Reading in the news - Mon 9 Dec

Storm Darragh:  , Daily Star (in print) and quote Professor Hannah Cloke (Geography/Meteorology) on the risks posed by Storm Darragh. (republished by , , , ) quotes Professor Andrew Charlton-Perez (Meteorology) on the forecasting of Storm Darragh. From our expert comment: Storm Darragh red warning: ‘severe consequences’ expected

Young Countryside Champion: Zoology student Ramandeep Nijjar has won the Countryfile Young Countryside Champion award, as announced on Countryfile on BBC One and mentioned on BBC Radio 4. From our story: Zoology student named Countryfile Young Countryside Champion

Studying English Literature: (and in print) publishes a letter signed by Professor Gail Marshall (English Literature) on the value of English degrees.

Heritage and culture:

• BBC News interviewed Professor Lindy Grant (History) about the history, culture, and architecture of France in the 12th and 13th centuries following the reopening of the Notre-Dame.
• reports on the closure of the WH Smith museum and shop in Newtown, with valuable items being relocated to either Swindon or the WH Smith Archive at the 色狗导航.

Health and wellbeing:

• highlighted a University study which found that replacing saturated fats can improve blood fat composition and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
• BBC Radio 2 interviewed Dr Simon Clarke (Biomedical Sciences) discussing the impact of flu in comparison to COVID-19.
• highlighted that the University was part of the 'INTOX 2024' conference discussing how to reduce fatalities from snake bites.

Food and farming:

• quotes Dr Matthew Ordidge (Crop Science) on Britain's historical connection to apples.
• and highlighted the Marshal Papworth Fund, which has supported MSc students in a range of hortiulture and agriculture courses at the 色狗导航.
• features research by Dr Melanie Orros (Ecology) which found UK households provide enough food for 196 million garden birds.
• BBC Radio 4 featured a farmer from Kent, who is collaborating with the University on a regenerative farming trial.

Business and society:

• quotes Dr Juliet Brook (Law) on the risks of family feuds arising from unclear wills. Republished by and .
• An AI model capable of predicting atomic arrangements in crystal structures has been created, , , and reported. From our story: AI learns language of atom arrangements in solids.
• Women in Reading participated in a 'Reclaim the Night' demonstration, supported by the 色狗导航 and Berkshire Women’s Aid highlighted.
• Professor Billy Wong (Education) is featured in , exploring factors behind girls’ underrepresentation in computer science qualifications.

#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment 

• and republished quotes from Professor Sarah Dance (Mathematics and Statistics) on the impact of AI on weather forecasts. Republished by .
• Professor Hannah Cloke is quoted by , , , , , , and on worsening droughts due to human-induced climate change.

Other coverage:

• us quotes Professor Richard Skeffington (Geography and Environmental science)  on the impact of solar panel installations on the countryside.
• reports on a study co-authored by Professor Chris Venditti (Ecology) reveals that brain size in early human species evolved gradually rather than through sudden leaps. From our story: Brains grew faster as humans evolved, study shows.
• Wokingham Borough Council leader Stephen Conway writes for on the council’s achievements over the past year, which included working with the 色狗导航 to develop a Community Vision.
• , , , and (Malaysia) reports that the mother of Reading student was fined in a court case.
• highlighted the appointment of Prof May Tan-Mullins as provost and CEO of the 色狗导航 Malaysia. Republished by .

Alumni:

• highlights Falz, a Nigerian rapper and actor, known for his award-winning career, who holds an LLB in Law from the University.