University of Reading

Graduation at Reading: Dr Pat Parslow (Computer Science) was commended for his supervision of graduating student Dan. Dan's mother, Jane, praised Dr Parslow on Sara Cox's Breakfast show on BBC Radio 2 (from 2:37:55). BBC Radio 1’s Greg James gave a shout out to student Laura and her peers in Speech and Language Therapy, who graduated this week.

A climate campaigner who has helped nearly 10,000 UK schools work towards net zero has received an honorary degree from the University of Reading. Alex Green, Head of Let's Go Zero at climate charity Ashden, received the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science in a ceremony on Thursday 23 July. Green studied Geography at the University of Leeds before working at Kent County Council and the Environment Agency.

Hosepipe bans: Dr Jess Neumann (Geography) spoke to BBC Three Countries and BBC Radio Berkshire and is quoted by Wokingham Today on why hosepipe bans have been introduced across the UK. Professor Richard Allan (Meteorology) is quoted by YourNews and News Sniffer. Charity of the Year: Wokingham Today reports on The Charlie Waller Trust being chosen as the University of Reading’s Charity of the Year. Professor Robert Van de Noort, Vice-Chancellor, is quoted.

Drought has been declared in two areas of Wales and part of England, following record dry conditions, heatwaves, wildfires and dwindling rivers. Dr Jess Neumann provides expert comment. For interviews, contact the University of Reading Press Office on 0118 378 5757 or pressoffice@reading.ac.uk. "Today's drought declaration by Natural Resources Wales reflects the cumulative effects of months of below-average rainfall, rather than just recent warm weather.

A campaigner who has spent 50 years raising awareness of Deaf culture and fighting for the recognition of British Sign Language has received an honorary degree from the University of Reading. Paddy Ladd, a former director of postgraduate programmes at the Centre for Deaf Studies at the University of Bristol, was awarded the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters in a ceremony on Wednesday 22 July. Ladd was born deaf in 1952 and was among the first deaf children in the UK to attend mainstream school.

Business and society: BritBrief republished an article from The Guardian, quoting Professor Rosemary Auchmuty (Law) about new cohabitation laws. Conservative Home mentioned Henley Business School research into public confidence in government. Food and farming: Professor Gunter Kuhnle (Food and Nutritional Sciences) was quoted by Bang Bizarre on the health impacts of ultra-processed food.

The Charlie Waller Trust has been selected as the University of Reading's next Charity of the Year for 2026/27, following a vote by University staff. The Charlie Waller Trust is a children and young people's mental health charity. It works with young people, and those who support them, to manage their mental health and wellbeing, providing parents, carers, teachers, employers and community organisations with free training and resources to break down the stigma surrounding mental health problems.

Health and wellbeing: The Mirror (republished by MSN and BritBrief) included comments from Dr Simon Clarke (Biomedical Sciences) on teenagers getting meningitis vaccines. From our expert comment: MenB vaccine rollout a ‘vital’ step that will ‘save lives’ Food and farming: Portside reported on a study by Professor Gunter Kuhnle (Food and Nutritional Sciences) on how much salt is in takeaways.

Scientists studying space weather are turning to human volunteers rather than artificial intelligence to help sort through hundreds of thousands of images of the Arctic sky. The Clear Skies – Kiruna project, funded by the Natural Environment Research Council, is asking members of the publicto look at pictures of the sky above Kiruna, Sweden, and say whether it is clear or cloudy. Volunteers need no experience to get involved.

Cookham dig: ITV Meridian, BBC South, BBC Radio Solent, BBC News and Arkeonews (republished by AOL, Custom Map Poster, Europe Says and Yahoo News) featured the ongoing Cookham Abbey excavation, featuring Professor Gabor Thomas, Dr Sophia Mills and student Amarit Parmar (all Archaeology).