Reading in the news - Thu 30 Oct

Hurricane Melissa:

Several experts spoke to the media about Hurricane Melissa as it passed through Jamaica to Cuba. From our expert comment: Hurricane Melissa: impact of climate change

• Professor Liz Stephens spoke to Sky News Radio, BBC News and BBC Radio Berkshire. Professor Stephens also co-wrote an article with Dr Alex Baker (both Meteorology) for (republished by , , and other outlets).
• (republished by , and others) also highlighted a by Professor Ed Hawkins (Meteorology) about how the hurricane affects rainfall.
• Deutsche Welle (republished by , and additional outlets) interviewed Dr Helen Hooker (Geography/Meteorology).
• , , (republished by , , and ) , and various global outlets provided further coverage of comments from Dr Akshay Deoras (Meteorology).
• featured quotes from Professor Hannah Cloke (Geography/Meteorology).
• Professor Chris Holloway (Meteorology) was interviewed by BBC Radio Berkshire and Oxford, with quotes featured by (republished by ).

Health and wellbeing:

• Dr Andreas Karatzas (Food and Nutritional Sciences) was quoted by about the causes of food poisoning.
• reported on research from Professor Netta Weinstein (Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences) which found benefits to spending time alone. From our story: Alone but not lonely: how solitude boosts wellbeing
• provided further coverage of research from Professor Julie Lovegrove (Food and Nutritional Sciences), finding that eating two apples a day lowers cholesterol.

Food and farming:

• mentioned a study into how bananas alter nutrient absorption in smoothies.
• listed Reading as a partner for Waitrose in helping farmers tackle climate change.

#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment

• , , and provided further quotes from Dr Akshay Deoras (Meteorology) in response to cloud seeding research in India.
• and quoted Dr Jonny Williams on how climate change is worsening airport noise pollution. included comments from study co-lead Professor Paul Williams (both Meteorology). From our story: Airports will get noisier as Earth gets warmer
• listed the University's climate stripes as inspiration for a new Kew Gardens display.

Business and society:

• and reported on a talk from Professor Niaz Asadullah (Economics) about the impact of AI on jobs in Bangladesh.

#UniForReading: our role as a civic university

• reported on an upcoming charity ball on campus which will be raising money for Against Malaria Foundation.

Other coverage:

• highlighted work by Professor Roger Stern (Mathematics and Statistics) into climate data analysis.

Alumni:

• Landscape Management graduate Didier Dogley has been appointed Chairperson of the Islands Development Company, reports .
• reported that Reading graduate Abdullah Al Nader has been appointed as a Partner for Grant Thornton.
• interviewed Managing Director of Tritax Big Box Developments, who studied Land Management.
• Real Estate graduate and Director of Lagos State Valuation Office Adekunle Awolaja was profiled by .