Reading in the news - Mon 7 Jul

Floods in Texas:

, The Times (print), , , and  quote Professor Hannah Cloke (Geography/Meteorology) and Dr Jess Neumann (Geography and Environmental Sciences), responding to news of severe flash flooding in Texas, over the weekend. The Times Radio interview Jeff Da Costa (Geography and Environmental Sciences) on the same topic. Also covered, with our comments, by ,  and . From our story: Texas floods - Expert comment

#UniForReading: our role as a civic university  

• BBC Radio Berkshire highlighted the University Tennis Park as a community indoor tennis centre, noting it offers varied opportunities for public and club-level play.
• reports on Henley Royal Regatta, highlighting that a hybrid team of Leander Club and the University won an earlier stage of the Town Challenge Cup. This news also features in the Henley Royal Regatta Day 5 round-up. later reports that the crew was defeated by Hollandia Rowing Club 'A' in the final of the Town Challenge Cup.

Health and wellbeing

• , , , , , and report that Dr Gunter Kuhnle (Food and Nutritional Sciences) points out the limitations of epidemiological studies in determining the impact of consuming cured meats on cancer risk.

Business and society:

• reports that the University earned a three-star rating for its excellence in curriculum innovation, ethical procurement, and student engagement, relating to Fairtrade.
• features Professor Rhona Stainthorp (Education), who criticises the creator of the ITA scheme – a briefly-used technique for teaching children to read in the 1960s and 1970s – as misguided and lacking educational expertise. Republished by , , , and .

#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment 

• Professor Hannah Cloke (Geography/Meteorology) warns of potential future water security issues in the UK if mitigation strategies aren’t taken seriously. , , and , report.
• quotes Dr Pete Inness (Meteorology) explaining how sudden temperature changes at altitude can cause hailstorms. Republished by .
• quotes Kerry Stewart warning of an unprecedented bird extinction crisis, with up to 500 species at risk within a century. From our story: 500 bird species face extinction within the next century.
• reports Professor Richard Allan (Meteorology) explaining that rising greenhouse gas levels are making it harder for the planet to shed excess heat.
• LBC News Radio interview Dr Akshay Deoras (Meteorology) on the heat dome leading to hot weather in Europe.

Heritage and culture:

• , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,  , , and more report that Dr Geoff Smith (Archaeology) co-authored a study on a 125,000-year-old Neanderthal “fat factory” in Germany, showing early resource management techniques. From our story: Neanderthals crushed animal bones to hoard fat for winter.
• BBC Radio 4 interviewed Dr Nicola Wilson (English Literature) about her new book, Recommended!, which explores the history of the first celebrity book club

Other coverage:

• highlights Neapolis University Paphos’ strategic academic collaborations, including its partnership with the Law School of the University.
• BBC Radio Berkshire and BBC 1 South interviewed Steve Musson (Geography and Environmental Science), who explained that in 2025, shopping centre redevelopment trends in Slough favour mixed-use spaces with residential units.

Alumni:

• mentions that Sophie Walker captained the University team in the 2017 Christmas University Challenge final, where they lost 240-0, the show's largest recorded defeat. Republished by and .
• and report that Nomvula Zeldah Mabuza, a Risk Governance and Compliance Specialist, is currently an MBA candidate at Henley Business School, South Africa.
• features Coralie Bickford-Smith, who credits her education at the University for launching her design career, leading to her iconic work with Penguin’s Clothbound Classics.
• reports that G. Karampelas has joined the Hellenic Wineries Group and is an alumnus of Henley Business School, where he completed leadership programmes.