Reading in the news - Mon 26 Oct

Apollo Moon samples: Dr James O’Donoghue (Meteorology) spoke to BBC News about the Observe the Moon Night 2026 event on campus, where Moon samples from various Apollo missions were on display. From our story: Moon samples land at Reading for NASA observation night

Board of Peace: Professor Sarah von Billerbeck (Politics and International Relations) was quoted by BBC Radio 4 and BBC World Service about Trump’s International Board of Peace.

Food, farming and health:

• South First, Inshorts and DT Next reported on a study by Professor Vimal Karani (Food and Nutritional Sciences) on diets in India. From our story: Indian diet shift exposes hidden genetic cholesterol risk 
• Health and Me and Life reported on research by PhD student Abigail Davies (Food and Nutritional Sciences) about the benefits of asparagus.  
• A study by Dr Aidan Taylor (Biomedical Sciences) found that blue light kills food poisoning bacteria, reports Poultry World and Stirea Verde. From our story: Blue light could cut food poisoning from raw chicken 
• The New Zealand Herald, Brisbane Times and Sydney Morning Herald featured research by PhD student Sabrina Longley (Food and Nutritional Sciences) on the benefits of artisan cheeses. From our story: Could artisan cheeses that please ease diseases? 
• Research by Professor Ian Givens (Agriculture) on trans fats in dairy was mentioned by The Star. 
• Sydney Today, Queensland Today and Adelaide Today mentioned a study on the healthiness of walnuts. 

#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment

• A study by Professor Paul Williams (Meteorology) on how climate change impacts air turbulence was mentioned by AeroHaber, GTM News, CT Mirror, Aviation Direct and Aviation A2Z. 
• Dr Akshay Deoras (Meteorology) was quoted by More Branches and Moji Delano on the potential impacts of El Niño. 
• Travelhinger featured research by Dr James Ryalls (Sustainable Land Management) on how insects are affected by pollution. From our story: Bees struggle to smell flowers when air pollutants combine 
• BBC Radio Lincolnshire, Oxford and Humberside mentioned advice from Regius Professor Hannah Cloke (Meteorology) on preparing for extreme weather events. 

Business and society:

• Dr Benjamin Thorne (Law) was quoted by The European Correspondent about the ICC winning the EU human rights prize. 
• Jon Foster-Pedley, Dean of Henley Business School Africa, wrote for Daily Maverick about using optimism to drive change. 

Heritage and culture:

• The Sun highlighted the Museum of English Rural Life in a list of places to visit in Berkshire. 

#UniForReading: our role as a civic university

• Wokingham Today highlighted the University’s involvement with Wokingham Borough Council. 
• Reading Today quoted Vice-Chancellor Professor Robert Van de Noort on the University’s community engagement fund.    

Other coverage:

• The Herald Series, This is Oxfordshire, Oxford Mail, Witney Gazette and Bicester Advertiser mentioned Reading students who worked with the Vale and Downland Museum. 
• Wokingham Today and Reading Today highlighted collaborations between the University and Shinfield Studios. 

Alumni:

• FPA highlighted that Euphemia Gbadee Swen-Monmia, director of financial markets for Central Bank of Liberia, studied Development Finance.