Science in Reading

Yoghurts, cheeses, kefirs, crème fraiche: are there any benefits seen in MetS

Tue, Jul 7 · 7:00 PM BST

Zerodegrees Microbrewery & Restaurant Reading, 9 Bridge Street, Reading, GB

Links to the local STEAM Groups + Social Media Link Tree

A friendly Science focused group entertaining the local community with the fascinating world of science – events from hands on workshops to engaging talks. Everyone welcome!

Our monthly meetups are held upstairs at Zero Degrees (9 Bridge St, Reading RG1 2LR) from 7pm.

So please do come along, grab a beer/food at the downstairs bar (the mango beer and wood fired pizza are epic) and enjoy a relaxed evening of talks + networking + beers.

7:00pm Arrivals
7:30pm Welcome and Introductions
7:35pm Yoghurts, cheeses, kefirs, crème fraiche: are there any benefits seen in Metabolic Syndrome (Charlotte Weston – University of Reading)
8:20pm Comfort Break
8:30pm Q&A
9:00pm Networking
9:30pm End

Yoghurts, cheeses, kefirs, crème fraiche: are there any benefits seen in Metabolic Syndrome (Charlotte Weston – University of Reading)

Yoghurt, kefir, cheese, crème fraîche… are these everyday foods doing more for us than just simply tasting good? My talk explores whether fermented dairy products could play a role in metabolic health, particularly in people with metabolic risk factors such as increased waist circumference, high blood pressure, adverse cholesterol profiles, or pre-diabetes. We’ll examine current evidence linking fermented dairy foods to changes in the gut microbiome, inflammation, cognition, and mood, and ask a simple question: can these foods make an impactful difference to health outcomes? Expect a tour through current research, emerging theories, and findings from recent studies, alongside discussion of the challenges and gaps that remain in this rapidly evolving field. I’ll also share my own research ideas and future study plans aimed at addressing some of these unanswered questions, including opportunities to get involved in ongoing and future research. See you there!

Hi all! My name is Charlotte Weston, and I am a PhD student at the University of Reading, in my first year! I work as part of the Nutrition, Cognition and Mental Health Lab in the School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, as well as the Centre for Integrative Neuroscience and Neurodynamics. My research focuses on the gut microbiome and fermented dairy products, and the effects this has on cognition and mood, specifically in metabolic clinical populations!

If you would like to get involved and support your local Science community please get in touch – email: scienceinreading [at] gmail.com or twitter: Science in Reading (@Science_Reading)

Speaking slot availability can be found via the website.

We meet 1st Tuesday of the month. Format is gathering from 7.00pm with talks commencing at 7.30pm. Talks timings are completely flexible but generally 40-60mins + Q&A with a ~20mins break to encourage social networking.

Contact’s: email: scienceinreading [at] gmail.com or twitter: Science in Reading (@Science_Reading)

Reading Geek Night – A taste of programming

Tue, Jul 14 · 7:00 PM BST

Zerodegrees Microbrewery & Restaurant Reading, 9 Bridge Street, Reading, GB

Links to the local STEAM groups + #rdggeek Link Tree
We are looking for speakers for 2026 and beyond. If you would like to get involved and support your local Reading Geek community please get in touch – email: talks [at] rdggeeknight.org or via Twitter: @RDGGeekNight Speaking slot availability can be found via the website.

Our monthly meetups are held upstairs at Zero Degrees (9 Bridge St, Reading RG1 2LR) from 7pm.

So please do come along, grab a beer/food at the downstairs bar (the mango beer and wood fired pizza are epic) and come share your geekery and enjoy a relaxed evening of talks + networking + beers.

Everyone welcome!

• 7:00pm Arrivals
• 7:30pm Welcome and Introductions
• 7:35pm A taste of programming (Denis Bredelet)
• 8:30pm Short announcements/updates*
• 8:35pm Pub Quiz (Please bring a pencil & paper)
• 9:30pm End(Networking and beers downstairs)

A taste of programming (Denis Bredelet)

Explore the fascinating intersection of logic and data. This session moves beyond syntax to uncover how programming is fundamentally structured problem-solving and manifests in our daily experiences. We will dissect various flavours of data handling — imperative, functional, object-oriented and declarative programming approaches — before demonstrating their practical application through the universal language of spreadsheets.

From the Alps to the Thames Valley, Denis Bredelet has built a career driven by curiosity, a passion for solving complex problems, and a focus on helping customers make sense of technology.

After studying Physics and Computer Science at the Grenoble Institute of Polytechnic Engineering, Denis developed a fascination not just with what software does, but how it works beneath the surface. His career has taken him through leading technology companies including Xerox, Apple, Dell and, more recently, Boomi.

Away from work, Denis enjoys exploring history, travelling and taking on endurance challenges, including completing both the Inca Trail and the 100 km Trailwalker event. He also has a keen interest in environmental and social responsibility.

Today, Denis is the founder of Ovvi, a startup reimagining spreadsheet software to make working with complex data more intuitive and accessible. In this talk, he'll explore the many flavours of programming and demonstrate how the same fundamental concepts underpin tools we use every day—even the humble spreadsheet.

About Reading Geek Night

A friendly and welcoming community for enthusiasts.

Every second Tuesday of the month Reading Geek Night has talks on various topics about science, tech, design & geekery. The usual format is to gather from 7:00pm and commence the talks at 7:30pm. Talks are ~20mins + Q&A with a break of 20mins for networking and beer.

*Before the second session there is an opportunity for any short announcements so please let us know on the night if you would like a slot or 1-2mins.

Look forward to seeing you there!

Get involved and support the community

If you would like to get involved with your local #rdggeek community by giving a talk or hosting a quiz at an upcoming event please contact us via twitter: @RDGGeekNight,
Facebook or email us: talks [at] rdggeeknight.org

Speaking slot availability can be found via the website.