Watch short films about a selection of our research projects that are making a real-world impact on health, culture, society, the economy and environment.
Teachers share skills with hospital staff
Teaching specialists have teamed up with the Royal Berkshire Hospital (RBH) to create a unique Healthcare Education programme for all staff who teach: doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and pharmacists.
Explaining flood forecasts to save lives
Hundreds of people died from disastrous floods in Europe in 2021, despite scientists alerting the authorities days ahead. Reading hydrologists, who designed Europe’s flood warning system, spoke out immediately about the lack of action.
Helping multilingual children find their voices
US and Reading teacher educators have joined forces with UK multilingual primary schools to improve teaching for children whose home languages are not English.
Shaping thought on flexible working
Henley Business School research on how the pandemic has changed uptake of the four-day working week generated a hugely successful media campaign, establishing Reading as the go-to place for media commentary on flexible working.
A million explore the World of Stonehenge
The British Museum’s World of Stonehenge exhibition, co-curated by a Reading archaeologist, has given a million people a window into the lives of prehistoric people, through artefacts, soundscapes and events.
In food we trust
If we are to eat more healthily and sustainably, we have to be able to trust the food system. Reading consumer behaviour experts have worked with an EU body and the food industry to better understand people’s trust, shaping international policy.
Let’s talk about hedges
Hedgerows support biodiversity, prevent flooding and counter climate change, but half have been lost in recent decades. Reading researchers are informing the public about their benefits in interactive ways.
Measuring ocean biological carbon from space
Climate scientists have a clearer picture of how much carbon is absorbed by our oceans and its implications for climate change, thanks to a new way to measure ocean carbon from satellite images developed by Reading researchers.
Flower-powered farming boosts biodiversity and crop yields
Planting insect-friendly flowers alongside crops is helping smallholder farmers in India improve fruit and vegetable yields, thanks to research co-developed by Reading ecologists, alongside Indian researchers and smallholder farmers.
Serving and protecting, everyone
A fresh, evidence-based take on police diversity and inclusion training is tackling prejudice at its root, exploring what motivates staff to change their views and prompting open conversations and understanding.
Volunteers shed light on modernist publishing
The public have joined forces with academics and archivists to transcribe letters written between twentieth century book publishers and authors from The Hogarth Press publishing house, to shine a light on this fascinating period.
Destigmatising self-injury through art
Through a series of participant-led art workshops, Reading researchers are raising important questions about how we understand and talk about self-injury.
Uncovering hidden stories from Oxford Road
Reading researchers are working with local communities and artists to reveal and celebrate the heritage of one of the town’s most diverse and multicultural streets.
Discovering land for housing migrants in Kochi, India
By working with public policymakers in the Indian city of Kochi, researchers at Reading are improving access to affordable housing for the city’s migrant workers.
Improving ethnic diversity in higher education
Studies co-produced by Reading researchers with students from under-represented ethnic backgrounds are being used to support fair access to higher education.
Reducing risk of glacial floods in Central Asia
By repurposing a technical geo-surveying technique as a practical management tool, a team of Reading researchers are helping to mitigate the potentially catastrophic effects of climate change in Central Asia.
Tackling air pollution through citizen science
Researchers at Reading are helping communities to breathe healthier air by equipping schools and families with tools and skills to identify and tackle air pollution.
We Make Film: filmmaking, creativity and disability in urban India
An 80-minute feature documentary produced by Reading’s Dr Shweta Ghosh as part of her practice-led research is being used to highlight the urgent need for more inclusive and accessible filmmaking practices in India and beyond.
Reducing missed outpatient appointments and health inequalities through AI
An artificial intelligence (AI) system developed by a team of Reading researchers is being used by the NHS to tackle health inequalities by reducing the number of missed hospital appointments.
Designing better homes
Professor Flora Samuel's architecture research produces evidence to tackle the UK's housing problems and to include people's wellbeing in the way in which buildings are delivered.
Diverse Roman Britain
Professor Hella Eckhardt's research is revealing evidence of Britain's long history of migration and diverse populations.
Understanding biodiversity loss
Biodiversity has been declining for decades. Professor Tom Oliver's work with DEFRA is shaping environmental policy to promote sustainable food production and land use.
Patient centred research
Dr Patrick Lewis organised a series of events that gave people affected by Parkinson’s disease a forum to interact with scientists and clinicians and inform future research.
Boosting social mobility
Reading's Whitley Researchers are working with local organisations to address social exclusion.
Safer, greener flying
Professor Paul Williams has co-developed an algorithm that forecasts in-flight turbulence up to 18 hours ahead, reducing emissions and improving passenger comfort.
Preventing snake bite
A public health campaign led by Dr Sakthi Vaiyapuri, School of Pharmacy, is raising awareness of the dangers of snakebite in rural Tamil Nadu, India.
Exploring death
Institute of Education researchers got people talking about death for the ESRC festival of social sciences 2018.
Getting to know the UN
Experts from our UN and Global Order Programme hosted a discussion exploring what goes on inside the UN in 2018.
Exploring criminal justice
Law researchers hosted discussion exploring how Christian values of justice and redemption are mirrored in how society reacts to crime as part of the ESRC festival 2018.
Multilingual story time
Families heard stories in some of the world's most commonly spoken languages at Reading Central Library in 2018 as part of the ESRC festival of social sciences.
Shedding new light on catalysts
Professor George Held, in partnership with the UK's synchrotron, Diamond Light Source, has developed and built a novel X-ray beamline called VERSOX allowing scientists to better understand catalysts.
Doing business better
Reading academics have recently developed a Code of Ethics for local businesses working with not-for-profit organisation Ethical Reading.
Sharing the benefits of research
The University of Reading recently took part in this Universities UK and ITN Productions film exploring the positive impact that universities have on people’s lives, and on the prosperity of the UK.
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We are in the process of finalising our postgraduate taught courses for 2026/27 entry. In the meantime, you can view our 2025/26 courses.