Reading in the news - Thu 17 Jul

Health and wellbeing:

• Professor Ian Givens (Food and Nutritional Sciences) is quoted by The Telegraph (republished by Yahoo Life) on the health benefits of semi-skimmed milk.

Heritage and culture:

• Dr Neil Cocks (English Literature) writes for The Conversation about the representation of small penises in film and TV.

Business and society:

• Professor Andrew Kakabadse and Professor Nada Kakabadse (both Henley Business School) write for Financier Worldwide on how leaders guide organisations when artificial intelligence can take on many governance responsibilities.
• Devdiscourse says the University of Reading contributed to a report looking at growth in the Philippines.

#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment

• BusinessGreen continues coverage of a study led by Dr James Weber (Meteorology) that found UK air quality had improved since 2015, but clean air targets are still being missed. From our story: UK air quality improved since 2015 but targets still missed
• The Economic Times, Scientias, Responsible Us and MSN Hindi continues coverage of a study co-authored by Professor Laura Wilcox (Meteorology) that found air pollution reduction in East Asia has likely accelerated global warming. From our story: Air pollution cuts in East Asia likely accelerated warming. Business World republishes an article explaining the research originally written for The Conversation by Professor Laura Wilcox. The research was added to Wikipedia’s page of notable climate change events in 2025. 
• Professor Liz Stephens (Meteorology) spoke to Greatest Hits Radio about the multiple hosepipe bans coming into effect across the south east region.
• Psychreg mentions a study that found blackout curtains can reduced indoor temperatures by up to 4°C.
• Dr Akshay Deoras (Meteorology) is quoted by NPR, KLCC, Montana Public Radio and other regional US-based outlets on the impact extreme heat in India has on gig workers.
• National Geographic (republished by AOL) quotes Professor Paul Williams (Meteorology) on how planes of the future will need to be more robust to cope with a predicted increase in clear-air turbulence.

Food and farming:

• Researchers from the University of Reading took part in a study to understand how Egyptian farmers manage plastic waste, according to a press release on Eurekalert.
• Dr Alexey Mikaberidze (Agriculture) co-authored a study showing the costs for farmers when their plants develop fungicide resistance, SeedQuest, Agropages and Eurekalert reports.

Other coverage:

• The Reading Chronicle mentions the Whiteknights campus’s Green Flag award, which recognises outstanding green spaces.
• PinkNews reports on changes to how some campus facilities are used.
• University of Salford says the University of Reading has joined the Trailblazers scheme, an open access initiative that was launched in 2024 to support early career researchers.
• The Oxford Times (in print) reports on the delay of the inquest into the death of student Fintan Feltham.

Alumni:

• Sohaila Rahman, new Chief Legal and Governance Officer at Aluminium Bahrain, holds a degree in law from the University of Reading, News of Bahrain reports.
• Joyce Adobor, MSc Real Estate Finance graduate, moderated a webinar for career growth, citinewsroom reports.
• Henrietta Frew, who studied law, has been appointed partner at Ellis Jones solicitor, yahoonews reports.
• Benet Hennessey, history graduate, has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who’s Who.