Reading in the news - Thu 22 May

BSE return?  and  quote Professor Ian Jones (Biomedical Sciences) who says a recent BSE case in cattle should be a rare event.

#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment

•  features comments from Professor Ed Hawkins (Meteorology) on Britain’s dry spring. Republished by .
•  features comments from Dr Robert Lee (Meteorology), on how AI models are supporting traditional weather forecast techniques. 
• New Scientist (in print) features comments from Professor Richard Allan (Meteorology) on sustained levels of global warming. 
•  (Scotland) features Theo Keeping (Geography and Environmental Science) on increased wildfire risks as global temperatures rise.
• Texas Public Radio highlighted a University study showing that ocean warming has more than quadrupled over the past 40 years.
• , , BBC Radio Solent and  feature Professor Simon Potts and Dr Deepa Senapathi (Sustainable Land Management), who warn that microplastics and the Ukraine invasion are new threats to bee populations. From our story: Bees face new threats, putting our survival & theirs at risk.
•  highlights a Reading and Royal Horticultural Society study on how plants with round leaves can boost mood.

Food and farming:

•  features a Reading study on how bananas in smoothies may reduce the beneficial effects. Republished by  and .
•  reports on study finding dairy-inclusive diets result in more stable blood sugar levels than strict vegan diets. From our story: Veggie diet beats vegan for diabetes prevention benefits.
•  quotes Professor Gunter Kuhnle (Food and Nutritional Sciences) on how flavanols in tea can reduce heart disease risk.

Business and society:

• BBC Parliament featured a speech by Yuan Yang MP, Labour MP for Woodley and Earley, who said University students and employees will benefit from increased minimum wage and employment rights.
•  features Naeema Pasha (Henley Business School), who highlights that Gen Z’s “5 to 9” work trend can lead to burnout.
•  features Professor Nada Kakabadse (Henley Business School) speaking at the “Future of Governance” 2025 conference on building trust in institutions. 

Other coverage:

•  features the return of the Reading Guild of Artists exhibition at London Road Campus.
• BBC Radio Kent, BBC Radio Sussex and BBC Radio Surrey interviewed Dr Mark Shanahan (formerly at Reading, now at Surrey) discussing student suicide prevention efforts and highlighting advantages of a people-first approach.
•  reports on a university report that finds that online mental health tools are more effective when a human element is included. Republished by , ,  and , .
•  ranks the University 20th in its 2025 list of best UK universities for Artificial Intelligence.

Alumni:

•  features Lee Hwan-cheol, CEO of LNC Bio, who holds a master’s degree in corporate finance from Reading.
• Mark Ashcroft, an ICMA Centre finance graduate, has been appointed Business Development Advisor for North America at Empress Royalty, reports , , , , , ,  and .
•  Siyabonga Dyosiba, the NHBRC’s new CIO, a Henley graduate.