Reading in the news - Mon 10 Nov

Electric bees: Professor Giles Harrison (Meteorology) spoke to BBC World Service Radio and BBC Radio 4 (replayed ABC News Australia and more than 50 global broadcasters) about his research into bees and electric charge.

Health and wellbeing:

• Dr Simon Clarke (Biomedical Science) was quoted by  and  on how to avoid getting ill in winter.
• Dr Hisham Al-Obaidi (Pharmacy) was quoted by  on the ineffectiveness of over-the-counter decongestant, phenylephrine.
• mentioned a study from Professor Netta Weinstein (Psychology) on spending time alone. From our story: Alone but not lonely: how solitude boosts wellbeing
• CNFO Radio and other local US broadcasts mentioned research from Professor Ciara McCabe (Psychology) on colouring in and depression.

Food and farming:

•  highlighted a study into how bananas alter nutrient absorption in smoothies.
•  mentioned a research project looking into how AI can be used to make agriculture more sustainable.
• The Times (print) quoted Professor Julie Lovegrove (Food and Nutritional Sciences) on the benefits of eating more beans, peas, and lentils.
• Research which found benefits to eating walnuts was highlighted by  and .

Business and society:

• , , , , Daily Mail, and others reported on evidence given by Professor Jo Phoenix (Law) at the Darlington Hospital nurses tribunal.
• Professor Robert Van de Noort, Vice Chancellor, was interviewed by  on the benefits and risks of specialisation of universities.
•  included comments from Professor Andrew Charlton-Perez (SMPCS) on plans for school national curriculum reform in England, on climate education. From our expert comment: Curriculum and Assessment Review
•  and highlighted Henley Business School research which found benefits to four-day working weeks.

Heritage and culture:

• , The i Paper, Daily Telegraph, Sun, and Daily Mail reported on a new  airing tomorrow (Tuesday 11 Nov), in which Sandi Toksvig visits the University’s archaeological excavations at Cookham. From our story: Sandi Toksvig discovers Cookham monastery’s Hidden Wonders.
• Professor Andrew Mangham (English Literature) spoke to BBC Radio Berkshire about the influence A Christmas Carol had on holiday traditions.

#UniForReading: our role as a civic university

•  and  reported on the submission of plans for the University’s Loddon Garden Village project. From our story: Planning application submitted for Loddon Garden Village
• Professor Robert Van de Noort, Vice Chancellor, wrote for  about the importance of universities in helping regional economies with skills and jobs.
•  and  reported on a University-funded nutrition project for local SEND children involving Professor Kate Harvey and Natalie Ellison (both Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences). From our story: Supporting SENDfamilies through food, play and nutrition
•  and  feature comment from Cllr Liz Terry, the leader of Reading Borough Council, on how the University is supporting efforts to tackle climate change.

#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment

• Eme Dean-Lewis (Meteorology/) spoke to Times Radio about the upcoming COP30 summit, and its focus on deforestation.
• Dr Xiangbo Feng (Meteorology) was quoted by , , , , and other outlets on climate change and Typhoon Kalmaegi. Comments from Dr Feng were also featured by , , , and other on Typhon Fung-wong.
•  (republished by  and ) quoted Dr Rob Thompson (Meteorology) on the difficulty of predicting snow in the UK.
• , , ,  and and others mentioned research from Professor Paul Williams (Meteorology) on air turbulence. From our story: Turbulent flights to continue as warming world shakes skies
•  highlighted that the University will be a location of upcoming IPCC workshops.
• Dr Jamie Thompson (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology) wrote for  (republished by ) about the Earth’s psychedelic plants.
• Professor Keith Shine (Meteorology) was also quoted by  and  on his research co-authored by Professor Laura Wilcox (Meteorology).
• Professor Hannah Cloke (Geography/Meteorology) was quoted by , ,   (republished by  and ) and others on drought measures in the UK.
•  (republished by ) featured comments from Dr Jess Neumann (Geography) about riverside flooding risks.
•  reported on research from Professor Sandy Harrison (Geography and Environmental Science). From our story: How fire, climate and people shaped Africa’s landscapes.

Other coverage:

• , , , and  featured research from Dr Brian Pickles (Ecology) on a method of finding dinosaur fossils. From our story: Lichens and drones reveal dinosaur bones.
•  mentioned a study investigating the impact indoor plants have on air quality.
•  highlighted Henley Business School’s ranking in the Corporate Knights 2025 MBA Ranking.
•  featured student Shin Gyo-jun, who won The Ministry of Science and ICT competition for work on AI.

Alumni:

•  mentioned that Behavioural Finance graduate Victoria Gevorkova has been appointed as a fund research analyst for Arbuthnot Latham.
•  interviewed software engineer Greg Burns, who studied Computer Science and Cybernetics.
•  provided a biography of Professor Alan Wild, who taught Agricultural Chemistry.
•  featured Reading graduate Wilson Kwong, who is the new Director of Hong Kong Transport Services.
•  (republished by ) interviewed Rashid Tar-Mahomed, Managing Executive for Vodacom South Africa and Henley Business School graduate.
•  (republished by and ) published an obituary for Peter Edwards, who studied Agriculture.
• Typeface design graduate Pooja Saxena has written a new book on India’s typographical history, reports .