Reading in the news - Mon 5 Jun

Lockdown report: Dr Simon Clarke (Biological Sciences) was interviewed by LBC Radio on the validity of a recently published report which questioned the benefits of lockdown. 

Health and wellbeing:

• Post-doctoral researcher Rich Harrison (Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences) is quoted by i News on his research on the pain experienced by women undergoing hysteroscopy procedures. MSN and VN Explorer repost.

• Flavanols, a micronutrient found in tea, berries and apples, have a positive effect on memory, a study co-authored by Professor Gunter Kuhnle (Food and Nutritional Sciences) and published in PNAS has found. Continued coverage by The Sun, The U.S. Sun, BBC World Service Radio, BBC Radio 4, RDG Today, Wokingham Today, Gulf Insider, Time News, Mahalsa, Nutra Ingredients, VN Explorer, and others. Read our news story.

• Professor Ian Jones (Biological Sciences) is quoted by MSN on recent evidence that Dog Flu could adapt to become infectious to humans.

Business and society:

• Dr Rita Fontinha (Henley Business School) is mentioned by CM Journal, Visao, Observador, Noticias Ao Minuto, Impalo, and Sapo for her role in co-coordinating a pilot of the four-day workweek in Portugal.

• Professor Benjamin Laker (Henley Business School) is quoted by Business Mirror and Head Topics on the positive effects of meeting-free days in the workplace.

#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment

• A grant secured by the University which will help decarbonise the Whiteknights campus energy centre is reported by RDG Today, Wokingham Today, and Refrigeration & Air Conditioning (in print). Dan Fernbank (Energy and Sustainability Director) is quoted. Read our news story.

• Professor Paul Williams (Meteorology) is interviewed by USA Today, explaining how climate change is making clear-air turbulence more common. Yahoo! reposts.

• Dr Tristan Quaife (Meteorology) is quoted by Tek Deeps on the impact humanity has on the natural world.

• Dr Akshay Deoras (Meteorology) is quoted by Deccan Herald on the expected arrival of monsoon and winds over Kerala. 

Food and farming:

• Professor Jim Dunwell (Agriculture) was interviewed by BBC Radio 4 on the impact that changes to English regulation on the marketing and development of gene-edited plants and crops are having.

• Matt Tebbit (Head of Catering and Bars) wrote an article for TUCO (in print) on the advantages of sourcing local and seasonal ingredients when designing menus.

• Dr Luke Bell (Agriculture) is quoted by The Vegetable Farmer (in print) on the benefits of consuming vegetables.

• Waitrose Food (in print) reports on their partnership with the University to help ensure their farming practices positively impact water quality.

• India Education Diary names the University as part of the Linking Environment and Farming's (LEAF) UK network of "world-leading innovation centres and demonstration farms."

#UniForReading: our role as a civic university  

• Professor David Brayshaw (Meteorology) was interviewed by BBC Radio Berkshire on his training for taking part in Cure Leukaemia's Tour 21 fundraiser, which will see amateur cyclists attempt the Tour De France route to raise money for the cause. Read our news story.

• RDG Today and Wokingham Today report that a "share your story" board, run by The Time for Kindness Team, was part of the University's community festival and highlighted acts of kindness. 

• Slough and Windsor Express (in print) name the University as a supporter of BFL Skill Clusters, which aims to fund and support the accessibility of work in screen production. Read our news story.

• BBC Radio Berkshire mentions how to listen to an upcoming chaplaincy lecture to be given in collaboration with the University on spiritual encounters with the sea.

• BBC Radio Berkshire and BBC Radio Oxford reported on the University's upcoming climate festival next weekend, aimed to educate and inspire climate action.

Other Coverage:

• Dr Mark Shanahan (formerly Politics), whose son Rory died by suicide while studying at Sheffield, was quoted by Wonkhe, and interviewed by BBC Radio Berkshire, calling for universities to have a legal duty of care for student welfare. 

• Pro-Vice Chancellor, Professor Peter Miskell was quoted by BBC Radio Berkshire on the mental health support that Universities are able to provide students. 

• Professor Wing Lam (UoR Malaysia) wrote an article on the importance of renewing University leadership roles. Published by The Star.

• BBC Radio Berkshire mentions an open garden event taking place on Whiteknights campus to raise funds for The Royal Berkshire Charity for research into respiratory medicine. 

• BBC Radio Berkshire revisited when the University made it to the finals of the University Challenge. 

Alumni:

• The Grocer (in print) interviewed Reading alumna, Lucy Wilkins, on her career as commercial executive at Ginsters.