Disturbing the dead: Climate change and the potential relocation of Swedish cemeteries
2025-03-27 13:00 - 14:00 (Europe/London) | Sorby Room, Wager Building
You are warmly invited to a Human Geography Research Cluster/ Global Development Research Division in person (Sorby Room 115, 1st Floor of Wager Building) / hybrid seminar (1-2pm on 27/3/25).
Disturbing the dead: Climate change and the potential relocation of Swedish cemeteries
Roger Marjavaara, Umeå University, Sweden.
Abstract
This presentation focuses on the contradiction of mobility and immobility in relation to interred human remains. While society generally embraces human mobility, once individuals pass away and are disposed of, mobility ceases to be the norm. Some counties, like Sweden, has a rigid burial legislation that prohibits the re-location of interred human remains. However, both society- and climate-related events are increasingly affecting the eternal rest of the deceased. Utilizing quantitative data on all cemeteries in Sweden, this study aims to assess and analyse the potential magnitude of future large-scale moves of human remains due to expected impacts of climate change, and to put this into a relational context of norms and laws. Results show that climate change poses an apparent risk to cemeteries in Sweden.
Biography
Roger Marjavaara is associate professor in human geography at the department of geography at Umeå University, Sweden. The main focus of his research is the driving forces and consequences of human mobility. Here, temporary mobility, or tourism, is of special interest, especially second home tourism and its impact on places and people. Dr. Marjavaara also has an interest in production and reproduction of places, and retail geography and mobile consumers. Further, post-mortal mobility is another field that has attracted his research attention.
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Colonies, Hives and Queens: Insects and Colonialism flash talks and discussion session
2025-04-03 10:00 - 13:00 | Natural History Museum
Natural History Museum, London, for 3rd April 2025 (10am–1pm, Flett Theatre)
Speakers and titles of flash talks
Diogo de Carvalho Cabral (History, Trinity College, Dublin), ‘At the Mercy of Ants: Colonial Anthropocentrism, Insect Agency and the Making of Brazil’s National Identity’
Sabine Marie Clarke (History, University of York), ‘Poisons, Productivity and Power: Making a Pest of the Desert Locust’
Rohan Deb Roy (History, University of Reading), ‘The White Ant’s Burden: Entomo-political Complex in British India’
Beulah Garner (NHM, Entomology), ‘“Our Boy has many Beetles”: Colonial Attitudes towards Describing the Insect Diversity of Central America’
Andrea Hart (NHM, Special Collections), ‘Insects in Art and Archives: A Quick Fly through of the Natural History Museum’s Library and Archive Collections and Resources’
Fiona Melhuish (The Museum of English Rural Life/Special Collections, UMASCS, University of Reading), ‘Bees Around the World: the Cowan Bee Book Collection at The Museum of English Rural Life, University of Reading’
Andy Polaszek (NHM, Entomology), ‘Are Post-Colonial Settlements now Fit for Purpose?’
Sue Ryder (NHM, Entomology), ‘Overview of the Entomology Historical Collections with regard to Exploration under the Auspices of Empire’
Jonathan Saha (History, University of Durham), ‘Of Bedbugs and Beri-Beri’
Claire Smith (Cole Museum of Zoology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading), ‘A Tanzanian Lucky Dip: Eric Burtt’s Collecting in Colonial East Africa’
All NHM and University of Reading Staff are welcome to attend. There will be an option to attend virtually, please put your email address into the registration form, to make sure you receive the link. To give us a broad sense of numbers please register here.
The Partnership can cover travel expenses for those who wish to attend in person, please register in advance.

