Reading in the news - Fri 9 May

Business and society:

• interviewed Professor David Castellani (Henley Business School), who discussed the potential economic impact of the new UK-US trade deal.
• and highlight comments from Professor Lisa Purse (Film, Theatre & Television), warning that proposed US tariffs on film could severely impact the UK screen industry. From our story: Trump film tariffs: Screen experts call for urgent action.
• and cover new research by Henley Business School’s World of Work Institute, which examined the public’s feelings towards AI. From our story:
• references a 2018 study by Henley Business School that found that 78% of companies implementing a four-day work week experienced increased productivity.

#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment 

• mentions Professor Paul Williams (Meteorology) presented research on global warming’s impact on clear-air turbulence at the European Geosciences Union conference.
• quotes Professor David Brayshaw (Meteorology) on the power blackouts in Spain and Portugal.
• quotes Professor Richard Allan (Meteorology) on the potential breaching of the 1.5c global warming limit.
• reports on a new University study highlighting new Climate Stripes visualisations. From our story: Climate stripes expand to show warming oceans and atmosphere.
• Dr Manuela González-Suárez (Ecology) is quoted by , describing new data on a 250% surge in scorpion sting cases in Brazil as “striking”. Originally reported by .

Health and wellbeing:

• and highlight a study that finds eating walnuts at breakfast improves brain function. From our story: Eating walnuts for breakfast may boost your brain function.

Food and farming:

• quotes Dr Paola Tosi (Agriculture) who explains that changing seasonal weather patterns are making it difficult for farmers to decide what to plant.
• and mention the University helped develop the Precision Farming feature in Farming Simulator.

Heritage and culture:

• quotes Professor Rebecca Rist (History) on the special ‘Fisherman’s Ring’ Popes are given upon their election. Republished by , , and .
• ’s Loose Ends features Professor Kate Williams (History), who discusses her new podcast series Queens, Kings, and Dastardly Things.
• spoke to Dr Nicola Wilson (English Literature) about shifts in reading patterns during wartime.

#UniForReading: our role as a civic university  

• and reports that the University is inviting charities across the Thames Valley to apply for its Charity of the Year Scheme. From our story: Applications open for University Charity of the Year

Other coverage:

• mentions Stuart Brown, Chief Digital & Information Officer at the University, who attended a global education event.
• highlights author Eimear McBride, who held the University's inaugural Creative Fellowship at the Beckett Research Centre, as a judge at the Wild Atlantic Words short story competition.
• reports that the Reading University Boat Club (RUBC) was crowned men’s champion at the BUCS Regatta 2025. From our story: Best year yet for rowers at Europe’s top student event.
• reports on the the University's Celebration of Volunteering awards. From our story: Volunteers celebrated at University annual awards.

Alumni:

• highlights Natasha Medhurst BSc (Hons), FIFST, a Food Technology graduate from the University, who hosts a webinar on AI formulation in the food and beverage industry.
• features Tanya George, a type designer who studied MA Typeface Design at the University in 2015.