New weather station for Ben Nevis and tackling sugary drinks – Reading in the news Thurs 9 Nov
09 November 2017
Ben Nevis weather station: Live weather data is being recorded at the top of Ben Nevis, the UK's highest peak, after a weather station was installed this week, reports the BBC. The data will help researchers from the NERC National Centre for Atmospheric Science (NCAS) better understand Britain's climate and how this could change in the future. Prof Ed Hawkins (Met) is part of NCAS and is also leading a campaign to digitally catalogue weather records from Ben Nevis from the 1800s to provide a fuller picture of how Britain's climate has changed. Read our story here.
Motivation - money vs honours: Dr Marina Della Giusta (Economics) has written an extended book review for Times Higher Education on Honours versus Money: The Economics of Awards by Bruno S. Frey and Jana Gallus. In her review, she says that the book recognises the advantages and disadvantages of using awards to motivate academics to do outstanding research but ‘one cannot help noticing the lack of a more explicit cultural and institutional analysis in this book.'
Jamie Oliver sugar levy trial: Prof Richard Tiffin (Agrimetrics) provides comment for an article in Food Manufacture on the trial at Jamie Oliver restaurants which claims there is a link between price and the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages. He said: ‘both the prices increases involved and the change in consumption were not sufficient enough to have a meaningful impact on obesity.'
Other coverage:
- Sir David Bell reviews Theo Farrell's Unwinnable: Britain's War in Afghanistan, 2001-2014 for this week's ‘What are you reading' section in Times Higher Education.
- Chemistry World features an article on the safety concerns of furan in food. Dr David Jukes (Food) comments on the likelihood of legislation being introduced to limit people's intake.
- A news story on Gov.uk announcing an extra £30 million of funding for Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) references the success of Ella's Kitchen, which has run 3 schemes working with the University of Reading.
- Greenpeace comment on Coca-Cola's European sustainability strategy, which was released this week. The strategy includes the refillable bottle scheme that is being trialled at the University.
- An article in Housing Management & Maintenance refers to a study by Prof Hazim Awbi (Built Environment), which revealed that there could be an 80% rise in those suffering with asthma symptoms by 2050.
- Reading Borough Council is launching a new Rent with Confidence Scheme from next week, reports In Your Area. The University has been involved in consulting on the scheme.
- Samantha Fields speaks to BBC Radio Berkshire (approx. 2 hours 17 mins in) about her move to a full-time acting career, following a job working for the University. Samantha also spoke about doing her degree and a Masters at Reading.