Reading in the news - Mon 29 Sep

Heritage and culture:

• Isabel Hughes (Associate Director of the Museum of English Rural Life) and Dr Paddy Bullard (English Literature) were interviewed by BBC Radio Berkshire about a Jane Austen exhibition at the MERL. From our story: Jane Austen exhibits show author’s countryside connection
• BBC Radio York mentioned Reading’s W.H. Smith archive, which was used in planning a 200^th anniversary exhibition at the National Railway Museum.
• The Threaded Heritage exhibition, which showcased Sri Lankan crafts, visited the University as part of the Empowering Handloom Artistry project, reports ELanka.
• Eastern Daily Press and Great Yarmouth Mercury featured a Roman archaeological site excavated by Professor Michael Fulford (Archaeology) in Norfolk.
• Dr Suzy White (Evolutionary Biology) was quoted by Texarkana Gazette about the age of a recently discovered human skull.
• The Reading Chronicle provided further coverage of the UK tour of Glitch, a play about the Post Office scandal commissioned by the University. From our story: Post Office play to tour UK following Reading kickstarter
• After being awarded the UK Research and Innovation’s Future Leaders Fellowship, Dr Ellen Pilsworth (Languages and Cultures) will research the history of refugee arrivals in the UK, reports Wokingham Today. 

Health and wellbeing:

• The Times mentioned research into the gut health benefits of Activia yoghurt.
• Research from Professor Netta Weinstein (Psychology and Clinical Language Science) on the benefits of solitude was mentioned by The Spectator. From our story: Alone but not lonely: how solitude boosts wellbeing
• Dr Alejandra Perotti (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology) was quoted by VT about their study into mites. Diario provided further coverage.

#SpaceStars: celebrating Reading’s stellar space science

• BBC Radio Berkshire mentioned a new satellite developed by Professor Anthony Illingworth (Meteorology), which is set to enhance storm forecasting. From our story: Severe storm forecasts set to improve with new satellite

Food and farming:

• Farmers Weekly highlighted a study which predicted cow deaths from heat stress as the UK experiences increasingly hot weather.

#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment

• Research from Dr Jonny Williams and Professor Paul Williams (both Meteorology) on airport noise getting worse with climate change was featured by The Daily Mail, The Times (and in print), Earth, Simple Flying, FutureZone, and various global outlets (republished by MSN). From our story: Airports will get noisier as Earth gets warmer
• Anyfans included comments from Dr Akshay Deoras (Meteorology) on what caused the recent extreme floods in India.
• Prospect quoted Professor Hannah Cloke (Geography/Meteorology) about the effectiveness of UK flood defences.
• Dr Akshay Deoras (Meteorology) was quoted by Ekstra Bladet about the 2025 European heatwave death toll.
• Professor Bill Collins (Meteorology) spoke to Radio Ecoshock about research that found ozone recovery could be the second largest contributor to global warming, with further research mentions from Watchmen. From our story: Ozone will warm planet more than first thought

Business and society:

• Daily Maverick reported on a panel discussion about making businesses more purpose driven, featuring comments from University Chancellor Paul Lindley.
• Dr Rodrigo Perez-Vega (Henley Business School) appeared as a mystery guest on BBC Radio Berkshire, and discussed his research into AI.
• The Mirror and England Times mentioned research into black hair discrimination.

Other coverage:

• Dr Alan Buckle (Biomedical Sciences) spoke to BBC Radio Berkshire about rats becoming resistant to poison, and how to deal with infestations. The Star Kenya also republished an article from BBC News, which quotes Dr Alan Buckle.
• The Reading Chronicle (republished by GroundNews) reported on how Reading was ranked across several of the latest university guides.
• British Rowing highlighted students Meg Knight, Zara Povey, and Matt Long ahead of the new rowing season.
• Putney News mentioned Matt Long, Business and Spanish student, and his recent rowing success.

Alumni:

• Briefly, South African Live, South Africa Rich and Famous, and Bona featured actress and entrepreneur Ayanda Thabethe, who graduated with an MBA from Henley Business School.
• BDaily featured Human Geography and Spatial Planning and Development graduate Mariam Ahmed, who has joined planning and development consultancy Lichfields.
• Research Officer and Socio-economist Dr Patrick Kalunda, who has a PhD in International and Rural Development, was listed by Ratin as a session leader for The Farm Clinic.
• Business Life mentioned that Dr Khalid Khalafalla, CEO of the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit, has an MBA from Henley Business School.