Reading in the news - Wed 29 Oct
29 October 2025
Hurricane Melissa:
Various experts spoke to media about Hurricane Melissa, which made landfall with Jamaica. Read our expert comment: Hurricane Melissa: impact of climate change.
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Dr Jess Neumann (Geography) spoke to LBC News, Heart Radio, BBC Radio Wales, and various BBC regional radio stations.
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Dr Akshay Deoras (Meteorology) was interviewed by LBC News and BBC Radio 5 Live and quoted by and (republished by and )
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, , and (republished by ) featured comments from Professor Hannah Cloke (Geography/Meteorology).
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Professor Liz Stephens (Meteorology) was interviewed by , Times Radio and Sky News (skip to 08:36:30).
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Dr Helen Hooker (Geography/Meteorology) spoke to ITV News.
Health and wellbeing:
- quoted Professor Gunter Kuhnle (Food and Nutritional Sciences) about a study into children’s sugar intake. Professor Kuhnle was also quoted by and about ultra-processed foods.
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Research from Professor Julie Lovegrove (Food and Nutritional Sciences) found eating two apples a day lowers cholesterol, reports .
- reported on a study from Professor Netta Weinstein (Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences), which found that comfortable silence is associated with good relationships.
#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment
- , , , and (republished by ) quoted Dr Akshay Deoras (Meteorology) responding to a study on cloud seeding in India.
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and republished an article from , featuring quotes from Dr Deoras about the role of climate change in forming cyclones. , , and various global outlets included additional comments.
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quoted Professor Maarten Ambaum (Meteorology) on the 2024 Dubai floods.
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mentioned the University’s website.
- reported on research which used weather radars to monitor insect populations.
Business and society:
- Professor Rosa Freedman (Law) was quoted by (republished by and ) about pro-Palestine protests.
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provided further quotes from Professor Niaz Asadullah (Economics) about the effect AI has on jobs in Bangladesh.
- Professor Steve Musson (Geography) was interviewed by BBC Radio Berkshire and Oxford about changes to high streets.
Other coverage:
- highlighted research which found indoor plants reduce noise levels.
- reported on research from Dr Simone Pfuderer (Crop Science) into Africa’s donkey hide trade.
Alumni:
- (republished by ) featured an obituary for South African author and Reading graduate Zoë Wicomb.
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Henley Business School graduate Sam White has been appointed Managing Director of Technical Services of Mitie, reports .
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profiled Construction and Real Estate graduate and lecturer Jan Wilcox.
- interviewed gardener and Zoology graduate Poppy Okotcha.

