Reading in the news - Wed 24 Aug

#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment 

• Visiting Professor Liz Bentley (Meteorology) was interviewed by BBC Radio 4 on the science of weather.
• AFP Fact Check, Yahoo!, and MSN quote Professor Ed Hawkins (Meteorology) on disproving the claims of a climate denier who was interviewed on TalkTV.
• Science reports on the University's research on the impact of weather systems on sea ice melt by flying research aircrafts into Arctic storms. Professor John Methven (Meteorology), who is leading the research, is quoted. Read our news story.
• Africa Portal publishes an article co-authored by Dr Caroline Wainwright (Meteorology) on climate change's impact on the extreme rainfall seen in Eastern Africa in 2019.
• Further coverage of Dr Rob Thompson's (Meteorology) viral online video which shows how droughts impact how the ground absorbs water by Wetter.

Declining hay yields: Professor Richard Ellis (Agriculture) is quoted by The Times (in print), and Western Morning News (in print), Western Daily Press (in print), The Herald (in print), and Press and Journal (in print) on a collaborative paper published today in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface, which reveals hay yields in England have fallen by more than a third due to climate change and will continue to fall. BBC Radio 4 also reports. Read our news story.

Flavonoid research:

• Professor Jeremy Spencer (Food) is quoted by Women's Fitness on University research that suggests flavonoids can prevent dementia. 
• Professor Gunter Kuhnle (Food) is quoted by Time News on the healthiness of foods rich in flavanols. 
• Hersfelder Zeitung and HNA report on a University study on the positive health effect that flavonoids can have on high blood pressure.

Other Coverage:

• Professor Mathew Owens (Meteorology) is quoted by News Week on the dangerous solar events that took place between NASA's Apollo 16 and 17.
• Reading Today and Wokingham Today feature a column from Vice-Chancellor Professor Robert Van de Noort on our Graduation celebrations that took place in July.
• The Mirror lists Reading graduate and Conservative MP, Penny Mordaunt as likely to be within the Cabinet, should Liz Truss become the next PM.
• Castilla La Mancha, Granada, Extremadura, Palencia Digital, Info Negocios Madrid, and others publish an article by Professor Emma Borg (Philosophy) for The Conversation, on philosophical approaches to the morality of stealing from big companies.
• Professor Jonathan Passmore (Henley Business School) is quoted by Channel News Asia, CNA Luxury, UK Time News, and Head Topics on the fees and rates of executive coaches. 
• Daily Sun Post, The News Amed, and The Washington Time quote University experts on the unlikely existence of a big cat living in Berkshire. 
• BBC Radio Berkshire reports on the Museum of English Rural Life's 'wild being' programme. 
• Live Science and News Break quote Emeritus Professor Ken Dark (Economics) on ancient Roman superstitions. 
• MIT Sloan Review and Business News publish an article by Professor Benjamin Laker (Henley Business School) on starting your own business. 
• Time News reposts an article by Dr Mark Dallas (Pharmacy) on controversial Alzheimer’s research for The Conversation.
• Berkshire Live reports on the movement of an unauthorised encampment from the University's campus to Prospect Park.

Alumni:

• MIT Technology Review has published a profile piece on Reading graduate and inclusive emoji designer, Paul Hunt.
• University At Albany reports on the honorary award that Reading graduate and current director of the University at Albany’s Atmospheric Sciences Research Center, Dr Chris Thorncroft has recently received from the American Meteorological Society.