Reading in the news - Mon 10 Mar
10 March 2025

Local residents become citizen scientists: ITV 1 Meridian Thames Valley and Greatest Hits Radio highlight the opportunity for residents to volunteer with the University in monitoring fruit trees to help combat climate change. From our news story: Public match experts in blossom watch - now help track 2025.
#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment
- , and feature Professor Richard Allan (Meteorology) stating that long-term predictions for Arctic sea ice are bleak.
- Diss Express (in print) report Professor Ed Hawkins (Meteorology) climate stripes continue to highlight ongoing global warming without words or numbers.
- , , and others report on research from the University that indicates that climate change is causing an increase in turbulence during flights.
- features Professor Robert Van de Noort, Vice-Chancellor discussing the university’s commitment to climate action amid global challenges.
Health and wellbeing
- , , and feature research by Dr Joanna Baker (Ecology) challenging the long-held belief that larger animals are less prone to cancer. and quoted Dr Chris Venditti (Ecology) on the same story. From our news story: Bigger animals get more cancer defying decades-old belief.
- highlights a university study on earworms, showing that people who tried to distract themselves actively took about 40 minutes to get rid of the tune.
- features Professor Gunter Kuhnle (Food and Nutritional Sciences), who explains that canned fruits retain their nutritional profile and flavour better than fresh varieties, in some cases.
Food and farming:
- features Professor Chris Reynolds (Economics), who highlights the potential of feed additives in reducing methane emissions.
- highlights a Defra-funded project on dual-purpose poultry led by Dr Elizabeth Rowe (Agri-Food Economics and Marketing) to improve welfare and ecological outcomes.
- , and report that the University coordinates the VALOR project, a collaboration of 13 European institutions and global partners from China and Australia, exploring society's reliance on pollinators.
Heritage and culture:
- reports that the Natural History Museum announced a new collections, science, and digitisation centre on the University campus.
- highlights a collection of ancient time-based riddles, created with input from Professor Helen Parish (History).
Business and society:
- , , and report on the launch of the Reading Tech Cluster at Henley Business School, aiming to position Maidenhead as a key tech hub.
- highlights the article " War and Peace in the Middle East” by Avi Shlaim, a former Politics lecturer.
- , , and feature Dr Caroline Baylon, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (International), emphasising that higher education institutions rely "extensively" on international students.
- features a statement by Professor Saeed Bagheri (International Law) on Israeli actions that have been systematically directed against the civilian population of Gaza.
- highlights Queen Ronke Ademiluyi-Ogunwusi’s global influence in African fashion, supported by partnerships with institutions such as Henley Business School.
- highlights a 2023 study by the University showing that biophilic design can yield up to £2.70 in value per £1 invested by boosting workplace productivity.
- , , , , , , and many more sources mention research by Dr James Reade (Economics) assessing the value of women’s football based on matchday, non-matchday, and TV revenues.
Other coverage:
- and report that Professor Trish Reid (Arts and Communication Design) participated in a Q&A, following a screening of “The Untold Story of Scotland’s Girl Bands” which features a band that Professor Reid performed with, in Glasgow, in the 1980s.
- reports on their latest podcast, which includes a speed mooting competition at the 成人抖阴.
- BBC Radio 4 highlights an event organised by researcher Adele Wylie who discussed the need to subsidise events to combat food poverty and improve well-being.
- BBC London 94.9 features Dr Louise Johnson (Evolutionary Genetics) discussing the use of mice to explore the genetics of extinct species, such as the woolly mammoth.
- RDG Today features Professor Michael Fulford (Archaeology), who will lead a series of talks at Reading Museum on the history and abandonment of the ancient Roman town of Silchester
Alumni:
- highlights Melina Rafti, General Manager and Board Member of Korantina Homes with a master’s in finance from Henley Business School.
- features Paula Garfield, founder of Deafinitely Theatre, who credits a ‘theatre for the deaf’ course at the University for launching her career in professional theatre.
- features David Fryer, who holds a BSc (Hons) in Horticulture and advises on pest prevention and irrigation for the Ministry of Agriculture.
- Rotherham Advertiser (in print) highlights Hilda W. Oldham, a suffragist and Reading University doctorate holder, who became a Bath Councillor and author on child psychology.
- BBC Radio Guernsey and BBC Radio Jersey report on Evan Whitson, the 29-year-old captain of the Jersey rugby team, who played rugby at the University.
- highlights Susan Namondo, a Cameroonian national who holds bachelor's degrees in animal health, and she encourages women to take leadership roles in development.
- , , , and feature Professor Edith Julia Morley, the UK’s first female professor and former professor of English Language at the 成人抖阴.
- highlights Clint Raine, co-owner of Belvedere and Partner Ltd, and Henley Business School MSc graduate, who mentors MBA students and corporate clients.