Reading in the news - Wed 31 Jan

Human microchipping: BBC World Service Radio spoke to Professor Kevin Warwick (Emeritus Professor) about his experience of implanting a microchip into his arm, following the news that Elon Musk’s company claims it has successfully implanted a chip into someone’s brain.

Pharmacists prescribing antibiotics: Dr Simon Clarke (Biomedical Sciences) spoke to BBC Radio 4’s World Tonight about the implications of easing access to antibiotics by allowing pharmacists to make community prescriptions.

#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment 

• Dr Kieran Hunt (Meteorology) spoke to BBC Berkshire on the uncertainty of predicting seasonal weather in the UK.

 #UniForReading: our role as a civic university  

• Greatest Hits Radio mentions the return of the Community Festival, hosted by the University, on yesterday’s news bulletins.

Health and wellbeing

• Dr Simon Clarke (Biomedical Sciences) discusses the inconclusive evidence of the benefits of taking supplements for The Telegraph. Republished by Yahoo! News, MSN and NZHerald.
• FreeCodeCamp reports that the University of Reading has just launched a new free online course about nutrition and exercise for older adults.

Food and farming:

• Chemical Industry Journal mentions research conducted by the University on keeping green leaves healthy after flowering.
• BBC Berkshire spoke to Dr Andrew Daymond (Crop Science) about the International Cocoa Quarantine Centre, housed at the University of Reading, and the purpose of the facility.

Heritage and culture:

• A Channel 4 programme on historical hunters mentions an excavation run by the University of Reading in 2020.
• The University of Reading’s excavations from Silchester will be featured in a Basingstoke museum, Basingstoke Gazette reports. Director of the project, Professor Mike Fulford (Archaeology), is quoted.

Other Coverage:

• Professor Nada Kakabadse and Andrew Kakabadse (both Henley Business School) write for Board Agenda on how to make the most of AI technology.
• The Bubble reports that the University is in the top spot for the People and Planet University League 2023/2024.
• Inside Housing mentions Dr Phillip Graham (formerly Architecture) winning the Thinkhouse Early Career Researcher’s Prize for his paper on adjustable housing.

Alumni:

• A former Henley Business School graduate has given evidence to the Women and Equalities Committee about misogyny in the music industry, BBC Berkshire reports.
• Felix Jebb, who earned a degree in real estate from the University of Reading, has joined Savills Cambridge team, Anglia Farmer mentions.