Reading in the news - Wed 31 May

Flavanols improve memory: Flavanols, a micronutrient found in tea, berries and apples, have a positive effect on memory, a study co-authored by Professor Gunter Kuhnle (Food and Nutritional Sciences) and has found. Continued coverage by , The Guardian (in print - request print copy), The Sun (in print - request print copy), The Times (in print - request print copy), Daily Express (in print - request print copy), Irish News (in print - request print copy), Belfast Telegraph (in print - request print copy), , , , , , , , , and others. interviewed Professor Kuhnle on how flavanols work. and various also reported on the research. Read our news story.

Freedom of speech: Professor Rosa Freedman (Law) was interviewed by about freedom of speech on campus, linked to controversy over the appearance of Prof Kathleen Stock at the Oxford Union. A clip of the interview was also played on and regional stations including , , , , and .

#UniForReading: our role as a civic university  

• and reported on the opening of the Manor Ground sports facility in Shinfield. 

• named the University as a supporter of BFL Skill Clusters, which aims to fund and support the accessibility of work in screen production.  

• Dan Fernbank (Energy and Sustainability Director) is quoted by on how heat pumps will decarbonise the University’s estate. Read our news story.

• mention Dr Ruvi Ziegler (Law) and Dr Allán Laville (Dean for Diversity & Inclusion) will take part in the University's upcoming annual Wolfenden Lecture, hosted in collaboration with the University's LGBTQ+ staff and events team. Read our news story.

#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment

• Professor Chris Hilson (Law) is quoted by on the UK's implementation of the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) which aims to improve the recycling and reuse of unsustainable packaging materials.

• Dr Akshay Deoras (Meteorology) is quoted by , discussing climate model predictions of tropical cyclones in parts of India.  
  

Food and farming:

• names the University as part of the Linking Environment and Farming's (LEAF) UK network of "world-leading innovation centres and demonstration farms." 

Business and society:

• Professor Yelena Kalyuzhnova (Henley Business School) was interviewed by , as part of a panel of experts, on the mutually beneficial partnership between China and Central Asia. 

Other Coverage:

• A repeat episode of aired, in which Professor Steve Mithen (Archaeology) discussed the University's archaeological digs on the east coast of the Isle of Islay. 

• revisited moments from when the University reached the final of last year's University Challenge.

• , , , , and mention that microbiology expert, Dr Jeffrey Almond previously worked as a professor at the University. 
  

Alumni:

• , , , and interviewed business executive, Philip Bourchier O’Ferrall, and mentioned that he is a Reading graduate. 

• reports on the appointment of Henley Business School alumna, Lucia Swartz, as an independent non-executive director at Santam Limited.