Reading in the news - Fri 2 Oct

Beckett in Germany: Professor Mark Nixon (English Literature) is interviewed in Reading’s Special Collections archive for the 3Sat Kulturzeit programme (shown in Germany, Switzerland and Austria) about Samuel Beckett’s German diaries. From our story: Samuel Beckett’s Nazi Germany travel diaries revealed

Business and society:

• As a new series of Celebrity Traitors begins, Dr Walter Veit (Philosophy) spoke to BBC Radio Berkshire on the morality of lying.
• Blogarama featured comments from Professor James Reade (Economics) on potential penalties for Manchester City FC after being found guilty of financial offences. From our story: City points penalty would halve Spurs' relegation risk

Heritage and culture:

• Postjung reported on a 5,000-year-old artificial island discovered by Professor Duncan Garrow (Archaeology).
• Reading Today reported on a recent performance by Only the Poets on campus.

Food, farming and health:

• The Telegraph mentioned a study about rocket’s health benefits.
• Dr Caroline Rymer (Animal Sciences) spoke to Voice of Islam radio about the environmental impact of meat and livestock farming.
• Science Post mentioned research into attempted mass peanut production following WW2.
• Daisy Wood (Sustainable Land Management) wrote for Farmer’s Weekly about the benefits of open-water swimming.

#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment

• Professor Richard Allan (Meteorology) was quoted by New Scientist about El Niño.
• Reading Today provided further coverage of record high temperatures measured on the 30^th of September, quoting Dr Stephen Burt. See our Instagram post featuring Dr Rishabh Bhatt (both Meteorology). From our story: Warmest September night in almost 80 years
• Professor Helen Dacre (Meteorology) was quoted by ESA, Newsbreak, PDN and Space Weekly about satellite monitoring of the recent Anak Krakatau volcanic eruption.
• A study by Dr James Weber (Meteorology) on ozone layer recovery was featured by Zmianynaziemi. From our story: Cutting methane could slow the recovery of the ozone layer
• Stirea Verde reported on Aria-funded research into genetically modifying trees to adapt to climate change. From our story: Nature’s big gamble: Charting risks, unlocking rewards

Other coverage:

• Professor Robert Van de Noort, Vice-Chancellor, was quoted by Reading Today about the University’s placement in the Times Higher Education University Rankings 2027. From our story: THE World University Rankings 2027: Reading in UK top 30

Alumni:

• Scienmag highlighted research from environmental economics graduate and researcher Maxwell Adizor Dzudzor.
• Medieval history graduate Bridget Riley wrote for Daily Wire about university experiments.
• StarrFM and Joy News mentioned that Antonio Asinyo, Public Speaking Consultant, studied Communication for Development.
• Horticulture graduate Alastair Leake is Farmers Weekly 2026 Lifetime Achievement winner.
• Nikos Vatopoulos, politics graduate, wrote for Kathimerini about declining trust in authority.
• Daily Maverick featured Oxford scientist Yadvinder Malhi, whose Reading PhD is in meteorology.
• Mail and Guardian profiled Edith Mathonsi, director of Kuripa Travel and Henley Business School graduate.