Innovation Seminar Series 2025 | Royal Society Entrepreneur in Residence
2025-04-03 11:00 - 12:00 | Edith Morley, G44

'Passages' Screen: Reading Latin American and Caribbean Network
2025-05-08 16:00 - 18:00 | Minghella Building, Minghella Cinema, Whiteknights Campus, RG6 6UR, United Kingdom
And the excitement continues on 8th May: at 4pm Reading Latin American and Caribbean Network (R-LAC) are organising a screening of Passages (Nagib & Paiva, 2019) in the Minghella Cinema, followed by a Q&A with (our very own) director Lúcia Nagib and guest Tiago de Luca (Warwick), then conversation over refreshments. It’s very good!
Join us at the Minghella Cinema at the University of Reading, on Thursday 8th May 4pm, for an exclusive screening of the award-winning film Passages by Prof. Lúcia Nagib . This captivating 96-minute essay-documentary will be followed by an engaging Q&A session with our special guest, Dr Tiago de Luca from the University of Warwick. Check further details of the film and the event below and on R-LAC website.
Dive deeper into the making of this remarkable film and explore the rich tapestry of Brazilian culture. After the screening and discussion, we invite you to continue the conversation over pizza and drinks at the Green Room.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to enjoy a thought-provoking film and lively discussion in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
We look forward to seeing you there!
The R-LAC committee.
PASSAGES (directed by Lúcia Nagib and Samuel Paiva, UK, 2019)

Synopsis

Positioning itself between the essay and the documentary forms, the feature-length film Passages showcases a selection of Brazilian films in which intermedial devices, that is, the utilisation within film of artforms and media such as literature, painting, theatre, music, photography, radio and television, appear to function as a ‘passage’ to political and social reality. It interweaves these filmic examples with interviews with 15 exponents of the Brazilian film industry, including 11 filmmakers, one editor, one music composer, one producer and one curator, all of whom are strongly connected with what became known as the Retomada do Cinema Brasileiro, or the Brazilian Film Revival, starting in the mid-1990s, which brought back to the agenda the question of national identity and Brazil’s lingering social issues. The flourishing and diversification of independent filmmaking from the 1990s onwards favoured not only a new approach to reality, but also an emboldened use of the film medium that acknowledged and exposed its inextricable connections with other art and medial forms. Though the 1990s Film Revival involved production centres all over Brazil, Passages focuses on film practitioners from São Paulo and Pernambuco, who established a creative collaboration across the geographic, economic and cultural borders of their respective regions.

Interviewees (in alphabetical order)

Tata Amaral – Film director, producer, screenwriter
Hélder Aragão (DJ Dolores) – Composer, film director
Cláudio Assis – Film director, producer
Beto Brant – Film director, producer, screenwriter
Paulo Caldas – Film director, producer, screenwriter
Vânia Debs – Film editor, academic
Ana Farache – Curator, photographer
Lírio Ferreira – Film director, producer, screenwriter
Marcelo Gomes – Film director, screenwriter
Hilton Lacerda – Film director, screenwriter
Fernando Meirelles – Film director, producer, screenwriter
Kleber Mendonça Filho – Film director, film critic, screenwriter
Renata Pinheiro– Film director, art director, screenwriter
Adelina Pontual – Film director, producer, screenwriter
João Vieira Júnior – Film producer

Royal Society Entrepreneur in Residence | Innovation Seminar Series
2025-05-13 11:00 - 12:00 | Edith Morley, 226
Come along!
This seminar series will continue on Tuesday 13th May from 11:00 – 12:00 in Edith Morley 226 and joining us will be Dr Maria Zachari, Deal Integration and Separation Manager at GSK. Maria will be speaking about her experience of transitioning from academic to industry research and within industry to a more commercial role. She can also give some insight into academia-industry engagement. Maria completed a PhD at the University of Dundee and has an MBA from the Quantic School of Business & Technology (WA, USA). Early in her career she took part in the YES competition, which influenced her career path. Please find her LinkedIn profile here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-zachari-lkd/
It would be immensely helpful if you could sign-up to the event (even if you intend to be online) so that we can have an idea of numbers: https://forms.office.com/e/brbhqhdtHB
What to expect
All staff and students across the University very welcome! These friendly in-person/hybrid seminars will look at the benefits of innovation from the perspectives of our speakers, many of whom started out as researchers at the University of Reading or are still here now! Speakers will talk about how their research and careers have been shaped and enriched through innovation, with time for questions and networking at the end.
Did you know?
Innovating, or taking a new idea and creating positive real-world impact and/or value, has many benefits for you and your research. Through innovation, you can learn new entrepreneurial skills and knowledge which will support you to secure research funding. Getting involved in innovation can also give you access to additional funding sources for your research, and through external partnerships, you can new perspectives or ideas for where to take your research next.
Future Dates:
We are so excited to tell you that this will be a series of seminars across the year, running from April to October. We will be back in touch with specific dates for these upcoming seminars, but we are pleased to announce that we will be joined by the following:

