Reading in the news - Fri 2 Aug

Side hustles are worth £72 billion in the UK: Prospects reports that a whitepaper from Henley Business School, reveals 25% of UK adults are engaged in side hustles and research highlights that side hustles in the UK generate £72 billion.

#UniForReading: our role as a civic university  

• Wokingham Today and Reading Today published the news that the University has named its inaugural Charity of the Year. Wokingham Today and Reading Today (both in print) also published a column from the University Vice-Chancellor on the same topic. Read our news story.
• Greatest Hits Radio Cambridgeshire reports Yuan Yang MP’s comments about the University of Reading, a leader in climate science and meteorology,jokingly suggesting that researchers could help to determine the winner of sunniest parliamentary constituency. The University’s new charity of the year is also mentioned.

#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment 

• Environmental News Network reports that Dr Laura Baker (Meteorology) highlights strong El Niño conditions can enhance the reliability of European winter forecasts. Read our news story.
• Business Insider interviews Paul Williams (Meteorology) about how he copes with turbulence during flights, given his research on climate change and turbulence. This article was republished by Yahoo! News UK and Canada, MSN, and DNYUZ.
• German and Japanese Posts report researchers from the University of Reading, led by Dr Balaji Senapati (Meteorology), have uncovered a new weather phenomenon named the "Southern Hemisphere Circumpolar Wavenumber-4 Pattern". The finding has been covered by BuzzFeed, Mangfall24, Fuldaer Zeitung, AZ Online, WA.de, TZ.de, Frankfurter Neue Presse, HNA, HEIDELBERG24, Excite News, Biglobe, News.nicovideo, Archyworldys, and many more. Read our news story.
• BBC Parliament News, BBC 1 North West, BBC 1 West, BBC 1 London, and HortWeek reported a collaborative PhD at the Royal Horticultural Society, with the University of Reading, and the University of Sheffield, which is seeking insights from gardeners on how climate change is impacting their plants.
• CNN Travel reports that Professor Paul Williams (Meteorology), predicted in 2022 that turbulence would increase two to three times in the coming years. He was republished by multiple outlets including  Yahoo! News, MSN, ABC17News, CrossRoadToday, News Channel 21, 7news and Korean Post.
• The Brazilian government reports that the Federal University of Maranhão is  coordinating the first Biodiversity Research Program in Maranhão, collaborating with the University of Reading.

Health and wellbeing:

• Pledge Times reports that a study by Dr Julia Vogt (Psychology) found that focusing too much on personal happiness can diminish the enjoyment of positive experiences.
• Dr Simon Clarke worked with Channel 5 to test plastic water bottles that had been used, rinsed, and refilled, for microbiological contamination.

Heritage and Culture:

• Republika reports Leonardo DiCaprio's animated film will feature the Climate Change Stripes, created by Professor Ed Hawkins (Meteorology) and the University of Reading, to visualize climate change.
• Dorset Echo (in print) reports Professor Martin Bell (Archaeology) will be a speaker at the Dorset Museum and Art Gallery's conference.
• SciTechDaily reports that Dr Geoff Smith (Archaeology) conducted research that reveals new insights into Denisovan behaviour, including their adaptation to high altitude and changing climates.
• RDG.Today reports The University of Reading will return to the 8th-century monastery site in Cookham for further archaeological excavation. Read our news story.
• Undark Magazine reports Professor Steven Mithen (Archaeology) explores the evolution of human language in his book The Language Puzzle.

Food and farming:

• The Guardian reports, via News Explorer, that scientists at the University of Reading suggest Britain should switch to bread made with broad beans to deliver key nutrients to people. Read our news story.

Business and society:

• Fundiconnect reports that Henley Business School in Sandton, South Africa, adopts a holistic approach to learning by blending theory with practice.
• The Finish Post STTinfo reports Henley Business School, in collaboration with Chief Executive Search, has launched the CEO 360 training program.

Other Coverage:

• Reading Chronicle reports that the team from Ohio Premier FC were coached at University of Reading,  during their visit to the UK.
• RDG.today reports that the last few remaining protestors camped on Whiteknights Campus, have now left the site.
• Henley Standard (in print) reports that the University of Reading's meteorological department has dispelled the myth of St Swithin's Day,

Alumni:

• BBC Sport, Daily Mail, ESPN, and Yahoo! Sport reports Mathilda Hodgkins Byrne, a University of Reading chemistry graduate, has claimed bronze in the double sculls final at the Olympics. Also republished by  Abergavenny Chronicle, The Ross Gazette, Chepstow Beacon and Monmouthshire Beacon.
• Brandaktuell reports Dr Johannes Pollak was recently appointed Rector at Sigmund Freud Private University. His studies include time at the University of Reading, where he was a Leverhulme Fellow.
• Psychreg reports that Crystal Khoo, a Reading graduate in Psychology, emphasises music's profound impact on mental well-being.