center for Poverty Research at the University of Kentucky for “Poverty, Race/Ethnicity, and Children's Overweight and Obesity:

American Civic Life.”

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Democracies.”

of Sociology, received an award from the

Russell Sage Foundation grant with

E

George Zodrow Allyn R. and Gladys M. Cline Chair of Economics

to participate in Princeton University’s research

and Adolescent Educational Success:

Rachel Kimbro, Assistant Professor

Robin Sickles Reginald Henry Hargrove Chair of Economics

Adaptability.” James Pomerantz, Professor of Psychology,

Political Science, received a Russell Sage

Steve Murdock Allyn R. and Gladys M. Cline Chair of Sociology

Physiological and Psychological Measures of

Use of Distributed Practice and Self-Testing

Melissa Marschall, Associate Professor of

Peter Hartley George and Cynthia Mitchell Chair in Sustainable Development and Environmental Economics

in Multitasking Performance: Integrating

the Breakdown of Organizational Parties

Foundation (NSF) grant for “Perceptions

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Stephen Klineberg, Professor of

Keith Hamm Thomas Cooke and Mary Elizabeth Edwards Memorial Chair in American Government

Setting a Course for Lifelong Disparities.”

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I N D I V I D U A L S

Journals American Journal of Political Science

Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition

During major political events,

Journal of Productivity Analysis

National Tax Journal Taxation is an issue

Increased productivity

that affects society

is important to

in many ways, with

New Faculty

Retirees

Since 2008, the School of Social Sciences has hired ten new faculty members. They are:

Peter Mieszkowski

Dominic Boyer

Fred Oswald

(Ph.D., University of Chicago)

(Ph.D., University of Minnesota)

Associate Professor of Anthropology Associate Professor of Psychology

such as the

How the brain

society because it

significant effects

presidential

functions is a mystery

can improve living

on individuals and

election, political scientists are at work

to most of us. To unravel some of

standards and create income.

families at all income levels and on all

analyzing outcomes to increase our

the mystique, psychologists studying

The Journal of Productivity Analysis edited

business entities. One of the premier

understanding of political behavior.

cognition look to experimental studies

by Robin Sickles, the Reginald Henry

journals in the fields of taxation, public

After 27 years at Rice University, Professor of Economics Peter Mieszkowski will retire at the end of the 2008-2009 school year. Dr. Mieszkowski has served in

His work is on media and

His work is in industrial/

knowledge with a particular

organizational psychology with

focus on Europe.

a focus on testing.

Elaine Ecklund

Natalia M. Sizova

at Johns Hopkins University.

(Ph.D., Duke University,

Mieszkowski’s research at Rice

academia since 1962 when he began his career at Yale University after completing his Ph.D. in Economics

The culmination

found in the

Hargrove Chair

finance, and

(Ph.D., Cornell University)

of landmark

Journal of

of Economics,

economics

Assistant Professor of Sociology

expected May 2009)

University has mainly focused on the

research in the

Experimental

recommends

is the National

Her work is on religion and its

Assistant Professor of Economics

subject of public urban economics,

field of political

Psychology:

managerial

Tax Journal.

importance cross-culturally and

Her work is in the econometrics

taxation, and a recent focus on oil

among scientists.

of finance.

and gas governance. Among his many

Tarek Elhaik

Ted Temzelides

(Ph.D., University of

(Ph.D., University of Minnesota)

California, Berkeley)

Professor of Economics

Assistant Professor of Anthropology

His work is in macro-economics,

His work is on aesthetics and the

specifically monetary exchange.

science can be

Learning,

strategies and

George Zodrow,

found in the

Memory, and

public policy

the Allyn R.

American Journal

Cognition edited

to enhance

and Gladys M.

of Political Science. Rick K. Wilson, Herbert

by Randi Martin, the Elma W. Schneider

productivity. This eminent journal

Cline Chair of Economics and a leading

S. Autrey Professor of Political Science,

Professor of Psychology. This bimonthly

which is published six times per year

expert on tax policy and tax reform, is its

has just been named editor of this leading

journal includes some of the most

includes theoretical and applied research

editor. This peer-reviewed journal is

journal. The journal is published by

influential studies in cognitive psychology

addressing the measurement, analysis,

published quarterly by the National Tax

Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the Midwest

and covers basic processes of cognition,

and improvement of productivity.

Association. Recent issues have explored

cultural importance of film.

Anton Villado (Ph.D., Texas A&M University)

Political Science Association and covers

learning, memory, imagery, concept

A recent article in the journal discusses

topics ranging from the effects of taxes

Songying Fang

all major areas of political science –

formation, problem solving, decision

productivity and efficiency on state-

on economic growth to compliance issues

(Ph.D., University of Rochester)

Assistant Professor of Psychology

American politics, comparative politics,

making, thinking, reading, and language

owned enterprises in China. It is the

raised by the earned income tax credit.

