Reading in the news - Mon 11 May

Space prize: Dr James O’Donoghue (Meteorology) has won the 2026 Carl Sagan Medal for outstanding space science communication, reports BBC News, IT Boltwise, and Greatest Hits Radio (online) Greatest Hits Radio (broadcast), Head Topics, Envirolink, Yahoo News, and others. From our story: Carl Sagan medal for scientist who took millions to space

Hantavirus: Professor Ian Jones (Biomedical Sciences) was quoted by Newsweek, Sakiraforms and MSN about the spread of hantavirus.

Business and society:

• Newsweek (republished by MSN, Bellingham Herald, Ledger Enquirer, The State, The Tribune, and over 100 outlets) quoted Professor Rajneesh Narula (Henley Business School) about a US-Iran peace deal.
• Dr Anna Jackman (Geography) is quoted on the first Amazon drone delivery in Unilad Tech, Tees Business, and Darlington and Stockton Times.
• Henley Business School research into feeling psychologically safe at work was mentioned by This Week in FM.
• Zara Cupido, Research Manager at Henley Business School Africa, wrote for Leader and MBA about changes to South Africa’s workforce.
• Dr Ruvi Ziegler (Law) was quoted by The Guardian and The Times of India (republished by AOL, Yahoo News, Britbrief,  Your News, and others) about an upcoming rally opposing antisemitism.
• Comments from Dr Rita Fontinha (Henley Business School) on the health benefits of four-day working weeks were featured by The Guardian, The Mirror, The Times, Express, The Telegraph (republished by AOL, MSN, Your News, Newspoint, Yahoo News, and BritBrief), and others.
• Dean of Henley Business School Africa Jon Foster-Pedley was quoted by MBA about the QS Executive MBA rankings.

Heritage and culture:

• Fine art magazine a-n features the Reading School of Art degree show and the work of student Tiba Ghadeer in its 2026 degree show guide
• Hampshire Chronicle (republished by MSN) mentioned a podcast episode with Dr Amy Brookes (Architecture) about architecture in speculative fiction.
• A report by Professor Jo Phoenix (Law) about cultural boycotts in the UK arts was highlighted in a feature in The Times.
• A discovery made by Professor Duncan Garrow (Archaeology) of an artificial island older than Stonehenge was featured by GreenMe.
• Isabel Hughes, Associate Director of the Museum of English Rural Life, was interviewed by BBC Radio Berkshire on how social media encourages museum visitors.

Fossil news:

• The Times of India and (republished by MSN, NewsPoint, 7Globe News, and India News) provided further coverage of an excavation discovering a rare dinosaur skeleton with fossilised skin. From our story: Fossil discovery could be rare complete dinosaur skeleton
• SciTech Daily, Beirut Time, Discover Wildlife, and Time News reported on a discovery made by Dr Thomas Clements (Biological Sciences) into a fossil mistaken as the world’s oldest octopus. From our story: ‘Oldest octopus’ fossil is no octopus at all, scans reveal.

#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment

• Dr Jonathan Mitchley’s (Ecology) encounter with Sir David Attenborough was featured by BBC News, republished by AOL, HeadTopics, and Yahoo News.
• A study by Professor Emily Black (Meteorology) on crop droughts was highlighted by Blitz and INews.
• SuperTalk Mississippi (US radio) mentioned a study from Dr Matt Greenwell (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology) on colour-changing katydids. From our story: Bright pink insect stands out to blend in, scientists say
• Dr Akshay Deoras (Meteorology) was quoted by Firstpost about how El Niño events impact rainfall.
• Simple Flying mentioned a study co-authored by Professor Paul Williams (Meteorology) on how the jet stream can be used to reduce plane fuel consumption. From our story: Aircraft could cut emissions by better surfing the wind

#UniForReading: our role as a civic university

• The Reading Chronicle and Yahoo News reported on a student charity football match which raised over £1000.

Alumni:

• Henley Business School graduate Reinhard Leiter wrote for Financial News (republished by Fachbeitrag, PR-Echo, WeltJournal, Digital Press Network, and others) about businesses striving for excellence.
• Eastern Daily Press and North Norfolk News reported on an upcoming talk from Dee Dyer, Reading graduate and Farm Environment Advisor at Norfolk Farming about agriculture’s impact on deer.
• Xolisile Charlot Mabena, General Operations Manager at EnFloTech and Henley Business School graduate, was interviewed by MBA.
• Scoop republished an article written by Dr Chloe Brimicombe, researcher at the University of Oxford and Reading graduate, in The Conversation about David Attenborough following his 100th birthday.
• Bugetul mentioned that Romanian politician Anamaria Gavrilă studied at Reading.