Reading in the news - Thu 16 Apr

Heritage and culture:

• Dr Jacob Gardner (Biological Sciences) was quoted by responding to a study finding red hair is becoming more common.
• Research from Dr Annemieke Milks (Archaeology) discovered 430,000-year-old human wooden tools, reports . From our story: Earliest evidence of wooden tools used by humans
• Professor Mike Fulford (Archaeology) was mentioned by The Reading Chronicle (print) about a new project at Reading Museum in partnership with the University.
• listed Dr Alanna Skuse (English Literature) as a speaker at an upcoming talk about body modification in the 16-18^th century.
• Dr Stuart Black (Geography and Environmental Science) featured in a re-aired episode of BBC 4’s Catching History’s Criminals, showing what can be found by analysing hair DNA.

Business and society:

• Research from Dr Katie Gray (Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences) into police use of facial recognition technology was mentioned in a BBC Radio Wales interview.
• Dr Melissa Carr (Henley Business School) was quoted by about plans to use an AI version of Mark Zuckerberg to communicate with Meta employees.
• mentioned research from Professor Benjamin Laker (Henley Business School) about the effect of company culture initiatives.
• Professor Adrian Palmer (Henley Business School) spoke to BBC Radio Berkshire about local Vodafone and Three store closures.
• reported on a talk with Professor Rosa Freedman (Law) about minority rights.

Food and farming:

• , , , and others reported on a study co-authored by Dr Stephen Elmore (Food and Nutritional Sciences) which is producing wheat with reduced levels of toxic compound asparagine.
• Professor Gunter Kuhnle (Food and Nutritional Sciences) was quoted by about a study into the link between obesity and ultra-processed foods.

Health and wellbeing:

• Further outlets republished a article which quotes Professor Ian Jones (Biomedical Sciences) about a new covid variant, including .
• Dr William Cross and Dr Connor Sharp (both Biomedical Sciences) were listed by as awardees of research funding.
• and reported on more effective UTI treatments, quoting Dr Oliver Hancox, CEO of University-founded company Astratus. From our story: Rapid urine test could select UTI antibiotics within hours
• highlighted a study by Professor Netta Weinstein (Psychology) about the benefits of spending time alone. From our story: Alone but not lonely: how solitude boosts wellbeing

#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment

• Dr Akshay Deoras (Meteorology) was quoted by about changes to winter rainfall in India.

Other coverage:

• and featured a discovery made by Dr Thomas Clements (Biological Sciences) about a fossil mistaken as the world’s oldest octopus. From our story: ‘Oldest octopus’ fossil is no octopus at all, scans reveal.
• The Reading Chronicle (print) reported on the University’s Centenary Community Festival, which is taking place in May. From our story: Festival returns for weekend of centenary celebrations

Alumni:

• Henley Business School graduate Reinhard Leiter wrote for (republished by , , and other outlets) about greed and corporate leadership.
• reported that Regina Lizares, Economic Development and International Business graduate, has been appointed President of Mirian College.
• Jonathan Bean, Henley Business School graduate, has been appointed Executive Vice President of Sinch’s EMEA and Global Partnerships, reports and .
• Robert Alvarez, who studied Molecular Biology, was listed by (republished by and ) as a speaker for a talk on biotechnology.
• Basingstoke Gazette (print) featured Environmental Science graduate Ty Murray, who is the Green Party candidate for Popley.
• Emma Garside, Reading graduate and Former Chief Superintendent, spoke to BBC Radio Oxford about her time in the police force.