Reading in the news - Thu 9 Jan

Wicked: A new documentary on about stage musical, Wicked, has been released to coincide with the new film version. This features an interview with Professor Karin Lesnik-Oberstein (English Literature) and items from the University archive, relating to the work of L. Frank Baum, author of the Wizard of Oz books.

Health and wellbeing:

• The , and other outlets reported on research related to bowel cancer risk factors, suggesting that dietary calcium is an important factor in preventing cancers from developing. Professor Ian Givens (Agriculture) is quoted.
• Dr Simon Clarke gives commentary to on the cases of human metapneumovirus that are spiking in northern China.
• In an article about mood boosting foods, refer to research at the University that found that a wild blueberry based drink gave positive mood effects.

Heritage and culture:

• Multiple media outlets covered the discovery of a Roman-era artifact – a dog penis bone, stained red for Roman fertility rituals - at a quarry site in Surrey, featuring comments from University archaeologists, including Ellen Green. Coverage included the , the , , and others.
• Professor Anne Lawrence-Mathers (History) speaks to BBC Berkshire about vampires and the stories that define them.
• Kerri-Anne Chisholm (Art), a PhD student, is involved in a new collaborative and creative space, reports .
• Dr Tijana Blanusa (Crop Science) is quoted by the on the value of having plants in homes and offices.
• has investigated a film featuring the Prime Minister that has been identified as a fake, produced by AI. Dr Dominic Lees (Film, Theatre and Television) is quoted.

Environment and Climate:

• quoted Professor Richard Allan (Meteorology) discussing recent global temperature changes.
• reported on climate stripes data showing 2024 temperature records, featuring Dr Ed Hawkins' (Meteorology) work.
• reported on University weather data showing December 2024 was the gloomiest since the 1950s, featuring Robert Thompson's analysis.
• reports on flash floods in Indonesia in March 2022, featuring comments by former Reading student Ainur Ridho.
• Heart Berkshire and mention evidence from the University that December was the dullest since 1921.
• Professor Chris Hilson (Law) writes for about incentivising fossil fuel-exporting countries to cut emissions associated with their exports.
• A on the flooding in Valencia features an interview with Professor Chris Scott (Meteorology).

Business and Society:

• published pieces on business transformation featuring Chris Dalton (Henley Business School).
• Professor Rosa Freedman was interviewed by France24 about prisoner transfers from Guantanamo Bay.

Education and Research:

• BBC Radio networks featured interviews with Professor Jane Setter (Modern Languages & Linguistics) about research into the traits people associate with the Welsh accent. Coverage on BBC Radio Berkshire and BBC Radio Oxford.

#UniversityForReading:

• covered the Hall Farm development consultation.
• Yuan Yang, MP for Earley and Woodley, mentions, in an interview for BBC Newsnight, that there will be many students from the University who will benefit from a rise in the minimum wage.

Other Coverage:

• The 桃色视频 was mentioned in coverage about smart waste management initiatives in Qatar by , , and others.

Alumni:

• Multiple South African outlets reported on Darryl Erasmus's appointment as Chief Operations Officer of South African Tourism, noting his Henley Business School background. Coverage in , .