Dr Sam Decombel – CEO – Fitness Genes (former UoR PhD student), June 2025
Drs Oliver Hancox, Sarah Needs, Chris Jone and Jon Gibbins – founders of UoR spin-outs Astratus and HaemAnalytica, July 2025

Plus, more to announce!
We look forward to seeing you all there!

Making (slowly) as method in socio-environmental research?
2025-05-15 13:00 - 14:00 | Berkshire
You are warmly welcome to join our online Human Geography Research Cluster seminar, in which Laura Pottinger, University of Manchester will present:
Making (slowly) as method in socio-environmental research?
In this talk, I draw on emerging ideas about ‘patchwork ethnography’, an approach mobilising the often multi-sited, fragmented, non-linear character of ethnographic research in practice. I share early findings from an extended six-year study that uses a range of creative and material methods to explore environmental understandings and people-plant relationships in the practice of natural textile dyeing. I ask how the ‘soft’ metaphors of piecing, steeping and stitching might be useful for cultivating gentle, creative and slowly-paced methodological praxis.
Biography:
Laura Pottinger is a research fellow in cultural geography at the University of Manchester. Her research is interested in everyday forms of social and environmental activism, people and plant relationships, craft and cultivation. She draws on creative, participatory and ethnographic methodologies to explore these themes. Her current fellowship research works closely with textile artists and makers to consider the potentials and challenges of slow making.
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Community Festival 2025
2025-05-17 | Whiteknights campus, University of Reading, Whiteknights Campus, Reading, RG6 6AH, United Kingdom
The University’s Community Festival returns to Campus this year on Saturday 17 May 12-5pm.
The Festival brings together local residents, alumni, community groups and small businesses for a programme of live music, theatre and performance, community stands, crafts, street food and research activities.
Last year’s research programme included a research exhibition featuring stands with hands-on activities, children’s talks, and research talks. The activities were popular and well received by both visitors and participants, and this year’s Festival aims to expand on these activities and attract new audiences.
Find out more here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uQiY7tLS_o

3rd Centre for Book Cultures and Publishing Post Graduate Symposium
2025-05-29 | Berkshire
The Centre for Book Cultures and Publishing is delighted to announce the 3rd CBCP Post Graduate Symposium, scheduled for Thursday, 29th May 2025. This is an opportunity for PhD students and Postdoctoral researchers to present their research, engage in discussions on Book Cultures and Publishing, and connect with a broader academic community within the University of Reading (CBCP) and beyond.
This year’s symposium will explore the intersection of translation, cultural exchange, and linguistic diversity in print cultures. We invite PhD students and Postdoctoral researchers to submit abstracts for 15-minute presentations on topics related to this theme, including but not limited to:

Book production and distribution on a global scale

Readership in global and multilingual contexts

The printing and publishing trade in international and multilingual contexts

Comparative book history, typography, and design

The materiality of text and image (including digital formats) in translation or from comparative perspectives

Technologies (including AI) and their impact on translation, typography, and linguistic diversity

Translation as a profession: translators’ working conditions and role in the publishing industry, crediting and copyright, translators as mediators, advocates, scouts and agents.

The deadline for the submission of the abstracts is Monday 24th March 2023. Abstracts should not exceed 350 words in length (references and bio excluded) and should include short bio of candidates, mentioning their affiliation.
Confirmation of acceptance will be sent to delegates by the second week of April.
This is a hybrid event. There is no cost to attend. Lunch and refreshments will be provided for in-person attendees.
Abstracts should be submitted by sending an email to the cbcp@reading.ac.uk. Any queries should be addressed to Emma Page (e.d.page@pgr.reading.ac.uk) and Cristina De Luca (c.deluca@pgr.reading.ac.uk).

