Reading in the news - Fri 25 Jul

Community compost research: Scientists from the University are partnering with a Nepalese gardening group to test homemade versus shop-bought compost quality in a community-led research pilot, ITV Meridian Thames Valley TV reports. From our news story: Homemade compost supercharges garden plant growth.

#UniForReading:

• Greatest Hits Radio (Berkshire & North Hampshire) and reported that the University selected Daisy’s Dream as its Charity of the Year, supporting bereaved children through the Reading-based organisation.
• The University’s Whiteknights campus has received a Green Flag Award, recognising it as one of the top local beauty spots in the Reading area, reports the Reading Chronicle (in print).
• Scientists from the University are collaborating with a local Nepalese gardening group to test compost quality as part of the Community Led Research Pilot, ITV 1 Meridian reports.
• The University is leading a two-day cultural event bringing together artists and archaeologists at a 1,200-year-old monastery site, reports .

#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment 

• MP Matt Rodda highlights the University’s role in advancing Reading’s net zero goals and congratulates it for being named Sustainable University of the Year 2025, reports .
• Kew Gardens has opened its Carbon Garden, featuring herbaceous perennials inspired by the University’s climate stripes, illustrating global temperature rise, reports and the story is highlighted by in a feature on gardening amid climate change.
• includes comments from Dr Claire Ryder (Meteorology) explaining the risks of volcanic ash to aircraft in extreme weather conditions. Republished by and
• Associate Professor Alastair Culham (Ecology) provides a guide on prioritising plants during hosepipe bans and water shortages in .

Health and wellbeing:

• Professor Glenn Gibson (Food and Nutritional Sciences) explains in The Economist that while you cannot overdose on probiotics, excessive prebiotics may cause temporary digestive discomfort.
• Professor Gunter Kuhnle (Food and Nutritional Sciences) clarifies in that sugary drinks significantly increase heart disease risk, reports Food Bible. Republished by

Other Coverage:

• Dr Brian Pickles (Ecology) and his team discovered parallel dinosaur tracks in Alberta, suggesting different species herded together, reports , , and . Also covered by , , , , , , , , , , and . From our story: Dinosaur tracks show first evidence of multispecies herding.
• A four-bedroom home located in the “heart of the Reading University area” is listed for sale at £650,000, reports the Reading Chronicle (in print).
• BBC regional radio stations, including BBC Radio Kent, BBC Radio Berkshire, BBC Radio Oxford, BBC Radio Surrey, BBC Radio Sussex, featured “A Sign of the Times”, a play by Andy Kemp, who taught at the University for 28 years, training drama teachers.

Alumni:

• profiles Olamidotun Votu-Obada, a children’s book author and social entrepreneur, who holds a master’s in International Financial Economics from the University.
• Sohaila Rahman, who holds an LLB Law degree from the University, has been named Chief Legal and Governance Officer at Alba, reports .