Reading in the news - Thu 9 Jan

Wicked: A new documentary on Amazon Prime about stage musical, Wicked, has been released to coincide with the new film version. This features an interview with Professor Karin Lesnik-Oberstein (English Literature) and items from the University archive, relating to the work of L. Frank Baum, author of the Wizard of Oz books.

Health and wellbeing:

• The Daily Mail, Express Digest and other outlets reported on research related to bowel cancer risk factors, suggesting that dietary calcium is an important factor in preventing cancers from developing. Professor Ian Givens (Agriculture) is quoted.
• Dr Simon Clarke gives commentary to The World on the cases of human metapneumovirus that are spiking in northern China.
• In an article about mood boosting foods, Country and Town House refer to research at the University that found that a wild blueberry based drink gave positive mood effects.

Heritage and culture:

• Multiple media outlets covered the discovery of a Roman-era artifact – a dog penis bone, stained red for Roman fertility rituals - at a quarry site in Surrey, featuring comments from University archaeologists, including Ellen Green. Coverage included the Telegraph, the Kansas City Star, The Charlotte Observer, Miami Herald and others.
• Professor Anne Lawrence-Mathers (History) speaks to BBC Berkshire about vampires and the stories that define them.
• Kerri-Anne Chisholm (Art), a PhD student, is involved in a new collaborative and creative space, reports Cayman Compass.
• Dr Tijana Blanusa (Crop Science) is quoted by the Daily Express on the value of having plants in homes and offices.
• Full Fact has investigated a film featuring the Prime Minister that has been identified as a fake, produced by AI. Dr Dominic Lees (Film, Theatre and Television) is quoted.

Environment and Climate:

• CNN Indonesia quoted Professor Richard Allan (Meteorology) discussing recent global temperature changes.
• The Energyst reported on climate stripes data showing 2024 temperature records, featuring Dr Ed Hawkins' (Meteorology) work.
• Reading.Today reported on University weather data showing December 2024 was the gloomiest since the 1950s, featuring Robert Thompson's analysis.
• Smart Water Magazine reports on flash floods in Indonesia in March 2022, featuring comments by former Reading student Ainur Ridho.
• Heart Berkshire and Reading.Today mention evidence from the University that December was the dullest since 1921.
• Professor Chris Hilson (Law) writes for New Energy World about incentivising fossil fuel-exporting countries to cut emissions associated with their exports.
• A BBC podcast on the flooding in Valencia features an interview with Professor Chris Scott (Meteorology).

Business and Society:

• Management Today published pieces on business transformation featuring Chris Dalton (Henley Business School).
• Professor Rosa Freedman was interviewed by France24 about prisoner transfers from Guantanamo Bay.

Education and Research:

• BBC Radio networks featured interviews with Professor Jane Setter (Modern Languages & Linguistics) about research into the traits people associate with the Welsh accent. Coverage on BBC Radio Berkshire and BBC Radio Oxford.

#UniversityForReading:

• Bracknell News covered the Hall Farm development consultation.
• Yuan Yang, MP for Earley and Woodley, mentions, in an interview for BBC Newsnight, that there will be many students from the University who will benefit from a rise in the minimum wage.

Other Coverage:

• The University of Reading was mentioned in coverage about smart waste management initiatives in Qatar by Qatar Tribune, Qatar News Agency, and others.

Alumni:

• Multiple South African outlets reported on Darryl Erasmus's appointment as Chief Operations Officer of South African Tourism, noting his Henley Business School background. Coverage in BizCommunity.com, Mail & Guardian Online.