Hitting the headlines - University staff in the news
Friday, 09 November 2012
Professor Julie Lovegrove featured on Channel 4's Food Hospital
The first month of this term was extremely busy for the University: we welcomed over 5,500 new students to Reading, hosted 14,000 potential students across two successful undergraduate open days, and launched the University's ‘top 1% campaign'. The University also featured heavily in the media in October - here are some of the highlights...
Fish oils healthier for women's hearts than men's
Research from Professor Christine Williams, the University's first Hugh Sinclair Professor of Nutrition and Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation, has found that women may benefit more from eating oily fish than men. This was widely reported in the national media, including by the Daily Mail.
Channel 4's ‘Food Hospital'
Not one, but three Reading academics featured in an episode of Channel 4's Food Hospital on 10 October: Professor Jeremy Spencer, from the Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, spoke about his research into flavonoids and the health benefits of blueberries and Professors Julie Lovegrove, also from Food and Nutritional Sciences, and Jon Gibbins, from the School of Biological Sciences, explained why onions are good for heart health.
Archaeologists reveal rare Anglo-Saxon feasting hall
Dr Gabor Thomas from the Department of Archaeology and his team uncovered a rare Anglo-Saxon feasting hall in Lyminge, Kent this summer, which is the first site to provide a detailed picture of life at an aristocratic estate centre in Anglo-Saxon Kent during the height of the kingdom's political power. This research hit the national news in October when it was reported by the Guardian,and then BBC South East 6pm News, the Telegraph, and the Daily Mail.
University of Reading research finds our wet summer is caused by a major warming of the North Atlantic Ocean
Professor Rowan Sutton, from the Department of Meteorology, has found that this year's dismal UK summer could be caused by a major warming of the North Atlantic Ocean that occurred back in the 1990s. This research was covered widely by the national media including BBC Online.
Reading experts comment on food price rises to Channel 4 News, ITV and the Guardian
Professor Richard Tiffin, director of the Centre for Food Security, and Professor Mike Gooding, head of the School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, gave a series of interviews following news that poor summer weather in the UK has led to a 15% decline in the wheat harvest.
Professor Tiffin told Channel 4 News in a live studio interview that the event should be a wake-up call for the world, showing how susceptible we are to climate-related shocks to food production. Interviews were also featured in the Guardian, ITV Meridian, and BBC Radio Berkshire.
Our biggest careers fair yet
Over 2,000 students attended the careers fair last week to find out about graduate careers in over 100 different organisations from all sectors. An ITV reporter and camera man attended the event, and it was featured on ITV Meridian news that evening.
Weird science: Could a robot have real feelings?
Could a robot have real feelings, its own mind and free will? BBC Breakfast reported about a University of Reading project, led by Dr Berry Billingsley from the Institute of Education, that is trying to revolutionise the way science is seen by school children. Over 300 students and teachers from 16 schools from across England visited the University to hear from some of the UK's leading academics who are addressing these important issues.
Early success for free iPhone app for people with depression
PhD student Alex Gyani, from the Department of Psychology, launched a free iPhone app to help people with depression find access to treatment, without needing to go to their GP. It was launched on 10 October, and within two days it had been downloaded 1,500 times and was ranked #3 among free Health & Fitness apps, and received Twitter recognition by Alistair Campbell, Tony Blair's former spokesman who now campaigns on mental health.
Working with the media can be a great way to help raise your and the University's profile, so please get in touch with the Press Office if you would like to know more about how we can help publicise your work - email media@reading.ac.uk or visit the Press Office website. Also, if you have organised media appearances yourself, the team would love to hear about it.