Reading in the news - Mon 11 May

Space prize: Dr James O’Donoghue (Meteorology) has won the 2026 Carl Sagan Medal for outstanding space science communication, reports , , and (online) Greatest Hits Radio (broadcast), , , , and others. From our story: Carl Sagan medal for scientist who took millions to space

Hantavirus: Professor Ian Jones (Biomedical Sciences) was quoted by , and about the spread of hantavirus.

Business and society:

• (republished by , , , , , and over 100 outlets) quoted Professor Rajneesh Narula (Henley Business School) about a US-Iran peace deal.
• Dr Anna Jackman (Geography) is quoted on the first Amazon drone delivery in , , and .
• Henley Business School research into feeling psychologically safe at work was mentioned by .
• Zara Cupido, Research Manager at Henley Business School Africa, wrote for and about changes to South Africa’s workforce.
• Dr Ruvi Ziegler (Law) was quoted by and (republished by , , ,  , and others) about an upcoming rally opposing antisemitism.
• Comments from Dr Rita Fontinha (Henley Business School) on the health benefits of four-day working weeks were featured by , , , , (republished by , , , , , and ), and others.
• Dean of Henley Business School Africa Jon Foster-Pedley was quoted by about the QS Executive MBA rankings.

Heritage and culture:

• Fine art magazine features the Reading School of Art degree show and the work of student Tiba Ghadeer in its 2026 degree show guide
• (republished by ) mentioned a podcast episode with Dr Amy Brookes (Architecture) about architecture in speculative fiction.
• A report by Professor Jo Phoenix (Law) about cultural boycotts in the UK arts was highlighted in a feature in .
• A discovery made by Professor Duncan Garrow (Archaeology) of an artificial island older than Stonehenge was featured by .
• Isabel Hughes, Associate Director of the Museum of English Rural Life, was interviewed by BBC Radio Berkshire on how social media encourages museum visitors.

Fossil news:

• and (republished by , , , and ) provided further coverage of an excavation discovering a rare dinosaur skeleton with fossilised skin. From our story: Fossil discovery could be rare complete dinosaur skeleton
• , , , and reported on a discovery made by Dr Thomas Clements (Biological Sciences) into a fossil mistaken as the world’s oldest octopus. From our story: ‘Oldest octopus’ fossil is no octopus at all, scans reveal.

#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment

• Dr Jonathan Mitchley’s (Ecology) encounter with Sir David Attenborough was featured by , republished by , , and .
• A study by Professor Emily Black (Meteorology) on crop droughts was highlighted by and .
• SuperTalk Mississippi (US radio) mentioned a study from Dr Matt Greenwell (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology) on colour-changing katydids. From our story: Bright pink insect stands out to blend in, scientists say
• Dr Akshay Deoras (Meteorology) was quoted by about how El Niño events impact rainfall.
• mentioned a study co-authored by Professor Paul Williams (Meteorology) on how the jet stream can be used to reduce plane fuel consumption. From our story: Aircraft could cut emissions by better surfing the wind

#UniForReading: our role as a civic university

• and reported on a student charity football match which raised over £1000.

Alumni:

• Henley Business School graduate Reinhard Leiter wrote for (republished by , , , , and others) about businesses striving for excellence.
• and reported on an upcoming talk from Dee Dyer, Reading graduate and Farm Environment Advisor at Norfolk Farming about agriculture’s impact on deer.
• Xolisile Charlot Mabena, General Operations Manager at EnFloTech and Henley Business School graduate, was interviewed by .
• republished an article written by Dr Chloe Brimicombe, researcher at the University of Oxford and Reading graduate, in about David Attenborough following his 100th birthday.
• mentioned that Romanian politician Anamaria Gavril膬 studied at Reading.