Reading in the news - Thu 20 Nov

#UniForReading: our role as a civic university

• Greatest Hits Radio (and online) spoke to Molli Cleaver, Community Engagement Manager about the upcoming Autumn Community Forum taking place today on Whiteknights campus.
• The Reading Chronicle (republished by Yahoo! News) also quoted Molli Cleaver on the new sports facilities in Shinfield, funded by the University. From our story: First football matches played at Shinfield sports centre
• The Reading Chronicle mentioned that the University is providing funding for local charity Faith Christian Group to provide food, digital access, and accommodation for vulnerable people.

#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment

• Garden Centre Retail and Reading Today featured research from Dr Caitlin McLaughlin, Dr Jake Bishop and Dr Tijana Blanusa (all Agriculture, Policy, and Development) into clearly labelling plant’s environmental benefits. From our story: Clearly label plant benefits for greener garden choices
• DPA highlighted Reading’s involvement with new sea level monitoring satellite Sentinel-6B.

Business and society:

• Palo reported on a Reading study into differences between how investors look at fund performances.
• Sitsofe Mensah (Henley Business School) wrote for JoyOnline about changes to VAT in Ghana’s 2026 Budget.

Health and wellbeing:

• Smithsonian Magazine mentioned comments from Professor Christos Pliatsikas (Centre for Literacy & Multilingualism) in response to a study on multilingualism and brain aging.
• Eldecano highlighted Reading research into the negative effects of dehydration on cognitive skills.
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Food and farming:

• 20min and L’essential quoted Professor Gunter Kuhnle (Food and Nutritional Sciences) on the effects of consuming ultra-processed foods.

Other coverage:

• The Tab mentioned Reading in a round-up of UK universities featured in the QS Sustainability Rankings 2026. From our story: Reading in global top 30 for QS Sustainability Rankings
• PressBee and Yahoo! News highlighted the first snowfall of the season on Whiteknights campus, featuring a social media post from a student.
• Inside Conveyancing featured the University’s Loddon Garden Village plans. From our story: Planning application submitted for Loddon Garden Village
• Times Now (republished by Daily Hunt) listed Dr Nachiketa Chakraborty (Computer Science) as a speaker at the Global AI Summit 2025.

Alumni:

• Parathyro reported on a gallery exhibition from artist and Fine Art graduate Amy Stephens.
• Citizen highlighted the achievements of singer Yvonne Chaka Chaka, who studied at Henley Business School.
• CHRO South Africa mentioned that Brigitte Padayachee, new CPO for The Courier Guy, studied at Henley Business School Africa.
• Stephen Grootes, Programme Manager at Henley Business School Africa, was interviewed by The Money Show about leadership.