Media report - Wed 19 Feb

#UniForReading: our role as a civic university

• Reading Borough Council reports Professor Parveen Yaqoob (Deputy Vice-Chancellor) will speak at the Reading mayor’s International Women’s Day celebration.

#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment 

• The Manchester Evening News quotes Dr James O’Donoghue (Meteorology) on the potential impact of asteroid 2024 YR4.
• The Guardian reports on a forecast climate tipping point, including Dr Reinhard Schiemann's (Meteorology) insights. Republished by AOL, TechRegister and Inkl.
• EurekAlert reports on research in collaboration with the University focusing on the impact of climate change on cut-off low storms. Phys.org also reports, focusing on how climate change could intensify persistent heavy rainfall.
• Phys.org and Technology Networks report that University chemists have developed a degradable polymer adhesive that simplifies plastic bottle recycling. From our news story: Plastic bottles easier to recycle with new degradable glue
• The Sun and The Scottish Sun report that University researchers found a more than 50% increase in the duration of severe turbulence over the North Atlantic.

Health and wellbeing

• The Daily Mail quotes Professor Glenn Gibson (Food and Nutritional Sciences) on choosing probiotics that give health benefits. Republished by WhatsNew2Day.
• Nursing in Practice reports that Professor Angela Clerk (Biomedical Science) praised a study on hormonal contraceptives and cardiovascular risk but cautioned against extrapolating results to other populations.

Food and farming:

• The Daily Mail reports that researchers from the University have partnered with Mimica to create a tactile providing real-time information on food freshness. Read our news story: Revolutionary Bump Tag to combat food waste

Business and society:

• Askanews, QDS, Corriere Flegreo, and Appia News report that the POLIMI Graduate School of Management’s Master of International Business and Digital Transformation course, delivered by Henley Business School, ranks 12th worldwide in the QS International Trade Rankings 2025.
• The Daily Mail, The Conversation and BBC Radio Berkshire report Dr Kenton White’s (Politics and International Relations) commentary on the possibility of UK troops being sent to Ukraine, and the NATO response to peace talks with Russia. Republished by ExpressDigest. Read our expert comment: Ukraine war peace talks expert comment
• Financier Worldwide features insights from Professors Andrew Kakabadse and Nada Kakabadse (Henley Business School) on the role of organisational structure.

Heritage and culture:

• Channel 5 featured Dr Matthew Nicholls (Classics) discussing the Latin name "Verecunda," meaning "modesty,"

Other coverage:

• The Reading Chronicle and The Tab report that the University has been ranked 101-150 in the Times Higher Education World Reputation Rankings 2025. Republished by MSN.
• The Reading Chronicle reports that campaigners are pushing for safety measures at a Reading crossroads, following the death of a university student in 2017.
• Reading Chronicle reports that the University plans to preserve and upgrade the Grade II listed URS building on the Whiteknights campus.

Alumni:

• The Sussex Express and Medien-Info highlights Jenni Jinks, who trained at the University to become a health visitor after a 50-year NHS career.
• BBC reports that LGBT equality campaigner Matthew Toresen delivered a memorial lecture at the University of Reading. Republished by Yahoo! News and AOL.
• 24Sports, Politis, Gazzetta, Kathimerini and Balla report that Raphael Dimitriou accounting graduate, has been appointed CEO of Anorthosis Famagusta.