Reading in the news - Thu 1 May

Health and wellbeing:

• Professor Ciara McCabe (Psychology) is quoted by about how dopamine works.
• , , and highlight a study led by Professor Claire Williams (Psychology), which found that eating 50g of walnuts significantly improves memory and reaction times. Republished by , and . From our story: Eating walnuts for breakfast may boost your brain function

#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment 

• Heart Radio mentioned new climate stripes that show warming in oceans and the atmosphere. From our story: Climate stripes expand to show warming oceans and atmosphere
• quotes Professor Ed Hawkins (Meteorology), who disagrees with Tony Blair’s stance on not rapidly phasing out fossil fuels. Republished by , , and .
• PhD student Theo Keeping (Meteorology) spoke to ITV News about April’s warm weather.
• Envirotec Magazine (in print) mentions University research which investigated broader insect population trends.
• , and quote Professor David Brayshaw (Meteorology) on power blackouts in Spain and Portugal. From our story: Spain and Portugal: Expert comments on power outages
• quotes Professor Andrew Charlton-Perez (Meteorology) on A.I advancements in weather forecasting.
• BBC Radio Berkshire spoke to Dr Andrea Dittus (Meteorology) about the challenges of living in a rapidly warming climate.
• BBC Radio Berkshire interviewed Dr Pete Innes (Meteorology) about the warm end to April.
• Professor Chris Hilson (Law) is quoted in com about environmental activism after energy and water bosses were placed under citizens’ arrests.

Food and farming:

• highlights a study led by Dr Charlotte Howard, which found that planting wildflowers in apple orchards could save farmers thousands in pest control costs. From our story: Flower strips could save apple farmers pest control costs
• mentions the launch of a new UK Probiotic Guide by AEProbio, which was funded by the University’s INFORM Hub.

Heritage and culture:

• mentions a University professor spoke to students at Reading Bluecoat School.

Business and society:

• features a comment from a University professor about student recruitment from Malaysia.

Other coverage:

• reports that the University is calling for charities to apply for its Charity of the Year scheme.

Alumni:

• features Nomvula Mabuza, an MBA candidate at Henley Business School, South Africa. Republished by .
• features Jan Peter Madsen, Senior Partner at Blaabjerg & Madsen Consulting, who holds studied Business Design at Henley Business School.
• reports the death of bestselling crime novelist Peter Lovesey at age 88. He graduated with an English degree from the University in 1958.