Reading in the news - Thu 26 Jun

#UniForReading: our role as a civic university  

• RDG Today and Greatest Hits Radio reports residents, alumni, staff, and students are being invited to share memories of the University as part of its Centenary Memories Project. From our story: Community invited to share memories for Uni’s 100 years
• RDG Today reports the University is marking National Meadows Day by inviting the community to learn about restoring Langley Mead Nature Reserve to a traditional floodplain meadow. From our story: National Meadows Day celebrations in Shinfield

Health and wellbeing:

• Elle Singapore cites research showing that chosen solitude has benefits for stress reduction and self-care.
• The Cooldown mentions a study from Professor Julie Lovegrove (Food and Nutritional Sciences) showing diets rich in legumes and pulses offer significant nutritional benefits.

Food and farming:

• KamCity, FoodandDrink Technology, Hallo-Muenchen, Werra-Rundschau, A1 Retail Magazine and PressePortal and Asian Trader reports on research showing frozen fruit and vegetables can retain as well as fresh food.
• Joy Rulez lists the University as one of the top institutions offering quality programmes in agriculture.
• IFST reports GreenScoop from the University won silver at Ecotrophelia UK 2025.
• Dairy Farmer Magazine (in print) mentions a farmer who studied at the University in the early 1990s.
• UCAB is participating in the international project on regenerative agriculture, led by the University.

Business and society:

• Professor Rosa Freedman (Law) was interviewed by BBC Radio Oxford and BBC Radio Berkshire about what to expect next in the Israeli-Iran conflict.
• The Mirror interviewed Dr Alexander Gilder (Law) about Israel’s role in the Middle East. From our story: Israeli strikes on Iran: expert comments on legality.
• People Management quotes Dr Rita Fontinha (Henley Business School) on hybrid working and productivity.
• UnHerd quotes Dr Tony Capstick (English Language and Applied Linguistics) on studying the UK’s Pakistani Mirpuri community.
• University of Cape Town News republished an article from The Conversation written by Dr Matthias Krönke (Politics and International Relations) on South Africa’s coalition government.
• Dr Ruvi Ziegler (Law) was interviewed by CGTN’s The Agenda to discuss the plight of refugees as part of World Refugee Day coverage.

Heritage and culture:

• Fabian Society reports that Edith Morley was the first female professor in England.
• Professor Federico Faloppa (Languages and Cultures, School of Humanities) gave a TEDx talk about the value of multilingualism.

#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment 

• ENDS Report quotes Professor Chris Hilson (Law) on Defra’s funding strategy.
• Wokingham Today and Green Car Guide report that University experts will offer advice at a free electric vehicle event.
• BBC Radio Bristol, MRCVS, VN Online, Oceanographic, Indiane New England and Asianet News share the findings of new research from Kerry Stewart (Ecology), which warns that over 500 bird species may go extinct within 100 years without targeted recovery efforts. From our story: 500 bird species face extinction within the next century.
• The Northern Farmer Magazine (in print) quotes Dr Jess Neumann (Geography and Environmental Science) on the North-West’s driest spring in nearly 100 years.

Other coverage:

• Professor Philip Beaman (Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences) discussed his research on earworms in an interview with BBC Radio Berkshire.
• Windsor Express, Slough Express and Maidenhead Advertiser reports Reading University Boat Club members Daisy Bellamy and Rory Harris have been selected for the World Rowing Cup.
• Egali reports the University offers a Summer Schools UK program for teenagers.
• The Reading Chronicle reports that the Earley social club, used recently for events by the University of Reading Catholic Society, has closed.
• Northampton Chronicle reports a senior women’s crew from the University recorded the fastest double sculling time at Henley Women’s Regatta.
• Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine (in print) revisits the viral 2018 tweet from the Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) featuring a giant ram.
• BBC Radio Berkshire mentions local nature events taking place near Whiteknights campus.

Alumni:

• The Daily Maverick highlights Caroline Bixby, who completed an MBA at Henley Business School.
• CIO South Africa reports that Denish Haripal, nominated for the 2025 CIO Awards, holds an MBA from Henley Business School, University.