Reading in the news - Thu 1 Aug

Charity of the Year: Rainbow Trust Children's Charity has been named as the University’s inaugural charity of the year, reports Hello Rayo. Read our news story.

Winter weather forecasts: A new study, led by Dr Laura Baker (Meteorology), has found that a strong El Niño makes European winters easier to forecast. Phys.org, Mirage News, The Nation, and Science Daily covers the news. Read our news story.   

#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment 

• Professor Hannah Cloke (Geography/Meteorology) and Dr Matt Patterson (Meteorology) explain why mild UK heatwaves feel worse than in the US, for BBC Science Focus.
• Dr Xiangbo Feng (Meteorology) explains that the decrease in typhoons is due to uneven ocean warming. Reported by Interaksyon and republished by MSN.
• BBC News reports that temperatures have soared across the south, with a recording of 30°C at the University. Republished by Yahoo! News.
• Dr Balaji Senapati (Meteorology) describes a new climate phenomenon discovered in the Pacific Ocean, reported by Focus News and Telepolis. Read our news story.
• A study led by Dr Claire Ryder (Meteorology) quantifies the amount of dust ingested by aircraft engines at 10 airports worldwide, reported by Flight International (in print). Read our news story.
• Dr Akshay Deoras (Meteorology) is quoted in India Today, Sakshi Post, Lokmat Times, City Air News and Social News, explaining that climate change is contributing to extreme weather events in Kerala.

Health and wellbeing:

• Dr Simon Clarke (Microbiology) tells MailOnline that poor hygiene does not protect against dangerous pathogens, such as E.Coli – after a US triathlete said he was reducing his hygiene levels to protect himself from risk of illness. Republished by Mahalsa UK.
• Scientists from the University of Reading have found that flavonoids in blueberries can help with age-related memory loss and prevent hypertension, reports NewsExplorer.

Business and society:

• Professor Emeritus Giannis A. Philis delivered the keynote address hosted at Henley Business School Africa, reported by Zarpanews.
• Jon Foster-Pedley (Henley Business School) discusses the revival of the bilateral trade and investment framework with the US in an interview with BusinessLiveDay.
• Thames Valley Chamber features The Pathways to Property initiative held at Henley Business School, aiming to attract students into the real estate sector.

Other Coverage:

• The University of Reading is set to compete in the new series of University Challenge, returning to the BBC in August, writes TV Zone UK.
• Professor Martin Bell (Archaeology) is speaking at the Cerne Abbas Giant conference, reports Dorset Echo.
• Wokingham Today and Reading Chronicle report on the first speech in Parliament by Yuan Yang, MP for Earley and Woodley, where she mentions the University’s positive impact on the town. Republished by Yahoo! News.
• Royal Gazette features an article about three Bermudan students who have won educational grants to study at university. One of the students will be pursuing a BSc in Food Business and Marketing.

Alumni:

• Evertiq mentions that Gábor Szabados holds an MBA from Henley Business School.
• NIAB has appointed Dr Mark Fletcher as the new Head of Agronomy Services, reports Midland Farmer.