Reading in the news - Wed 20 Nov

#UniForReading: our role as a civic university:

• Reading Today reports on the University and Royal Berkshire Hospital project using virtual reality to ease children's hospital visit anxieties. From our story: Using virtual reality to help children learn about hospitals.

Heritage and culture:

• Dr Neil Cocks (English Literature) authored a piece for The Conversation on The Cure's new album, Songs of a Lost World, and its connections to the gothic genre. Republished by NZCity.

Health and wellbeing:

• Allkpop highlights a University study suggesting that chewing gum can help reduce earworms.
• A Nutra Ingredients-USA article on the benefits of human milk oligosaccharides mentions a study by the University of Reading.

Business and society:

• Dr Miriam Sorace (Politics) has written for The Conversation on moving on from Brexit.
• HR Review, Employer News and Business in the News report on the stress caused by manual payroll systems, with Dr Melissa Carr (Henley Business School) noting the need for recovery periods to prevent burnout from prolonged high-intensity work.
• BBC Radio Berkshire and BBC Radio Oxford interview Professor Steve Musson (Geography) discussing the concerns raised by major UK retailers in a letter to the Government following the Budget.
• Dagang News reported that University Reading Malaysia, in collaboration with MAICSA, hosted the forum Kelestarian Hari Ini untuk Hari Esok in Johor Bahru.

#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment 

• Dr Laura Wilcox (Meteorology) spoke to BBC Panorama about how aerosols affect Earth's climate and the potential implications of geoengineering in addressing climate change.
• Indy100 reports on a joint study by the University revealing that industrial pollution can cause liquid clouds to turn into ice clouds, leading to more snow near factories during cold weather. From our story: Factories trigger local snowfall by freezing clouds - study
• Professor Hannah Cloke (Geography/Meteorology) is quoted by i News discussing the increasing and evolving flood risks in the UK due to climate change.
• Dissident Voice highlights comments from Dr Patrick McGuire (Meteorology) on the alarming rise in global fossil CO2 emissions, stressing the urgent need for rapid decarbonisation.
• Time News features Professor Jess Neumann’s (Geography) comments on the importance of swift evacuations in Malaga. From our story: Malaga floods: ‘Prompt evacuations likely saved lives’.
• BBC Radio Berkshire features data from the University of Reading on snowfall, revealing that snow fell for 15 consecutive days in January 1963.
• Dr Xiangbo Feng (Meteorology) is quoted in this National article on extreme storms and their impact.
• Reading Today and Wokingham Today feature comments from Dr Helen Hooker and Dr Rob Thompson (both Meteorology) explaining how incoming Arctic air could bring temperatures as low as -11°C this week, and the potential disruption this can cause.
• Wokingham Today reports on the opening of Swallows Meadow, a new public green space that the University has provided, in collaboration with Earley Environmental Group. From our story: Green space opens to all in Earley.
• BBC Science Focus highlights University research in an article about why air turbulence is increasing.

Other coverage:

• The Pink News reports on the University hosting a Trans Day of Remembrance vigil, featuring speeches from TransActual’s managing director Helen Belcher and Reading Mayor Glenn Dennis.
• Accounting students at the University are fundraising for PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide in memory of a fellow student from Luton, reported by Luton Today.

Alumni:

• Funds Society highlights Carlos Val-Carreres celebrating MyInvestor Value’s third anniversary as the best Spanish fund in its category.