Reading in the news - Wed 31 May

Flavanols improve memory: Flavanols, a micronutrient found in tea, berries and apples, have a positive effect on memory, a study co-authored by Professor Gunter Kuhnle (Food and Nutritional Sciences) and published in PNAS has found. Continued coverage by The Mirror, The Guardian (in print - request print copy), The Sun (in print - request print copy), The Times (in print - request print copy), Daily Express (in print - request print copy), Irish News (in print - request print copy), Belfast Telegraph (in print - request print copy), New York Post, Opera News, Dev Discourse, Female First, Medical Dialogues, Latestly, Sci Tech Daily, Bionity, and others. BBC Radio Berkshire interviewed Professor Kuhnle on how flavanols work. Heart Radio Berkshire and various American stations also reported on the research. Read our news story.

Freedom of speech: Professor Rosa Freedman (Law) was interviewed by Sky News about freedom of speech on campus, linked to controversy over the appearance of Prof Kathleen Stock at the Oxford Union. A clip of the interview was also played on LBC News Radio and regional stations including Voice of Islam Radio, GTFM Radio, Belfast Radio, Jack Radio FM, and Academy Radio FM.

#UniForReading: our role as a civic university  

• BBC 1 South and BBC Radio Berkshire reported on the opening of the Manor Ground sports facility in Shinfield. 

• Greatest Hits Radio named the University as a supporter of BFL Skill Clusters, which aims to fund and support the accessibility of work in screen production.  

• Dan Fernbank (Energy and Sustainability Director) is quoted by BBC Radio Berkshire on how heat pumps will decarbonise the University’s estate. Read our news story.

• RDG Today mention Dr Ruvi Ziegler (Law) and Dr Allán Laville (Dean for Diversity & Inclusion) will take part in the University's upcoming annual Wolfenden Lecture, hosted in collaboration with the University's LGBTQ+ staff and events team. Read our news story.

#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment

• Professor Chris Hilson (Law) is quoted by Footprint on the UK's implementation of the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) which aims to improve the recycling and reuse of unsustainable packaging materials.

• Dr Akshay Deoras (Meteorology) is quoted by Times Of India, discussing climate model predictions of tropical cyclones in parts of India.  
  

Food and farming:

• Farming Online names the University as part of the Linking Environment and Farming's (LEAF) UK network of "world-leading innovation centres and demonstration farms." 

Business and society:

• Professor Yelena Kalyuzhnova (Henley Business School) was interviewed by China Global Television Network News' show World Insight with Tian Wie, as part of a panel of experts, on the mutually beneficial partnership between China and Central Asia. 

Other Coverage:

• A repeat episode of BBC 2's Digging For Britain aired, in which Professor Steve Mithen (Archaeology) discussed the University's archaeological digs on the east coast of the Isle of Islay. 

• BBC Radio Berkshire revisited moments from when the University reached the final of last year's University Challenge.

• Street Insider, Business Wire, Sogo Trade Research Centre, Bio Space, and Yahoo! mention that microbiology expert, Dr Jeffrey Almond previously worked as a professor at the University. 
  

Alumni:

• The Guardian, Yahoo!, Germanic, and Exec Review interviewed business executive, Philip Bourchier O’Ferrall, and mentioned that he is a Reading graduate. 

• Share Net reports on the appointment of Henley Business School alumna, Lucia Swartz, as an independent non-executive director at Santam Limited.