Reading in the news - Fri 13 Feb

Love games: Ahead of Valentine’s Day, Dr Tim Penn (Classics) and Dr Summer Courts (Archaeology) co-wrote for The Conversation about how Roman boardgames brought together romantic partners, both ancient and modern – including themselves.

Food and farming:

• BBC South Today and Vitamin Rush featured Dr Rosalind Fallaize to discuss research with Professor Julie Lovegrove and Dr Michelle Weech (Food and Nutritional Sciences) using camera glasses to track diets. Professor Lovegrove spoke to BBC Radio Berkshire (from 3:16). From our story: Camera glasses show diet researchers what we really eat
• The i Paper and MSN highlighted a Reading study about fibre. From our story: Getting fibre into British diets will take teamwork and guts
• Dr James Weber (Meteorology) was quoted by The Beef Site, The Cattle Site, The Pig Site, and The Dairy Site on his research into how using powdered rocks on farmland reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
• Shape featured a study by Professor Claire Williams (Psychology) on the health benefits of blueberries. From our story: Daily blueberries for cognitive and vascular health
• Research by Professor Julie Lovegrove and Dr Ian Givens (Food and Nutritional Sciences) on the risks of low vitamin D levels was featured by Fodmap Everyday (republished by MSN). From our story: Vitamin D deficiency linked to respiratory infection risk

#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment

• Professor Ciara McCabe (Psychology) was quoted by Reading Today about her research linking depression and climate-related anxiety. From our story: Climate change fuelling anxiety in depressed young people
• Reading Today featured comments from Dr Stephen Burt (Meteorology) and Dr Jess Neumann (Geography and Environmental Science) on the continued rain. The I Paper (republished by MSN) included comments from Professor Hannah Cloke (Geography/Meteorology) on the topic. From our expert comment: Rain for 31 days straight breaks records as flood risks grow
• Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce featured an article written by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Robert Van de Noort, for Reading Today (print) on the IPCC workshops taking place on campus. From our story: Major IPCC workshops bring diverse climate voices to Reading

Heritage and culture:

• Council of Europe reported on a presentation by Professor Federico Faloppa (Languages and Cultures) on the increasing normalisation of hate speech.
• BBC Radio Manchester discussed Glitch, the University-commissioned production about the post office scandal.
• Reading Today and Wokingham Today mentioned on-campus performances from bands The Primitives and Only the Poets.
• Dr Faye Woods (Film, Theatre, and Television) was quoted by RadioTimes on why period dramas are sexualised.

Alumni:

• Henley Business School graduate Russell Shackleton was listed by GlobeNewswire (republished by Yahoo News and BizWire Express) as an expert on corporate sustainability.
• GhanaWeb, Africa Press, and Peace FM reported that Adwoa Serwa Bondzie, who has an MBA from Henley Business School, has been appointed Executive Secretary of The Energy Commission.