Reading Open Research Week
2025-06-09 - 2025-06-13 | Berkshire
Reading Open Research Week, June 9-13.
To attend online, please register using this form. As we are still receiving submissions for contributions, we will email everyone closer to time with Teams links for every event.
Throughout the week, we’ll explore Open Research from multiple angles, reflecting different stages in the research life cycle:

Laying the foundations – pre-registration and transparent planning
Assessing with integrity – responsible research assessment
Opening the process – sharing at every stage, not just the end
Working with data – analysing, coding, and making methods open
Connecting beyond academia – public engagement and societal impact

Book Showcase: Memorias del Exilio: Los Niños Vascos del 37 [Memories of Exile: Basque child refugees in 1937]
2025-06-18 17:15 - 18:30 | Edith Morley, 230
Free and open to all to attend online/ in person University of Reading, Global Study Lounge (Edith Morley Building, Room 230), Reading RG6 6EL
Register to attend in person: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/centreforbooksculturesandpublishing/1725273
Register to attend online: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/centreforbooksculturesandpublishing/1723728
Memorias del Exilio: Los Niños Vascos del 37 is a graphic novel written by Begoña Garrido with images by Oskar Gorroño. It emerged from the fieldwork conducted by Begoña Garrido as part of her doctoral thesis at the University of Reading. While the thesis centred on female narratives, the more than thirty interviews carried out also included recurring testimonies about the mass evacuation of Basque children in 1937. These accounts, which fell outside the thesis’s academic scope, later gave rise to a public-facing project that brings these stories to life through an emotional and accessible visual format. This graphic narrative seeks to build bridges between generations and to reflect on the ongoing impact of forced displacement, both past and present.
This book has received much media attention in Spain since its publication in late 2024, including on Basque TV news, and pieces in national news outlets such as the major daily newspaper El País https://elpais.com/cultura/2024-12-13/un-comic-para-honrar-la-memoria-de-los-ninos-vascos-exiliados-en-la-guerra-civil.html. This event is the first English-language showcase with the author, and includes an exhibition at the University of Reading library of some of the research materials underpinning the making of the book.
About the speaker
Begoña Garrido holds a PhD in Spanish Cultural Studies from the University of Reading, where she was awarded an Anniversary Scholarship (2017) to conduct research on the daily lives of working-class Basque women under Franco in the 1940s. Her current work focuses on historical memory and intergenerational trauma, particularly the exile of the Basque ‘children of 1937’. She is committed to making academic research accessible through public engagement, using formats such as graphic novels, talks, and exhibitions to reach wider audiences.

Routes to Protest: the River, Vessels and People of 1381 | Estuary Festival 2025
2025-06-22 | Gravesend Pier, Gravesend, Kent, DA11 0BJ
As part of the Estuary Festival 2025, Professor Adrian Bell (Henley Business School) has collaborated with artist Sadie Hennessey to give a new voice to the key figures and the ordinary people involved in the Peasant’s Revolt of 1381 through the power of an interactive soundscape. Hear the sermons, letters and speeches that led to one of the most disruptive events of late medieval European history.
This event is founded upon Professor Bell’s research project ‘People of 1381‘, a collaborative and comprehensive online record of the participants, incidents, and historical sources of the popular uprising that still resonates with us today, over 600 years later.
MORE INFORMATION: estuaryfestival.com/event2025/detail/routes-to-protest.html#

Mediation of Medical Treatment Disputes – End of Project Conference
2025-07-01 09:30 - 16:30 | Meadow Suite, Park House, Meadow Suite, Park House, RG6 6UR, United Kingdom
This is a one-day conference reporting on the findings of the ‘Mediation of Medical Treatment Disputes: A Therapeutic Justice Model’ research project.
The aim of the research was to understand whether and, if so, the extent to which, mediation can and should be viewed as a form of therapeutic justice in medical treatment disputes.
This conference will be of interest to mediators, legal professionals, academics, policymakers and others working in health and care disputes resolution.
Find out more.

