University of Reading

Our students have made it to #COP29 ! As COP29 kicks off today in Baku, Azerbaijan, we're proud to be represented by a team from the University's The Walker Institute, who will engage with global leaders, showcase ground breaking research, and contribute vital scientific insights to international climate policy discussions. The University's presence will combine physical and virtual participation, featuring a core team on the ground in Baku, while enabling broader engagement through remote attendance back at the Whiteknights campus. This incredible opportunity will be an unforgettable chance for students to engage with climate leaders from across the world, and is thanks to our accredited official observer status. Read more: https://rdg.ac/3YIPrVg

We've won the Decarbonisation Project of the Year Award 2024 🏅 This achievement, recognized by the Energy Managers Association, is thanks to our dedicated staff who worked on the Business Travel Carbon Budgets project, from which we’ve managed to save over 5,000 tons of CO2 in just one year. This project saw up to 50% reduction in departmental carbon travel budgets and was underpinned by a new Travel Policy, banning non-economy flights and mandating train travel for international journeys reachable within 8 hours of London. It's been an amazing year for our sustainability credentials, having already been named Sustainable University of the Year 2025 (The Times and Sunday Times), and we're immensely proud of all staff and students who continue to strive for these incredible feats. #SustainableUniversity #Decarbonisation #GreenerFuture

COP29 Azerbaijan kicks off next week, bringing world leaders, businesses and activists together to discuss the world’s response to the climate crisis. As the UK’s greenest university, we’ll obviously be watching closely 👀 Reading’s Interdisciplinary Research Centre, The The Walker Institute, is one of fourteen ‘My Climate Risk’ Regional Hubs around the world and holds ‘Official Observer’ status at COP29. To help you understand what’s going on, and why it matters, Walker have brought together doctoral students with specialisms from ice sheet modelling and wildfires, to regenerative farming, marine biology and much more to attend livestreamed sessions remotely, and create videos, blogs and commentary as part of a Climate Action Studio (COPCAS) to make sense of negotiations, so you don’t have to! To meet the team, and stay up to date with goings on make sure you keep checking out the COPCAS website throughout the fortnight: https://rdg.ac/3Gk21BG

🚨 The psychology behind Trump's power: Charisma or calculated control? As the world digests the US election results, Henley's Associate Professor in Coaching and Behavioural Change, Dr Holly Andrews, reveals the psychology behind Trump's enduring influence. Her research identifies distinct psychopathic traits in Trump's leadership style, from superficial charm and manipulativeness to lack of empathy and impulsivity. "In turbulent times, their unflappable confidence is particularly appealing as people search for something to believe in," explains Dr Andrews, highlighting why such leaders maintain follower support despite controversial behaviours. Read the full article here: https://hly.ac/3YQLIqa 🌍 Want to understand the broader implications? Join former Economist Intelligence Unit chief Robin Bew for an essential webinar exploring the election's impact on global markets, UK policy shifts, and China's evolving role. When: 12 November, 14:30-16:30 (GMT) Where: Online Details: https://hly.ac/4fzyHGT Book a free place: https://hly.ac/4hyqAwf #USElection2024 #Leadership #Psychology #GlobalEconomics

Can you believe anything that you see online anymore? 🧐 This question was the premise of our fascinating public lecture last week, "Deepfakes and AI in Film and Media: Seeing is Not Believing" by Dr Dominic Lees . Kicking off our brand new series of public lectures, the sold out event saw Dr Lees, award-winning film and television director and Associate Professor in Filmmaking from our Department of Film, Theatre and Television, discuss a number of potential cultural and social impacts of AI and deep-faking. Check out the full lecture now on our Youtube channel and keep an eye out for more of our public lectures which are coming soon!: https://rdg.ac/40zMYiF #AI #Deepfakes #PublicLectures #UniversityOfReading #FilmAndMedia

Krupa Nanda Kumar from UoR-based Space4Climate was part of a delegation of climate tech experts who attended the UK Global Expert Mission in California last week with Innovate UK. The delegation were exploring the latest innovations in Climate Tech, discussing the ground-breaking technologies and solutions across AI, land use, climate risk modelling and carbon capture with US organisations like UC Davis, DOE, ARPA-E, Pachama, Boomitra and visiting VERGE24. Space4Climate works closely with the UK Space Agency, uniting government, industry and academia to ensure a seamless supply of information from space about Earth’s climate and reliable uses of the data for climate action, decisions and climate services. Learn more https://rdg.ac/4hBe6UI Image by Geraldine Durand-Green featuring Krupa Nanda Kumar (3rd from right) and members of the UK Global Expert Mission at a reception hosted by the British Consulate. #ClimateTech #Innovation #UKSpaceAgency #Space4Climate #Climate #UniversityOfReading

From Amazon warriors resembling extras from Xena: Warrior Princess, to Artemis with horns - what do generative AI models get right about images of classical antiquity and mythology, and what do they mess up? On Thursday (7 Nov) join us at the Ure Museum of Greek Archaeology for 'Distorted History: AI's skewed visions of the Ancient World' an exhibition which explore how AI-generated images are created and the ethics behind them. Plus you'll get the chance to conjure up pictures of yourself as a Ancient Greek deity using AI. Free and open to all ages, but booking is essential at: https://rdg.ac/3UyTN0g Can’t make it to campus? Then view the exhibition online at https://rdg.ac/48zLQh2 #HistoryDay #UniversityOfReading #AncientHistory #ArtificialIntelligence #AI

Have you always wanted to continue your education? Maybe you're looking to push for a promotion at work, or your interest in a specific subject area has grown... This November, we've organised a Master's Virtual Discovery Week to help anyone considering postgraduate study with info about courses, finance, how to apply and lots more in subjects like: 📈 Business and Management 📜 Law 📝 Education 🧠 Psychology 🖌️ Arts and Humanities 🔬 Applied Sciences 🌎 Policy 🤒 Healthcare You’ll also be able to take virtual campus tours, view videos and read articles about our campus and its services, and all from wherever you are in the world. Start here https://rdg.ac/3s3sPmp #FindAMasters #MastersOpenDay #MastersStudy #PGcourses #UKUniversity #WeAreInternational #UoRGlobal #StudyUK

🕯️This Halloween, uncover the supernatural beliefs of the Middle Ages 🕯️ Professor Anne Lawrence-Mathers of the University of Reading's Department of History explores how medieval people perceived ghosts, demons, and even fairies as real threats in their world. Discover how these tales of magic and mystery continue to influence us today. Step into the history of superstition and belief… if you dare. 👉 https://rdg.ac/3NO9yfX #Halloween #Supernatural #MedievalHistory

Following the death of more than 50 people in the Spanish flash floods, our experts warn there’s more chaotic weather to come as a result of #ClimateChange and we need to do much more to prepare for flood risks. Read more: https://rdg.ac/3Ys9s2h