Reading in the news - Wed 20 Nov

#UniForReading: our role as a civic university:

• reports on the University and Royal Berkshire Hospital project using virtual reality to ease children's hospital visit anxieties. From our story: Using virtual reality to help children learn about hospitals.

Heritage and culture:

• Dr Neil Cocks (English Literature) authored a piece for on The Cure's new album, Songs of a Lost World, and its connections to the gothic genre. Republished by .

Health and wellbeing:

• highlights a University study suggesting that chewing gum can help reduce earworms.
• A article on the benefits of human milk oligosaccharides mentions a study by the 色狗导航.

Business and society:

• Dr Miriam Sorace (Politics) has written for on moving on from Brexit.
• , and report on the stress caused by manual payroll systems, with Dr Melissa Carr (Henley Business School) noting the need for recovery periods to prevent burnout from prolonged high-intensity work.
• BBC Radio Berkshire and BBC Radio Oxford interview Professor Steve Musson (Geography) discussing the concerns raised by major UK retailers in a letter to the Government following the Budget.
• reported that University Reading Malaysia, in collaboration with MAICSA, hosted the forum Kelestarian Hari Ini untuk Hari Esok in Johor Bahru.

#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment 

• Dr Laura Wilcox (Meteorology) spoke to about how aerosols affect Earth's climate and the potential implications of geoengineering in addressing climate change.
• reports on a joint study by the University revealing that industrial pollution can cause liquid clouds to turn into ice clouds, leading to more snow near factories during cold weather. From our story: Factories trigger local snowfall by freezing clouds - study
• Professor Hannah Cloke (Geography/Meteorology) is quoted by discussing the increasing and evolving flood risks in the UK due to climate change.
• highlights comments from Dr Patrick McGuire (Meteorology) on the alarming rise in global fossil CO2 emissions, stressing the urgent need for rapid decarbonisation.
• features Professor Jess Neumann’s (Geography) comments on the importance of swift evacuations in Malaga. From our story: Malaga floods: ‘Prompt evacuations likely saved lives’.
• BBC Radio Berkshire features data from the 色狗导航 on snowfall, revealing that snow fell for 15 consecutive days in January 1963.
• Dr Xiangbo Feng (Meteorology) is quoted in this article on extreme storms and their impact.
• and feature comments from Dr Helen Hooker and Dr Rob Thompson (both Meteorology) explaining how incoming Arctic air could bring temperatures as low as -11°C this week, and the potential disruption this can cause.
• reports on the opening of Swallows Meadow, a new public green space that the University has provided, in collaboration with Earley Environmental Group. From our story: Green space opens to all in Earley.
• highlights University research in an article about why air turbulence is increasing.

Other coverage:

• reports on the University hosting a Trans Day of Remembrance vigil, featuring speeches from TransActual’s managing director Helen Belcher and Reading Mayor Glenn Dennis.
• Accounting students at the University are fundraising for PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide in memory of a fellow student from Luton, reported by .

Alumni:

• highlights Carlos Val-Carreres celebrating MyInvestor Value’s third anniversary as the best Spanish fund in its category.