HR620 - Congratulating Rice University's Wiess School of Natural Sciences on its 50th anniversary.

      H.R. No. 620       R E S O L U T I O N          WHEREAS, Rice University's Wiess School of Natural Sciences   is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2025; and          WHEREAS, Established in 1975, the school was named in tribute   to Harry Carothers Wiess and Olga Keith Wiess, major supporters of   the university; Mr. Wiess, one of the founders of ExxonMobil,   became a trustee in 1944 and served as vice chair of the board of   governors from 1946 until his death two years later; Mrs. Wiess   assisted him in the creation of the university's science and   engineering fund and the Keith-Wiess Geological Laboratories; and          WHEREAS, Rice University president Norman Hackerman guided   the formation of the Wiess School from departments previously   grouped with engineering, including biology, biochemistry,   chemistry, geology, mathematical sciences, mathematics, physics,   and space physics and astronomy; today, the school offers 19 majors   and 7 minors; students participate in cutting-edge research across   core and interdisciplinary fields, among them environmental   science, and collaborate frequently with Texas Medical Center; the   school also offers a professional science master's degree program   that prepares scholars for prominent roles in bioscience, health   policy, environmental analysis, energy, and other sectors; and          WHEREAS, The Wiess School takes great pride in the myriad   accolades received by its faculty and staff from such eminent   organizations as the National Academy of Sciences, the U.S.   National Science Foundation, and the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial   Foundation; professors Robert Curl and Richard Smalley established   Rice's reputation as a leader in nanoscience and materials research   by winning the 1985 Nobel Prize for their work on carbon-60; and          WHEREAS, Since its inception, the Wiess School has benefited   by the vision and dynamism of a number of able and energetic   leaders; dean William Gordon was the first, and since 2021, the   school has moved from strength to strength under dean Thomas   Killian; and          WHEREAS, Over the course of a half century, the Wiess School   has played a significant role in fostering scientific advancement   while opening pathways of opportunity for the next generation of   innovators; now, therefore, be it          RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas   Legislature hereby congratulate Rice University's Wiess School of   Natural Sciences on its 50th anniversary and extend to all those   associated with the school sincere best wishes for continued   success; and, be it further          RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be   prepared for the school as an expression of high regard by the Texas   House of Representatives.     Johnson     ______________________________   Speaker of the House                 I certify that H.R. No. 620 was adopted by the House on March   31, 2025, by a non-record vote.     ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House