Reading in the news - Fri 3 Oct

Storm Amy: The Daily Mail and STV News (republished by MogazNews and  Head Topics) featured quotes from Dr Oscar Martinez-Alvarado (Meteorology) and Dr Jess Neumann (Geography) about staying safe during Storm Amy. From our expert comment: Storm Amy could become a ‘weather bomb’

#SpaceStars: celebrating Reading’s stellar space science

• Greatest Hits Radio reported on the sold out International Observe the Moon Night, with their broadcast featuring comments from organiser Dr James O’Donoghue (Meteorology). From our story: Explore space with fellow stargazers on NASA moon night 

Health and wellbeing:

• Stiripesurse reported on research from Professor Julie Lovegrove (Food and Nutritional Sciences), which found eating two apples a day lowers cholesterol. 
• Research on the benefits of eating walnuts was featured by Shape Greece. From our story: Eating walnuts for breakfast may boost your brain function 

#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment

• Bloomberg (republished by Anyfans) mentioned Professor Giles Harrison and Professor Maarten Ambaum (both Meteorology) in an article about the 2024 Dubai floods.  
• Smartest Energy says the University as an organisation which trialled the Traceable Renewable Supply, a product showing deeper transparency in customers’ renewable energy sourcing. 
• NatureNews provided mentioned research from Dr Robbie Girling (Agriculture) that showed bees exposed to ozone-altered floral scents often failed to recognise them. 

Business and society:

• Dr Alexander Gilder (Law) was interviewed by DW News about the legality of Israel intercepting Gaza aid flotillas. 
• SMEBusiness News mentioned research finding an increase in companies occupying offices in Reading. 
• Professor Benjamin Laker (Henley Business School) led a webinar for Wikistrat about how companies can survive political and economic uncertainty. 
• BBC Radio Berkshire featured comments from Dr Dominic Lees (Film, Theatre, and Television) about films using deepfake-style AI actors. 

Heritage and culture:

• Professor Yota Dimitriadi (Education) was interviewed by BBC Radio Berkshire about the life of 19^th century fortune teller Selina Smith. 
• To research Waiting for Godot, actors Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter visited Reading’s Samuel Beckett Collection, reports Australian Book Review.  
• VASW highlighted objects from the Museum of English Rural Life, which will be featured in an art exhibition on the history of enclosure acts. 

Other coverage:

• Reading Today reports Park House was selected as one of the best pubs in the region by CAMRA, quoting University catering director, Matt Tebbit. From our story: Park House included in Good Beer Guide 2026 

Alumni:

• LCGC interviewed researcher John Reilly, who studied Chemistry at Reading. 
• Clare Menezes, President of INSCATECH and graduate of Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Physiology, was listed as an event speaker by IFST. 
• Recklinghausen listed Reading graduate Boris Konrad as a speaker for an event about AI. 
• Trikalaidees mentioned that journalist Nikos Vatopoulos studied Politics at Reading.