Reading in the news - Fri 20 Oct

Storm Babet: Professor Hannah Cloke was interviewed by Sky News (TV) and is quoted by Sky News (online) on the ‘extraordinary’ weather seen in Scotland and Ireland as a result of Storm Babet. Republished by Heart, Isle of Wight Radio, Radio X, Gold Radio, and more regional news outlets. Read our expert comment, featuring insight from Dr Rob Thompson and Dr Jess Neumann. 

‘Supertea’: Professor Gunter Kuhnle (Food and Nutritional Sciences) comments on the health impacts of flavanols in a report by The Telegraph about consuming matcha, the ‘green supertea.’

Health and wellbeing

• Dr Francesco Tamagnini (Pharmacy) shares his thoughts on a new study exploring a non-invasive deep brain stimulation technique aimed at memory performance, Science Media Centre reports.

Food and farming:

• The University of Reading offers one of seven Masters programmes that are a part of The Marshal Papworth Fund, an agricultural development charity. Peterborough Telegraph reports.
• CNN reports on a new study suggesting a link between eating red meat and type 2 diabetes. Professor Gunter Kuhnle (Food and Nutritional Sciences) is quoted, arguing the study does not prove that eating red meat causes type 2 diabetes. Republished by  KRDO, KION546, Yahoo! Lifestyle, KTBS, Ex Bulletin, ABC 17 and many other American news outlets.  
• Insider quotes Professor Gunter Kuhnle (Food and Nutritional Sciences) on his thoughts about a new study looking at the health impacts of combining a Mediterranean diet with light exercise to lose body fat. Republished by Yahoo! Lifestyle, Business Insider, Exact Release and many other global news outlets.  
• Visiting Fellow, John Giles (Agriculture) writes for Fresh Produce Journal (in print) on the testing times for UK supply chains, with the reprieve on border checks for fresh fruit and vegetables imported from the EU.

Business and society:

• Professor Nick Kemsley (Henley Business School) writes for Personnel Today about ‘career consumerism.'  

Other Coverage:

• Dr Natthapoj Vincent Trakulphadetkrai (Institute of Education) is one of the 44 academics chosen to work in 21 government departments via the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Policy Fellowship programme, Wired-Gov reports.   
• IT Governance quotes Dr Dominic Lees (Film, Theatre and Television) on how easy it is to create deepfake videos with freely available voice cloning technology.  
• Professor Michael Schmitt (Law) is mentioned in an article from DNYUZ about the ‘laws of war’ and forced displacement in regard to the conflict between Israel and Hamas. 
• The Reading Chronicle reports on The Autumn Community Forum, an event hosted by the University of Reading. Vice-Chancellor Professor Robert Van De Noort and Community Engagement Manager Molli Cleaver are mentioned. Read our news story.  

Alumni: 

• International Comunicaffe reports on the recent appointment of Dougal Freeman as WCF’s Vice President of Operations. Freeman holds an MSc in Agricultural Development Economics and an MBA from the University of Reading.
• British television weather forecaster, Jim Bacon, earned a degree in Applied Meteorology at the University of Reading, Practical Wireless (in print) reports.