Reading in the news - Wed 5 Jul

AI controversy: Dr Mathilde Pavis (Law) was interviewed by Channel 4 News about the lack of rights for performers to ensure they are protected from their likeness being manipulated by AI.

#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment  

• Professor Mathew Owens (Meteorology) is quoted in Business Insider, Business Insider India, Yahoo! Finance, Yahoo! News UK & Ireland, and other regional sites regarding sunspots, mentioning the vast size differences between solar cycles, and the dangers that could occur from that.  
• BBC Radio Berkshire replayed an interview with Professor Hannah Cloke (Meteorology/Geography) on flooding preparedness.
• Gizmodo Brazil and Spektrum.de report on research by Professor Paul Williams (Meteorology) on increasing air turbulence in Brazil, caused by climate change. Read our news story. 

Health and wellbeing 

• Yahoo! News UK & Ireland and Yahoo! Sport (UK) report on safe pregnancy skincare, citing University of Reading research on a potential link between parabens and breast cancer. 
• Westside Eagle Observer reports that a study from the University of Reading revealed people experienced increased concentration, as well as improvement of memory skills, hours after drinking a blueberry smoothie. Read our news story. 

Food and farming: 

• Professor Gunter Kuhnle (Food and Nutritional Sciences) writes for The Conversation about claims that the World Health Organisation (WHO) is set to declare the artificial sweetener aspartame as “possibly carcinogenic”. 
• The Cattle Site and other outlets report that climate change impacting hay yields will leave farmers short of feed, using data from research curated by the University of Reading and Rothamsted Research. Professor Richard Ellis (Crop Science) is quoted. 

Other Coverage: 

• Matthew White MBE (Director of Campus Commerce) is quoted in The Caterer as judge for the recent Public Sector Caterer award.  
• Dr Anastasiya Saraeva (Henley Business School) is quoted in Financial Times on the importance of academic research in business sectors, given the real-world benefits that occur from them.  
• Professors Nada Kakabadse and Andrew Kakabadse (both Henley Business School) wrote an article for Risk & Compliance Magazine (in print – request print copy) on AI in the workforce.
• The Commonwealth, Top Africa News, Rwanda News Agency and other outlets report on the fourth Commonwealth Conference on Youth Work being held at the University.
• A parent of a student talks to BRfm about her daughter, who is just about to graduate from the University in July.

Alumni: 

• News Ghana mention alumni Professor David Norris has been appointed as the newest member of the ACCPA. (Advisory Panel of the Africa-China Centre for Policy and Advisory)  
• In-Cumbria Magazine (in print – request print copy) feature a profile piece on alumni Martin Rowland, who co-runs Agri-Evolve, which works with coffee bean farmers in Uganda.