My Climate Risk Interdisciplinary Learning Group | July session - Dr Hannah Fluck
2025-07-14 13:00 - 14:00 | Berkshire
Dear University of Reading community,
For the July session of the “My Climate Risk Interdisciplinary Learning Group” (MCRILG), we are delighted to be joined by Dr Hannah Fluck, Senior National Archaeologist at the National Trust.
Dr Fluck is an archaeologist, and her research is focusing on the relationship between the historic environment and archaeology, in particular about peatland restoration, tree planting and river management.
Dr Fluck will talk about her experiences of trying to get greater integration of cultural heritage not environmental policy and practice. The knowledge and expertise of cultural heritage have been absent from responses to the environmental crises, often cultural heritage is included as an afterthought, or viewed as an additional consideration once the core environmental matters have been addressed. In fact, cultural heritage is integral to not only our understanding of environmental crises, but to our responses.
We look forward to seeing you on Monday 14th July at 1pm GMT to learn more about this! The link to the Zoom session is on the Walker Institute March MCRILG session webpage. A calendar invitation will also be sent to you on Friday 11th July ONLY if you have joined our MCRILG.
You can find the highlights from our June MCRILG discussion with Will Shields on our webpage.
Having completed a year of MCRILG sessions we would love your feedback. We would appreciate it if you could take a few minutes and complete the feedback form: https://forms.office.com/e/Scc8j5YRcW

Royal Society Entrepreneur in Residence | Innovation Seminar Series | July 2025
2025-07-15 11:00 - 12:00 | Chancellor’s Building GO8
Please sign-up to the event and let us know if you are planning to attend in person or online so that we can have an idea of numbers and send you the calendar/hybrid link. Thank you.

Maternal well-being, infant feeding and return to paid work - Report Launch
2025-07-16 13:00 - 14:00 | Online event
We are delighted to invite you to a special online event launching the findings of the Maternal Wellbeing, Infant Feeding and Return to Paid Work study funded by the Nuffield Foundation. This one-hour webinar will share key insights from the study, introduce our toolkits for parents and employers, and offer a space for interactive discussion about how workplaces can better support mothers returning to paid work while breastfeeding.
Register for the Event Here
Meet the team:
Professor Sarah Jewell, Dr Fari Aftab , Professor Marina Della Giusta, Professor Grace James, Professor Sylvia Jaworska. and Dr Sam Rawlings
About the Research
This UK study investigated the wellbeing, opportunities and experiences of mothers who wish to continue to breastfeed on return to paid work. Previous evidence found not meeting infant feeding goals (feeding in the way the mother wants to, for as long as they/their child wishes to) can have a detrimental impact on wellbeing for both mother and child. Further, it explored how employers can be better equipped to support their breastfeeding workers, and how workplace policy, and practice can evolve to support them.
Drawing on the lived experiences of mothers, HR professionals and line managers in the UK, the study provides practical, evidence-based recommendations for policy makers and for workplace policy / practice.
We will discuss some of our headline findings and policy implications and invite attendees to join a wider dialogue on promoting maternal wellbeing and inclusive workplaces.
We will be releasing the study’s final report prior to the online event.
If you have any questions about the event, please contact:
Professor Sarah Jewell – s.l.jewell@reading.ac.uk
The Nuffield Foundation is an independent charitable trust with a mission to advance social wellbeing. It funds research that informs social policy, primarily in Education, Welfare, and Justice. The Nuffield Foundation is the founder and co-funder of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics, the Ada Lovelace Institute and the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory. The Foundation has funded this project, but the views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily the Foundation.
Bluesky: @nuffieldfoundation.org
LinkedIn: Nuffield Foundation
Website: nuffieldfoundation.org

Child Language Symposium 2025
2025-09-08 - 2025-09-10 | Palmer Building, Whiteknights Campus, University of Reading.
The University of Reading is pleased to host the 2025 edition of the Child Language Symposium on 8 – 10 September 2025.
This international conference will welcome leading researchers to discuss the latest in child language research, coinciding with both the 50th anniversary of Speech and Language Therapy and the 60th anniversary of Linguistics at Reading.
Keynote Speakers
Prof Chloe Marshall
Prof Jacopo Torregrossa
Prof Cristina McKean
Prof Catherine Davies
Dr Rowena Garcia

56th Annual Conference of the Money, Macro and Finance Society
2025-09-08 - 2025-09-10 | Henley Business School
The Money Macro and Finance Society is a registered charity, committed to the advancement of education in the fields of monetary economics, macroeconomics, and financial economics within the United Kingdom.
56th Annual Conference of the Money, Macro and Finance Society will be held at Henley Business School, University of Reading on 8 – 10 September 2025.
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

Ufuk Akcigit (Chicago) – Harry Johnson Lecture
Olivier Coibion (UT Austin)
Tommaso Monacelli (Bocconi) – Charles Goodhart Lecture
Loriana Pelizzon (Goethe, SAFE)

Registration is open until 31 August.

