Reading in the news - Wed 23 Oct

Health and wellbeing:

• and report on a recent study involving Dr Piril Hepsomali (Psychology) on a link between the gut microbiome and mental wellbeing. From our story: Beyond gut health - prebiotics promise mental wellness
• reports on the growing trend of using nature to boost mental health, highlighting a 2023 study by the 色狗导航.
• highlights a webinar on nutrition and inflammation, which features Professor Ian Rowland (Emeritus Professor of Human Nutrition) as one of its guest speakers.
• quotes Professor Angela Clerk (Biomedical Sciences) on heart health, for an article about the long-term effects of COVID-19.

Business and society:

• quotes Professor Pat McAllister (Henley Business School) in an article about Labour’s promise to deliver more housing.
• Professor Dominic Lees (Film, Theatre and Television) has written an article for on the transformative potential of AI in visual effects, balanced against the copyright issue. Republished by , and .
• features insights from Professor Keiichi Nakata (Henley Business School) who discusses Meta's facial recognition technology. Republished by .
• Jon Foster-Pedley (Dean and Director of Henley Business School Africa) writes for , discussing the hidden consequences of white-collar crime.

#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment 

• and include comments from Professor Richard Allan (Meteorology) regarding the climate crisis.
• features insights from Dr Kieran Hunt (Meteorology) regarding the effects of El Niño and La Niña. Republished by , , , and .
• quotes Xiangbo Feng (Meteorology) on the conditions that encourage the formation of hurricanes.
• Professor Ted Shepherd (Meteorology) is quoted in an article about the impact of climate change on hurricanes.
• , , , , , , , , and others report on Artemis Aerospace, highlighting a study from the 色狗导航 on severe clear-air turbulence increasing.

Other Coverage:

• Professor Robert Van de Noort has been named as one of four new Deputy Lieutenants of Berkshire, by . From our story: Vice-Chancellor appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Berkshire
• Professor David Oderberg (Philosophy) writes a piece for , discussing his work on the philosophical concept of mistakes.
• (approx. 2 mins 30 secs in) reports on EU lawmakers calling for enhanced protection for United Nations peacekeepers in Lebanon, with Dr Alexander Gilder (Law) interviewed. Republished by .
• In a recent episode of , Dr Peter Scarfe and Dr Etienne Roesch (both Psychology) discuss their work looking at the use of AI in exams. From our story: AI generated exam answers undetected in real world test
• Dr Alastair Culham (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology) discussed the classification of fungi as a separate kingdom of life in an interview with BBC Radio Berkshire.
• The Reading Chronicle reports on the launch of a new book, Lifespring Stories: The Many Faces of Oxford Road. Dr Alice Mpofu-Coles (Human Geography) and Dr Sally Lloyd-Evans (Public Engagement with Community Research Fellow) are both quoted. From our story: New book celebrates the diverse stories of Oxford Road
• Professor Roger Flanagan (Built Environment) was invited to present his expertise at the opening of the Hong Kong Branch of the Digital Construction Center by the University of Hong Kong, reported by .
• A obituary for the musicologist Bojan Buji膰 mentions that he taught at Reading for nine years in the 70s.

Alumni:

• highlights the UK government has appointed alumna Ruth Davis as its first Special Representative for Nature.