Reading in the news - Fri 8 Aug

Business and society:

• Professor Adrian Palmer (Henley Business School) wrote for The Conversation (republished by Karryon) on the role of technology and AI in overtourism. 
• BBC Radio Berkshire interviewed Professor Steve Musson (Geography) about why there is a lack of business diversity on high streets today. 

Health and wellbeing:

• The i Paper (republished by MSN) features comments from Professor Gunter Kuhnle (Food and Nutritional Sciences) in response to a study investigating the weight gain implications of ultra-processed foods. 

Food and farming:

• BBC Radio Berkshire interviewed Professor Ian Jones (Biomedical Sciences) on rising problems in agriculture such as avian flu, bluetongue disease, and global warming. 

#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment

• CNN (republished by 9News) quote PhD student Joana Medeiros (Meteorology) on the accuracy of plane turbulence forecasts after a Delta flight’s emergency landing in Minneapolis last week.  
• An expert comment (India floods: ‘Himalayas becoming monsoon graveyards’) from Dr Akshay Deoras (Meteorology) is republished on DownToEarth and The Print (republished by MSN).  
• Belfast Telegraph quotes Professor Andrew Charlton-Perez (Meteorology) on people becoming desensitised to serious storm risks if weather warnings are overused.
• KPCC-FM, Texas Public Radio, Connecticut Public Radio and various other US radio stations featured interviewed Dr Jonny Williams (Meteorology) about a study indicating warmer temperatures could make it more difficult for large planes to take off. 

Heritage and culture:

• An ancient beak discovered by Professor Gabor Thomas (Archaeology) came from a red-billed chough, reports National World and Rare Bird Alert. From our story: Red-billed chough beak from 6CE shows bird’s long Kent links 
• Heart Radio Berkshire mentioned research from Dr Jorge Avaria-Llautureo (Evolutionary Biology) which found ancient primates evolved in cold climates, not tropical rainforests. With further coverage from NewAtlas, LBV, and Alaska Native News. From our story: Early primates survived in cold, not tropical climates 

Other coverage:

• BBC Radio Berkshire mentions Professor Andy Kemp, who taught drama teachers at the University of Reading.

Alumni:

• Valdim­ar ráðinn, Executive Director of the Market Operations Department at the Central Bank of Iceland, has an MSc in Financial Engineering and Quantitative Analysis, reports mbl.is and visir. 
• Tatler (print) highlighted that CEO of Sports Direct Michael Murray studied at the University. 
• CFO South Africa reports that Special Investigation Unit CIO Tumelo Zwane, who completed an MAP at Henley Business School, has been nominated for a 2025 CIO Award.