Celebrating 50 years of speech and language therapy at Reading
2025-09-10 13:30 - 16:00 | Palmer Building, G10
This year marks 50 years since Speech and Language Therapy was first established at the University of Reading — a milestone that highlights decades of world-class research, teaching and clinical practice that have transformed lives in the UK and around the world.
We are delighted to invite you to our celebration event which will feature talks and reflections from current staff and students, alumni and service users. Interactive activities will allow time to connect, share, reflect and look forward.
This event is free and open to all, but you must register to attend. If you would like to attend, please complete the registration form.

Professor David Crystal “in conversation”: Celebrating 60 years of linguistics at Reading
2025-09-10 16:30 - 18:00 | Palmer Building, G10
We are delighted to celebrate 60 years of Linguistics at the University of Reading. To celebrate, we are delighted to announce an event with Professor David Crystal. Professor Crystal is a world-renowned expert in linguistics and pioneered the study of linguistics and English Language in the United Kingdom. He worked at the University of Reading between 1965 and 1984, holding a Chair in Linguistics at the university for 10 years. He has published over 100 books, including The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language and the more recent Let’s Talk: How English Conversation Works. We are delighted to have Professor Crystal visit Reading to celebrate our 60th anniversary of linguistics.
Please join use for Professor David Crystal In Conversation, an intimate conversation with one of the founding members of linguistics at Reading. Taking place from 4.30pm – 6.00pm on Wednesday September 10th, 2025 at the University of Reading, this is a free event open to all.
If you would like to attend, please complete the registration form.

Thames Valley AI Summit
2025-09-16 08:30 - 17:00 | Henley Business School
🚀 Join us for the inaugural Thames Valley AI Summit – a free, one-day event exploring the real-world impact of artificial intelligence.
🗓 Tuesday 16 September 2025 | 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
📍 Henley Business School, University of Reading
💷 Free to attend
What to expect:
✅ Inspiring keynote talks from leading AI voices
✅ Engaging panel debates
✅ Four specialist breakout tracks:
• AI Adoption – strategies, case studies & lessons learned
• AI & Sustainability – green AI, ethics & the planet
• AI & the Creative Arts – how AI is reshaping creativity
• Technical Room – skills workshops & hands-on learning
Whether you’re an AI expert or just AI-curious, you’ll connect with businesses, creatives, researchers, and policymakers from across the Thames Valley.
🎟 Secure your free place today: https://lnkd.in/e8VVVRVx
Let’s demystify AI, explore the opportunities, and shape a responsible future together.

International Research Culture Conference 2025
2025-09-17 | University of Warwick
Call for Abstracts and Proposals: International Research Culture Conference 2025

The International Research Culture Conference, hosted by the University of Warwick, is accepting abstracts and proposals for talks, posters or interactive workshops until 11 April 2025. Abstracts or proposals should relate to one or more of the following themes:

Collaboration, connectivity and sustainability

Metrics that matter – measuring progress for the future

Integrity, trust and transparency in research

Building and empowering inclusive research communities

Improving careers with and for future researchers and research enablers

Visit Warwick’s website for more information and to make a submission.

Our Research Culture Manager, Miranda Raven (m.raven@reading.ac.uk), is available to discuss abstracts and proposals.

