Hitting the headlines - University staff in the media
Monday, 15 April 2013
Dr Jane Parker (right) with Maggie Philbin on BBC One's Bang Goes the Theory
Since our last update in February, colleagues from across the University have continued to raise the University's profile through the national media. Here are some of the highlights...
Transatlantic flights 'to get more turbulent'
Dr Paul Williams, from the Department of Meteorology, has found that climate change will affect aviation by increasing air turbulence and causing flights to get bumpier.
This research was published in the Nature Climate Change journal on Monday 8 April, and has since been widely picked up by both UK and international media, including: BBC Radio Four's Material Word (14 minutes in), BBC World TV, BBC Radio Two (Jeremy Vine), BBC Radio Five Live, BBC World Service, BBC Online, Daily Telegraph, Financial Times, Daily Mail, Guardian, CNN, LA Times, South China Morning Post, Japan Times, National Post Canada, New Age (South Africa), MSN Malaysia, The Hindu, Channel 9 News (Australia), the Zimbabwe Star and many other national and international media outlets.
Bang Goes the Theory
The popular BBC One show came to Reading to look at the science behind food flavours. Dr Jane Parker showed presenter Maggie Philbin how aromas are used to give plain food more interesting flavours. Watch the episode >>>
Professor Ian Jones on bird flu and vaccines
Professor Jones, one of the UK's leading virology experts from the School of Biological Sciences, appeared on BBC World Television last week commenting on the recent bird flu outbreak in China. Ian's role in a research project that has developed a vaccine for foot and mouth disease has also been widely publicised in recent weeks.
Dr Ben Neuman on HIV ‘cure'
Virologist Dr Neuman appeared on BBC World TV to discuss the news that an infant born with HIV is ‘cured'.
Vice-Chancellor featured in The Times, Telegraph and Times Higher Education
An interview with Sir David Bell about the pressure on universities to emphasise employability was featured by The Times (subscription required to access content), and The Telegraph picked up on this interview with their article ‘Pressure growing on universities to sacrifice intellectual integrity'.
Sir David was also interviewed by Times Higher Education. Listen to the podcast >>>
Rebecca Rist on the Pope
During the installation of the new Pope Dr Rebecca Rist, from the Department of History, figured highly as an expert analyst. Rebecca appeared several times on Sky News, CNN and has been quoted extensively in the national media. Last week Dr Rebecca Rist provided analysis on Pope Francis calling for action on clerical sex abuse for BBC Online, Daily Telegraph and New York Daily News.
Budget reactions on BBC South Today
In March, BBC South Today broadcast live reaction to the UK Budget (which had been delivered earlier that day by Chancellor George Osborne) from Mojo's bar in RUSU.
The BBC's regional business editor Alastair Fee interviewed University of Reading Vice-Chancellor, Sir David Bell, and three undergraduate students for their reaction to the UK government's new financial policies. Dr Steve Musson, from the Department of Geography and Environmental Science, was also interviewed giving his expert opinion.
Did scientists get it wrong about global warming?
Professor Nigel Arnell, Director of the Walker Institute for Climate System Research, featured on Channel 4 News to argue that the natural variation in our weather does not hide the fact that the globe is warming.
Wrinkle creams that work
An interdisciplinary research team from the Departments of Chemistry and Pharmacy have found that a chemical used in some anti-wrinkle creams can nearly double the amount of the protein collagen needed to give skin its elasticity. Professor Ian Hamley and Dr Che Connon's research was covered extensively in the national and international media, including the Daily Mail, the Daily Mirror, the Huffington Post and the Times of India.
Dr Geoffrey Sloan on BBC Radio Four
Strategic studies expert Dr Geoffrey Sloan, from the Department of Politics and International Relations, was interviewed as part of the BBC Radio Four flagship history programme Document.
The programme examined the Easter Rising - the Dublin Rebellion of 1916 - examining what the British Cabinet really knew about the preparations to the rebellion by Irish republicans and why it appeared to take Britain's political establishment by surprise. Listen to the programme on BBC iPlayer >>>
Working with the media can be a great way to help raise yours 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.