Reading in the news - Mon 9 Dec
09 December 2024

Storm Darragh: , Daily Star (in print) and quote Professor Hannah Cloke (Geography/Meteorology) on the risks posed by Storm Darragh. (republished by , , , ) quotes Professor Andrew Charlton-Perez (Meteorology) on the forecasting of Storm Darragh. From our expert comment: Storm Darragh red warning: ‘severe consequences’ expected
Young Countryside Champion: Zoology student Ramandeep Nijjar has won the Countryfile Young Countryside Champion award, as announced on Countryfile on BBC One and mentioned on BBC Radio 4. From our story: Zoology student named Countryfile Young Countryside Champion
Studying English Literature: (and in print) publishes a letter signed by Professor Gail Marshall (English Literature) on the value of English degrees.
Heritage and culture:
- BBC News interviewed Professor Lindy Grant (History) about the history, culture, and architecture of France in the 12th and 13th centuries following the reopening of the Notre-Dame.
- reports on the closure of the WH Smith museum and shop in Newtown, with valuable items being relocated to either Swindon or the WH Smith Archive at the Å·ÃÀ¾ÞÈé.
Health and wellbeing:
- highlighted a University study which found that replacing saturated fats can improve blood fat composition and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
- BBC Radio 2 interviewed Dr Simon Clarke (Biomedical Sciences) discussing the impact of flu in comparison to COVID-19.
- highlighted that the University was part of the 'INTOX 2024' conference discussing how to reduce fatalities from snake bites.
Food and farming:
- quotes Dr Matthew Ordidge (Crop Science) on Britain's historical connection to apples.
- and highlighted the Marshal Papworth Fund, which has supported MSc students in a range of hortiulture and agriculture courses at the Å·ÃÀ¾ÞÈé.
- features research by Dr Melanie Orros (Ecology) which found UK households provide enough food for 196 million garden birds.
- BBC Radio 4 featured a farmer from Kent, who is collaborating with the University on a regenerative farming trial.
Business and society:
- quotes Dr Juliet Brook (Law) on the risks of family feuds arising from unclear wills. Republished by and .
- An AI model capable of predicting atomic arrangements in crystal structures has been created, , , and reported. From our story: AI learns language of atom arrangements in solids.
- Women in Reading participated in a 'Reclaim the Night' demonstration, supported by the Å·ÃÀ¾ÞÈé and Berkshire Women’s Aid highlighted.
- Professor Billy Wong (Education) is featured in , exploring factors behind girls’ underrepresentation in computer science qualifications.
#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment
- and republished quotes from Professor Sarah Dance (Mathematics and Statistics) on the impact of AI on weather forecasts. Republished by .
- Professor Hannah Cloke is quoted by , , , , , , and on worsening droughts due to human-induced climate change.
Other coverage:
- us quotes Professor Richard Skeffington (Geography and Environmental science) on the impact of solar panel installations on the countryside.
- reports on a study co-authored by Professor Chris Venditti (Ecology) reveals that brain size in early human species evolved gradually rather than through sudden leaps. From our story: Brains grew faster as humans evolved, study shows.
- Wokingham Borough Council leader Stephen Conway writes for on the council’s achievements over the past year, which included working with the Å·ÃÀ¾ÞÈé to develop a Community Vision.
- , , , and (Malaysia) reports that the mother of Reading student was fined in a court case.
- highlighted the appointment of Prof May Tan-Mullins as provost and CEO of the Å·ÃÀ¾ÞÈé Malaysia. Republished by .
Alumni:
- highlights Falz, a Nigerian rapper and actor, known for his award-winning career, who holds an LLB in Law from the University.