Reading in the news - Fri 15 Nov

#UniForReading: our role as a civic university  

• Vice-Chancellor Professor Robert Van de Noort writes for Reading Today and Wokingham Today on the value of providing space for debate, as the University continues its public lecture series.
• Reading Today reports Reading Borough’s carbon emissions are dropping, with the University’s position  as Sustainable University of the Year highlighted in Reading Borough Council’s annual report.
• Laura Purser (Primary Education) presents a new online course to help Wokingham schools adopt trauma-informed practices, reports Wokingham Today.
• Reading Chronicle features Dr Zhibo Qiu (International Business and Strategy) verifying reports about Dai Yongge's financial crisis and involvement in multiple Chinese court cases. Republished by Yahoo Sports.
• The University has reopened Swallows Meadow, with MPs Yuan Yang and Clive Jones champions the project as Wokingham Borough featured by Reading Today.

Heritage and culture:

• The Conversation features Dr Alanna Cant (Archaeology) discussing the ethical implications of the sale of human remains at auction houses.
• Voice of Islam Radio interviews Professor David Oderberg (Philosophy) discussing how others' perceptions influence actions.

Food and farming:

• The Sun. Mirror, Daily Star, and Express report on a healthy diet survey commissioned by Yakult, with Professor Glenn Gibson (Food and Nutritional Sciences) commenting on the variation in diets and daily habits across the UK.
• Oudtshoorn Courant, Graaff-Reinet Advertiser, and Knysna Plett Herald (South Africa) highlight Reading research linking healthy diet and happiness.

Business and society:

• Revolve Media features comments by legal experts, including Dr Saeed Bagheri (Law) who argues that Israel’s actions in Gaza may constitute a breach of the Rome Statute.
• People Management reports that a Henley Business School study found that 64% of companies implementing a four-day week saw productivity improve.
• Inc. highlights an expert opinion by Professor Benjamin Laker (Leadership, Organisations, Behaviour and Reputation) on how Industry 5.0 is reshaping leadership by emphasizing ethics, sustainability, and purpose.
• Hespress and La Vie Éco  highlights the opening of the ESSEC Rabat Welcomes ABBS event with Jon Foster-Pedley, President of AABS and Dean of Henley Business School Africa.

#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment 

• Daily Mail reports on more flash floods in Spain, with Dr Jess Neumann (Geography and Environmental Sciences) providing excerpt comment. Republished by Yahoo News, RTÉ, Le Monde, This is Money and MSN. From our expert comment: Malaga floods: ‘Prompt evacuations likely saved lives’.
• The University is leading the CROCUS project, reports Herald Wales, collaborating with leading organizations to train the next generation of environmental science leaders. From our news story: New PhD centres support environmental sustainability studies
• Daily Mail, MSN and Scripps Institution of Oceanography report on a study co-authored by Professor Nicolas Bellouin (Meteorology). From our story: Factories trigger local snowfall by freezing clouds
• EurekAlert and Mirage News highlights Reading research on reducing emissions from AI use in healthcare. From our story: Limit hospital emissions by using short AI prompts
• Dr Patrick McGuire (Meteorology) highlighted the alarming rise in global fossil CO2 emissions in 2024 featured on CounterPunch.
• Zielony Onet (Poland) highlights PhD researcher Marta O’Brien (Geography and Environmental Science) emphasising the importance of educating younger generations about air pollution.