Assistant Professor of

His work is in industrial/

international relations, methodology,

processing. Even though it may seem

official journal of the Productivity

When asked about his experience as

Political Science

organizational psychology,

and theory. As the editor of this journal,

that the journal encompasses the whole

Analysis Research Network. Professor

editor, Professor Zodrow replied, “My

Her work is on the effect of

specifically training in the

Professor Wilson is looking forward to

spectrum of cognitive sciences, as editor,

Sickles is excited that he will be bringing

work as editor thus far has been both

international institutions on

workplace.

choosing the very best scientific work

Professor Martin would like to see the

the North American Productivity

challenging and rewarding, and it has

dispute settlements in

for publication. Professor Wilson’s own

journal increase coverage of cognitive

Workshop to Rice University in 2010

been a pleasure evaluating the state-

international relations.

research uses experimental methods

neuropsychology and cognitive neuroscience,

and 2012 and that special issues of the

of-the-art research that is published

to explore strategic choice by political

growing fields of study. Professor Martin

journal will be based on state-of-the-art

in the journal.” Besides being editor of

and economic actors. This research is

has been using neuroimaging to enhance

research presented at the two conferences.

a top journal, Professor Zodrow is a

supported by grants from the National

her own research on language processing.

Professor Sickles’ own research focuses

Rice Scholar in the Tax and Expenditure

Science Foundation and is facilitated

In 2001, Professor Martin was elected a

on applied econometrics. In addition,

Policy Program at the Baker Institute

by the Rice University Behavioral

Fellow of the American Association for the

Professor Sickles was elected as a Fellow

for Public Policy. He also holds

Research Laboratory. Dr. Wilson is also

Advancement of Science and most recently,

of the Journal of Econometrics and

an appointment as an International

an expert on the evolution of American

she has been elected a Fellow of the Society

elected as an officer of the American

Research Fellow at the Centre on

political institutions.

of Experimental Psychologists (SEP).

Statistical Association.

Business Taxation at Oxford University.

achievements, he has authored two books and numerous articles, has served as the Director of the Center for the Study of Institutions and Values, and as advisor to the honorary Omicron Delta Epsilon. David Schneider After 21 years at Rice University, Psychology Professor David Schneider will retire at the end of the 2008-2009 school year. During his tenure at Rice, Dr. Schneider served as the Psychology Department Chair, the Division

Siyang Xiong

Advisor for Social Sciences students at

(Ph.D., Northwestern

Hanszen College, and taught over 25

Cymene Howe

University, expected July 2009)

psychology courses. He has authored

(Ph.D., University of New Mexico)

Assistant Professor of Economics

numerous articles and four books

Assistant Professor of Anthropology

His work is in micro-economics,

including The Psychology of Stereotyping.

Her work is on sexuality and gender

specifically game theory and

Professor Schneider’s research deals

identity in Latin America.

strategic approximation in

with the categorization of people, in

incomplete information games.

particular the nature of “compound categories.” Schneider’s research has examined how some categories lead to stereotypes and these dominate how people perceive others, no matter the content of the other category.

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School of Social Sciences, MS #27

Rice University PO Box 1892 Houston, TX 77251-1892 http://socialsciences.rice.edu

School of Social Sciences

Department Chairs

Center and Program Directors

Social Sciences Advisory Board

Lyn Ragsdale Dean

Eugenia Georges Anthropology

Ipek Martinez Assistant Dean

Mahmoud El-Gamal Economics

Michael Emerson The Center on Race, Religion, and Urban Life ( CORRUL)

Lisa Birenbaum Manager of Communications and Academic Affairs

Rick Wilson Political Science

Doyle Arnold ‘70 Michael Bahorich Vicki Bretthauer ‘79 Robert Clarke ‘63 Sandra Godfrey ‘88 John P. Hansen ‘71 The Honorable W.P. Hobby ‘53 William G. Nelson, IV ‘65 George A. Peterkin, Jr. Randa Duncan Williams ‘85 Michael Zilkha

Heather Willrich Stern Manager of Grant Administration Abbey Shaunessy Social Sciences Coordinator

Stephan Motowidlo Psychology Elizabeth Long Sociology

Suzanne Kemmer Cognitive Sciences Keith Hamm Harlan Program in State Politics Richard Stoll Managerial Studies Don Ostdiek Policy Studies Peter Hartley Shell Center for Sustainability Stephen Klineberg Urban Research Center of Houston