Reading in the news - Mon 23 Oct

Ancient laws: Professor Richard Blakemore (History) writes for The Conversation on a straw bale hung from London’s Millennium Bridge to comply with an ancient law. Professor Kate Williams (History) writes for the Financial Times about why some of the UK’s ancient laws aren’t going anywhere. 

Turbulence technology: The Times (in print) and the Daily Star on Sunday (in print) mention a study from the University which found that turbulent flights were becoming more frequent as a result of climate change. Professor Paul Williams (Meteorology) is quoted in articles about a new technology which could make flights less turbulent.

Storm Babet:Times Radio and LBC News spoke to Dr Jess Neumann (Geography) on the extreme weather faced in Scotland and preparing for storms like Bibet. Dr Neumann and Professor Hannah Cloke (Geography/Meteorology) were quoted on the ‘extraordinary’ weather in both Scotland and Ireland, as a result of Storm Babet, in The Independent (Republished by Yahoo! News), Cambs Times, Swindon Advertiser, Watford Observer, The Argus, Glasgow Times, Yahoo! News, The Herald, Bucks Free Press, The Standard, Somerset Country Gazette, Wirral Globe,  Oxford Mail, Echo, News & Star, News Shopper, Worcester News and many other regional news outlets.  

#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment  

• Nation World News reports on the UK Prime Minister’s decision to backtrack on the UK’s net zero policies, quoting Professor Ed Hawkins (Meteorology) on the importance of taking immediate and effective action against climate change. 

Food and farming:

• EURweb, Egypt Independent, Citizen Digital and Arab Times (All republished from CNN) quote Professor Gunter Kuhnle (Food and Nutritional Sciences) who argues against the study that aims to prove that eating red meat causes type 2 diabetes.
• The University of Reading, and several other institutions, are involved in research for a study that tracks cow movements to help their welfare, Farmers Weekly (in print) mentions.  
• Sportskeeda reports that researchers from the University discovered that Artichoke Leaf Extract (ALE) can reduce cholesterol in individuals with moderately raised levels.

Business and society:

• Govloop mentions an article written by Professor Benjamin Laker (Henley Business School) for MIT Sloan Management Review, offering nine tips on keeping conversations with someone above you in the professional hierarchy constructive and helpful.   

Other Coverage:

• Smashing Magazine mentions that two graduates from the University of Reading founded TypeTogether, a system which concentrates on text typefaces for editorial purposes.  
• A roundtable, on the 25^th October, regarding The Monusco Intervention Brigade at Ten will feature Dr Alexander Gilder (Law), Opinio Juris and EJIL: Talk! mention.  
• Professor Rosemary Auchmuty (Law) writes an obituary for ‘role model’ and ‘mentor’, Elizabeth Buchan Cruickshank, featured in The Law Society Gazette (in print).   
• Medcom mentions that the University of Reading is one of several institutions that features guest lectures from professional circles.  
• Dr Dominic Lees (Film, Television and Theatre) is quoted in Boom Live on the potential use of AI to create a reportedly false image from the conflict between Israel and Hamas.  

Alumni: 

• Author and alumni, Jesús Barrientos Mora, who is certified in Typeface Design from the University, will hold an online seminar for his new book, The Mysterious Case of the Shapeshifting Poblano Blackletter, All Events reports.
• Isobel McLaughlin, who completed an MSc in food security and development at the University, has won the KellyBronze Turkeys Prize, Country Smallholding (in print) reports.