Reading in the news - Fri 10 Oct

Health and wellbeing:

• Professor Ciara McCabe (Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences) was quoted by (republished by ) about how hobbies can lower chances of depression, with further coverage from . 

Food and farming:

• , , and reported on research in collaboration with Reading to develop more nutritional white bread. 
• , , and (republished by ) highlighted research from Dr Jorge Campos Gonzalez (Agri-food Economics), looking into how AI can make agriculture more sustainable. 

#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment

• and reported on research from Professor Simon Potts (Sustainable Land Management), finding that bees benefit from solar panel farms. 
• and (republished by ) mentioned a study by Professor Paul Williams (Meteorology) which found climate change increases air turbulence. From our story: Turbulent flights to continue as warming world shakes skies 

Business and society:

• reported on changes to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors guidance made by Professor Neil Crosby (Henley Business School). 
• (republished by and ) mentioned research from Dr Linghe Lei (Henley Business School), about adapting to the workplace. 
• and reported that Henley Business School has joined the Future of Management Education Alliance. 
• featured research from Professor Lisa Purse and Andrew Phillip (both Film, Theatre and TV) which warns of the UK’s overreliance on US-based film and TV productions. 
• Professor Benjamin Laker (Henley Business School) was quoted by about what causes cultural shifts in companies. 
• provided further coverage of the Global Education Conference taking place in Lagos, which the University will be attending. 

Heritage and culture:

• and reported on a 490-year-old survey commissioned by Henry VIII which Professor Adrian Bell (Henley Business School) has been researching. From our story:  
• included comments from Dr Suzy White (Evolutionary Biology) about the age of an ancient human skull. 

#UniForReading: our role as a civic university

• Community Engagement Manager Molli Cleaver spoke to BBC Radio Berkshire about the University’s Shinfield green space project. From our story: Work begins on £1m biodiversity project in Shinfield 

Other coverage:

• reported that Reading has been listed amongst the top 30 UK universities by . From our story: UK top 30 for Reading: THE World University Rankings 2026 
• highlighted help from the local police during freshers week. 
• , , , and highlighted Reading as a pop-up location for Subway, which will be handing out free jacket potatoes. 
• listed a talk from Professor Federico Faloppa (Languages and Cultures) about language use in social services. 
• profiled Ashley Wheaton, Vice Chancellor of the University of the Built Environment, former employee of the University.  
• highlighted students from Aspire International School who have gone on to study at Reading. 

Alumni:

• CEO of Consumer Council for Water Michael Keil, who has a PhD in Meteorology, has been appointed to the Adaptation Committee of the Climate Change Committee, reports . 
• highlighted Reading graduate Simon Pryce, who has been appointed Director of Smiths Group. 
• David Manifold, CFO of H&MV Engineering was recognised in the top 100 Chief Financial Officers according to . 
• highlighted that Kino Wenge, son of former Papua New Guinean politician Luther Wenge, studied Computer Science and Agricultural Management.