Press Releases
University of Reading is cream of the crop
Release Date : 09 January 2009
The University of Reading's world renowned research record in agricultural sciences has been recognised in the latest Thomson Reuters Essential Science Indicators. The University is ranked eighth in the world in agricultural sciences and is the only UK university to be ranked in the global top 20.
The University of Reading has a long tradition in agricultural sciences and has in recent years been regularly ranked* in the world's top 20 institutions. The latest indicators reflect the tremendous influence which the university's research carries as the Thomson Reuters indicators reflect the most cited authors in the field as well as the number of academic papers published. Almost 40,000 institutions were surveyed by the Thomson Reuters Indicators.
Professor Richard Ellis, Dean of the Faculty of Life Sciences at the University of Reading, said: "The University of Reading is renowned for cutting edge research in areas such as climate change and agriculture, the impact of the food chain on public health and animal science. To be ranked in the world's top ten institutions is testament to the considerable talent and hard work of the many people who have contributed to our world class research.
"We are working in a highly competitive global environment and this ranking demonstrates how we consistently punch above our weight in terms of scientific impact. It is particularly timely given concerns over global food security."
Dr Mike Gooding, Head of School of Agriculture, Policy and Development said: "There has never been a more important time to be leading the field in agricultural research. The new agricultural science meets the needs of society, not least in underpinning the provision of affordable and healthy food in increasingly uncertain environmental and economic climates. Our success lies in bringing together environmentalists, social scientists and economists, with crop, animal, soil and food experts to provide sustainable solutions to the challenges we face."
ENDS
Further information from Alex Brannen, Media Relations Manager, on 0118 378 7388
Notes to editors:
• The University of Reading is ranked number 1 UK university in the Indicators and is the only one in the top 20. The UK Institution, the Institute of Food Research, is ranked number 2 in the world ranking.
• The University of Reading published 846 papers and was cited in 8,211 papers over the ten year period to 2008. Other institutions in the top ten are from the US, Finland, Denmark and France. http://scientific.thomsonreuters.com/products/esi
• *The University has been in the top 20 in the last three Thomson Reuters Indicators.
• The University of Reading is ranked as one of the UK's top research-intensive universities. The quality and diversity of the University's research and teaching is recognised internationally as one of the top 200 universities in the world.
• The University is home to more than 50 research centres, many of which are recognised as international centres of excellence such as agriculture, biological and physical sciences, European histories and cultures, and meteorology.
• The University takes a real-world perspective to its research and is consistently one of the most popular higher education choices in the UK.
• The University of Reading's current research in agricultural sciences includes work in the areas of crop science, the food chain, food biosciences, climate change and agriculture, international development and the environment and horticulture.