Reading in the news - Tue 21 Jan

Trump inauguration: Dr Derek Bolton (International Relations) spoke to Heart Radio Berkshire, BBC Radio Berkshire and BBC Radio Oxford about the inauguration of President Trump and some of the early policies his government may deliver. Heart Radio Berkshire interviewed Professor Rosa Freeman (Law) about the impact of Trump's presidency on international conflicts.

ECMWF HQ: Development is set to begin on the new European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts headquarters at the University’s Whiteknights campus, Reading Chronicle, Mirage News, GOV.UK, Construction Enquirer, Insider Media, FMJ, acenet, Building, Yahoo!finance, FM Business Daily, Mace,  The Construction Index, World Construction Network, Construction, Bdaily and London Reviews report. From our story: Weather centre construction to begin on University campus.

#UniForReading: our role as a civic university  

• Professor Holly Joseph (Institute of Education) spoke to BBC Radio Berkshire about a survey designed to find out which languages are spoken in different parts of Reading.
• Reading Today mentions that the Reading half-marathon passes through the University’s campus.
• BBC Radio Berkshire mentions a new youth wheelchair basketball team has been set up in partnership with the University.
• BBC Radio Berkshire mentions the first Kidical Mass family bike ride of the year, set to take place at Sports Park.

Food and farming:

• Retail Times mentions University research which found freezing preserves essential vitamins and minerals in fruits and vegetables which may lose nutrients during transport and storage.

Business and society:

• Dr Melissa Carr (Henley Business School), commented on the UK’s widespread employee dissatisfaction with Benefits Expert.

#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment 

• Professor Jacopo Torriti (Construction Management and Engineering) is quoted by BBC News and interviewed by BBC Radio Berkshire on the rising demand for energy due to power-intensive computing and data centres.
• Professor Hannah Cloke (Geography/Meteorology) spoke to BBC Radio Berkshire about the Environment Agency’s decision to drop the Thames Valley Flood Scheme.
• Bridgwater Mercury quotes Dr Jonathan Dale (Geography and Environmental Science) on the “saltmarsh restoration revolution” that could come out of development at the Severn Estuary.
• Reuters quotes Professor Bill Collins (Meteorology) on an inaccurate claim about UK greenhouse gas emissions.
• Phys.org mentions a study co-authored by Reinhard Schiemann (Meteorology) about the impact of changes in soil moisture on extreme heat events. From our story: Heatwaves could worsen as soil moisture changes - study.
• Dr Rob Thompson (Meteorology) appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio 2, and BBC Radio 6 Music, as well as various regional BBC radio stations, such as BBC Cambridgeshire and BBC Shropshire, about a study conducted with PhD student Rosie Mammatt (Meteorology) investigating which of the BBC Weather and Met Office apps were more accurate. From our story: Met Office vs BBC Weather – which weather app is best?

Culture and heritage:

• Medievalists mentions Professor Aleks Pluskowski’s (Archaeology) new book ‘The Teutonic Knights’, which explores environmental history in the context of the Crusades in Eastern Europe.
• Powys County Times (in print) reports WH Smith is set to close a Powys store next month, with some items being relocated to the WH Smith Archive at the University.

Other coverage:

• Greatest Hits Radio spoke to Professor Ruvi Ziegler (Law) about the Israel – Hamas ceasefire deal.
• Times Radio interviews Professor Julia Waters, sister of the late Caversham Primary School headteacher Ruth Perry, about comments made by Sir Martyn Oliver, Ofsted Chief Inspector.
• Medievalists highlight a study led by Dr Juliette Waterman (Archaeology) that medieval red kites thrived on human waste. From our story: Ancient birds of prey lived off menu of medieval waste.

Alumni:

• Tecnelab reports that Jens Holzhammer has been appointed to lead Panduit’s EMEA operations. He holds an MBA from Henley Business School.
• Dentons features Björn Pfeiffer, Senior Portfolio Manager at Swiss Life Asset Managers UK, who holds a master’s degree in real estate from Henley Business School.
• Tempo mentions Psychology graduate Cliff Arnall, who created the concept for Blue Monday.