Reading in the news - Fri 21 Mar
21 March 2025

In Our Time: Professor Michelle O'Callaghan (English Literature) was on BBC Radio 4’s In Our Time discussing the playwright Thomas Middleton.
Health and wellbeing:
- iNews interviewed Dr Mark Dallas (Pharmacy) on strength training for brain health in older adults.
- Dr Simon Clarke (Biological Sciences) on BBC 5 Live (from 9 mins) looking back on Covid-19 lockdowns five years on.
- Food Service Footprint quotes Professor Chris Hilson (Law) advocating extending regulations to improve health and environment. From our story: Tax sugar and salt in food to improve health – report.
#UniForReading:
- Insider Media reports that Reading is expected to have the UK’s fastest-growing local economy in the next three years, with support from the University and Henley Business School.
- Greatest Hits Radio reports that plans for refurbishing a Grade II listed building at the University have been approved.
- Express and INKL reports that BBC One’s Question Time, recorded last night at the University’s Great Hall, was briefly disrupted by the sound of protestors.
- The Reading Chronicle (in print) reports Professor Michael Fulford (Archaeology) will deliver talks on Silchester’s Roman history.
Business and society:
- Today Line features Professor Benjamin Laker’s (Henley Business School) strategies to prevent 'Boreout Syndrome'.
- GB News follows up on a Daily Telegraph story on calls for climate change education to become part of the national curriculum. From our story: Climate expertise helps shape new school curriculum
#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment
- An article in The Conversation and AllAfrica by Dr Suzy White (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology) discusses fossil discoveries of Europe’s earliest settlers.
- Wilts and Glos Standard quotes Professor Richard Skeffington (formerly Geography and Environmental Science) about a solar farm plan in Hullavington.
- Islands report that Professor Paul Williams (Meteorology) highlighted the dangers of intense turbulence.
- Our news story How to stop being surprised by extreme weather by Dorothy Heinrich (Meteorology) is featured by Prevention Web and blog Watts Up With That.
- Politico (in print) quotes Dr Shovonlal Roy (Geography and Environmental Sciences), on the ecological risks of jet fuel spill in the North Sea.
- Macclesfield Nub News highlights an upcoming talk by Dr Matthew Patterson (Meteorology) at Macc Lit & Phil's next event.
Alumni:
- Ground Engineering features Alison Nicholson, who completed a master's in soils and environmental pollution at Reading, discussing diverse career paths.
- Snow Industry News reports that Lee Cowie an MBA from Henley Business School has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer at Accesso.