American children today are less active than ever before. On this episode, experts explore the relationship between our urban environments, childhood safety, and well-being.
Zoabe Hafeez, Sandra McKay, Edward M. EmmettApril 30, 2024
Latinos are the largest and most rapidly expanding minority group in the U.S. Our latest brief describes the overall state of health and wellness among Latino children and the broader community — including indicators of obesity, mental health, and kindergarten readiness.
Sandra McKay, Christopher F. Kulesza, Katarina ReyesMarch 14, 2024
Baker Institute experts examine the implications of the Alabama Supreme Court's recent ruling that frozen embryos can be considered children under state law. Listen as they explore both the science of human embryo research and the impacts on access to reproductive health care in the United States.
Kirstin R.W. Matthews, McClain Sampson, Edward M. EmmettFebruary 28, 2024
Over half of all Americans live in a state where cannabis is legalized. And yet, the federal government has not reclassified marijuana since 1970. According to the Controlled Substances Act, it is considered a “Schedule 1” substance — the same classification as heroin and crack cocaine with no accepted medical use.
Victoria Jupp, Gary J. Hale, Lisa PittmanFebruary 9, 2024
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the academic trajectories of students and exacerbated disparities among our youths. In a new conference report, read how policymakers, educators, parents, and researchers propose to close the COVID-19 achievement gap in schools.
Sandra McKay, Christopher F. Kulesza, Katarina ReyesDecember 21, 2023
Synthetic biology is an emerging field with many possibilities to improve health, energy, the environment, and our food systems. This one-pager defines and describes what a synthetic biology project could look like.
Alicia L. Johnson, Kirstin R.W. Matthews, Caroline SniderDecember 15, 2023
The COVID-19 pandemic revealed a gap in our ability to track and stop the spread of infectious diseases. With funding from the National Science Foundation, a Rice University research team is engineering bacteria to sustainably and continuously monitor wastewater for viruses.
Alicia L. Johnson, Kirstin R.W. Matthews, Caroline SniderNovember 1, 2023
In months and years following Hurricane Harvey, the vast majority of Harris County residents supported policy action to mitigate the impact of future natural disasters. On this episode of Baker Briefing, fellow Edward Emmett and Rice faculty scholar Jim Blackburn explore a critical question: Is Houston ready for the next big storm?
Six years after Hurricane Harvey deluged the Texas Gulf Coast, how exposed are Houston and Harris County to flooding risk? Jim Blackburn and Jennifer Borski examine key challenges and changes needed going forward.