Reading in the news - Mon 2 Dec

Countryfile finalist: BBC Countryfile announced Ramandeep Nijjar as one of its Countryfile Young Countryside Champion finalists 2024, a Zoology student who was nominated for her dedication to nature conservation. Sara Lovejoy (Digital Campaigns and Engagement) explains why she nominated Ramandeep.

Health and wellbeing:

• Gloucestershire Live, Daily Record and Get Surrey quotes Professor Gunter Kuhnle (Food and Nutritional Sciences) on the health benefits of one-ingredient meals. Republished by Yahoo News.
• The Telegraph quotes Professor Simon Clarke (Biomedical Sciences) on the risk of the NHS being overwhelmed by a winter flu surge. Republished by Yahoo News and AOL.

Food and farming:

• A new agroforestry guide co-authored by Dr Tom Breeze (Agriculture) aims to help farmers plant trees in optimal locations on their land. Reported by Farmers Weekly (in print), Countryfile, The Northen Farmer Online and The Scottish Farmer. From our story: Tree species guide unlocks benefits for UK farmers.

Business and society:

• IBTimes, Football Addict, and INKL quote Professor Netta Weinstein (Psychology) on the ethical risks of AI companions.
• Mancunian Matters reports that researchers from the University of Reading have launched a new report exploring the relationships between care and inequalities in transnational families.
• Forbes features a study by Dr Peter Scarfe (Psychology) revealing that 94% of AI-generated college writing goes undetected by teachers. Republished by ShiftDelete and Teknoloji Pusulasi. From our story: AI generated exam answers undetected in real world test.
• Pledge Times reports on a study evaluating Portugal's four-day workweek pilot, mentioning Dr Rita Fontinha (Henley Business School).
• Times of India highlights a workshop co-hosted by the University and ADRI on harnessing AI and machine learning for economic growth.
• Poets and Quants highlighted Henley Business School’s ranking in the Financial Times’ 2024 European Business School Rankings.

#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment 

• BBC Politics South and i News spoke to Professor Hannah Cloke (Geography/Meteorology) discussing the increasing flood risks.
• Isabel Smith (Meteorology) warns that clear air turbulence will increase with climate change in The Points Guy.
• Eco-Business features Professor Ted Shepherd (Meteorology) discussing the evolving science of extreme weather attribution.
• USA TODAY and  Fox Business Network highlights comments from Professor Paul Williams (Meteorology) on the dangers of more turbulence. Republished by MSN, DNYUZ, The Baltimore Post and Newser.
• EarthSky features Dr James O’Donoghue (Meteorology) discussing Europa’s potential to support life.
• The New York Times highlighted Dr James O’Donoghue's (Meteorology) on the theory that an asteroid’s destruction may have given Mars rings and moons.

Other coverage:

• Regional BBC radio stations across the UK, including BBC Leeds, BBC Guernsey, and BBC Leicester, replay an interview with Dr Dina Rezk)History( on the conflict between Israel and Hamas, which originally aired on BBC Radio 4.
• BBC Parliament airs a speech from Yuan Yang, Earley and Woodley MP, who mentions that 3,000 undergraduates from the University are graduating this year.
• Chemistry World reports that the University’s Department of Chemistry will remain open, following discussions to potentially merge it with the School of Pharmacy.
• A Telegraph article on advice given to University of Cambridge students mentions that Reading recently faced criticism for providing a content warning for some of its biology courses. Republished by MSN and AOL.
• The Tab reports on a missing Reading student last seen in Oxford. Thames Valley Police are appealing for information: Appeal for help in finding missing person.
• It is noted in The Times that Professor Kate Williams (History), TV presenter and writer, celebrated her birthday on Saturday.
• Hackney Citizen publishes an obituary for Gillian Riley, a former book designer and freelancer who taught in the Department of Typography at the University.
• The Budapest Times features an overview of a new book about the Macmillan brothers, who founded a publishing house. The article mentions that the author’s research involved her delving into the University’s Special Collections archives.

Alumni:

• Lynn News (in print) reports that a school leaver is studying remotely at the University of Reading while working as a chartered surveyor with Maxey Grounds in Wisbech.
• The Reading Chronicle (in print) reports that former Reading mayor Tony Page received a ‘lifetime legend’ award at the Local Government Awards. He is pictured receiving his honorary degree from Reading last year.
• Business Magazin interviews Henley Business School graduate Simona Constantinescu, Operational General Manager at ANA Hotels.
• OK Magazine and OurCommunityNow mention Mark O'Connor, a rugby player-turned-real estate executive, who studied at Henley Business School.
• James Pepper, a trustee at St Francis Hospice, shared during Trustee Week the significance of helping his local community, reported by ehospice.
• Fermín Koop, Latin American editor of Dialogue Earth, discusses the COP29 finale in FT Chinese.
• Stiripesurse, Ziarul Evenimentul, Mediafax, Observatornews, ActiveNews Stiri Necenzurate and Comisarul highlight the background of Anamaria Gavrila, the leader of the POT party in Romania.