Reading in the news - Mon 23 Sep

Sustainable University of the Year: The Sunday Times Good University Guide names the University of Reading as the inaugural Sustainable University of the Year and is ranked joint 24 overall. Vice-Chancellor Professor Robert Van de Noort was interviewed by BBC Radio Berkshire. Also covered by multiple sources including Peterborough Today, Birmingham World, Shields Gazette, Liverpool World, Wales Online, Portsmouth, Sunderland Echo, The Star, Yorkshire Post, Lancashire Evening Post, Yahoo! News, Sussex Express, Newcastle World, The Scotsman, News Letter, The Gazette, National World, Glasgow World, Lancashire Post, Sunderland Echo, Oxford Mail, Greatest Hits Radio, MSN, Lancashire Times, Daily Post, The Bolton News, The Tab, Kent Live News, Netmums. Read our news story.

Ice age teens: BBC World Service programme Science in Action Interviewed Professor Mary Lewis (Archaeology) about her research into puberty in Ice Age teenagers. Syndicated across the US, including on St. Louis Public Radio WBUR Radio, Michigan Radio, Texas Public Radio, KCUR-FM, KUOW-FM (Radio),KOPB-FM (Radio) and KUNR Public Radio. Read our news story.

Business and society:

• Insider Media reports that Guy Hembury, the University’s Commercial Director, expressed optimism about two successful spin-out companies.
• A four-day week has benefits for staff and businesses, according to Dr Rita Fontinha (Henley Business School) reports Buone Notizie, MSN, CNN Portugal, Publico. Read Henley Business School’s ‘The Four-Day Week’
• An article in Personnel Today by Dr Melissa Carr (Henley Business School) discusses Amazon's move back to a five-day in-office working week as part of a trend among major firms.
• An article in Financial Intelligence (Romania) mentions the launch of the 8th series of the Board Practice and Directorship program with Henley Business School.
• Agenparl highlights on a new episode of the Inside HMCTS podcast featuring Associate Professor, Elizabeth Conaghan (Law).

Food and farming:

• The Eastern Daily Press (in print) reports on Reading’s involvement in the Plant Genetic Improvement Network, led by the John Innes Centre.
• Professor Gunter Kuhnle (Nutrition and Food Science) comments on the trend of eating dirt. Reported by mytvsuper and news.tvbs.

#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment 

• Professor Hannah Cloke (Geography/Meteorology) was interviewed for Channel 5 News (from 9min) about wildfires and floods in Europe. She was also quoted in Archyworldys.
• Herald Scotland highlights a study by Reading researchers about the value of hedges in the garden.
• A columnist in the Cumberland & Westmorland Herald (in print) and Keswick Reminder highlights an article featuring Reading meteorologists on the accuracy of weather apps.
• Wokingham.Today reports that Professor Christopher Merchant (Meteorology) will speak at an event to raise awareness of environmental issues.
• The Hype Magazine highlights "OZi: Voice of The Forest," an new film that includes the climate stripes designed by Professor Ed Hawkins (Meteorology).
• BBC Radio Berkshire featured Dr Eugene Mohareb (Built Environment) discussing how bus lanes can make cities greener, referencing the new bus lane on London Road in Reading.
• A Met Office blog by Reading’s Professor Rowan Sutton (NCAS/Meteorology) marks his new role as Director of the Met Office Hadley Centre.

Health and wellbeing

• Mail on Sunday (in print) and Daily Mail and several outlets including MSN, Mahalsa UK, and WhatsNew2Day, highlight a trial by the Royal Berkshire Hospital and the University about arthritis in the knee.
• Greatest Hits Radio highlights warnings from student welfare campaigners about staying safe from spiking.

Other Coverage:

• The Sunday Times (in print) features a letter by Professor Jo Phoenix (Law) on the debate around academic freedom.
• RSSL opened a new analytical testing facility on Reading's Whiteknights campus, reports Grand View Research.
• BBC News reports on Wokingham Borough Council's approval of the Local Plan, which could include thousands of new homes, and may include the Hall Farm site owned by the University of Reading.
• Virgin Radio UK’s Chris Evans show discusses students heading to Reading for Freshers' Week – including a show presenter’s son.
• Reading Chronicle, MSN and Yahoo! News cover news of a new bus service providing a fast connection between Reading Station and Whiteknights.

Alumni:

• Fuziah Salleh, a University of Reading psychology graduate, has been appointed General Secretary of Malaysia’s People’s Justice Party (PKR), part of the coalition government, reports Malaysia Kini.
• BBC Devon interviewed Emily Ashford a former Reading agriculture student and British rower who won Farmers Weekly’s fittest farmer competition.
• Chris Ofikulu, who was trained at Henley Business School, has been appointed to Polaris Bank according to Nigeria Communications Week, Nigeria Communications Week, and  Brand Spur Nigeria.
• The Jerusalem Post features Reading art graduate and sculptor Zadok Ben-David's new exhibit at the Tower of David Museum.
• Vulcan Post and MSN highlight the entrepreneurial journey of Syed Arif Azman, a graduate of Henley Business School.
• Cyprus Shipping News features Jesper Nielsen, Group Responsibility Director at Monjasa and Executive MBA graduate from Henley Business School.