Community Led Research Pilot (CLRP) Celebration Event
2025-09-17 16:00 - 19:00 | Meadow Suite, Park House, Meadow Suite, Park House, RG6 6UR, United Kingdom
Join us as we celebrate the conclusion of the Community Led Research Pilot (CLRP) and honor the learning & achievements it inspired!
Welcome to the Community Led Research Pilot (CLRP) Celebration Event!
Please join us in person to celebrate six community led research projects based in Reading and Slough, sharing learnings through their project case studies and final report.
The Community Led Research Pilot was a pilot based in Reading and Slough, putting communities at the heart of the research process – inviting local groups to develop and deliver their own research. This initiative was funded by UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) and co-created with the University of Reading and the British Science Association.
Together as One
Together as One, a youth-led charity in Slough, worked to explore the link between engaging in environmental social action to improve young people’s mental health. Through training, youth work, and creative projects, they worked to investigate the potential positive effects of participating in an urban beekeeping project on the mental wellbeing of young people.
Slough Anti-Litter Society (SALS)
The Slough Anti-Litter Society, founded on a vision for a cleaner and greener Slough, encourages residents to clean up, reduce waste, and embrace sustainable practices. Through community litter picks, upcycling fashion events, clothes swaps, and a repair café they are bringing the community together. This community of volunteers worked to find out about the community’s attitude and behaviour toward littering, through community organising and digital technology.
Reading Hong Kongers
Reading HongKongers CIC, founded in 2022, supports Hongkongers who have settled in the Berkshire area through the government scheme of British National (Overseas) (BNO) visa route and supports them to integrate into the local community. They investigated the impacts of community gardening on belonging, identity, cohesion, biodiversity and mental wellbeing. Additionally, they aimed to find out the possibility of cultivating native Hong Kong plants and crops in Reading.
TRIYBE
TRIYBE are a community group in Reading who “Support communities and individuals to create positive change by challenging systems of oppression, racism and inequality”. They investigated the chemicals that go into commonly used black hair products and their impact on the health and cultural identity of the local community. This initiative aimed to address concerns about the potential health effects of these products and explore natural alternatives that promote both physical well-being and cultural empowerment.
The Engine Room
The Engine Room Sound Laboratory (TERSL) investigated how sound and acoustics influence the well-being of the Dee Park urban community. The project explored the sound of emotions through concrete, the impact of colours on well-being, and noise effects on concentration.
Integrated Research and Development Centre (IRDC)
The Integrated Research and Development Centre (IRDC) addresses health and environmental challenges in underrepresented communities, including Nepalese communities, in Reading. The project aims to improve gardening practices through Nepalese customs, composting management, and food waste recycling. By growing seasonal vegetables and flowers, the project seeks to educate communities about the importance of nutrition, promote physical exercise, recycle garden waste to improve the environment and people’s health and reduce social isolation. The project aims to engage with minority communities, low income groups, senior citizens and those with disabilities by promoting healthy living, environmental sustainability, mental health and belonging through inclusive gardening.
This event is a great opportunity to connect with community and academic researchers, explore how communities are reshaping what research and innovation can be, share insights, and celebrate the power, achievements and learning from participatory approaches to research together with the University of Reading, the British Science Association. Look forward to seeing you there!

Modernist Editing Symposium
2025-09-23 10:30 - 16:15 | Berkshire
This symposium brings together leading scholars and practitioners in modernist textual criticism and scholarly editing. Organised by Dr Buxi Duan and Lawrence Jones (CBCP), with support from the Samuel Beckett Research Centre and the Bibliographical Society UK. For details and to register, click here.

UK Reproducibility Network Training
2025-09-25 - 2025-12-12 | Berkshire
From September-December 2025, the UK Reproducibility Network (UKRN) is running a series of training workshops that are open to University of Reading research and professional services staff. For more information and details of how to register, please contact Reading’s UKRN Open Research Coordinator, Evangeline Gowie.
Please note: The registration deadline for all training is Wednesday 17th September 2025.

Project TIER/UKRN Workshop: Teaching Transparent Methods of Empirical Research
This course is a variant on the train-the-trainer model. The training provided in the workshop prepares participants to introduce reproducible methods of quantitative research to students in taught classes and/or supervised research. The course will begin with an exposition of practices that are essential to reproducible research, and then turn to a discussion of pedagogical strategies for incorporating them in quantitative methods instruction. It is aimed at:

Academics who teach courses in some aspect of data analysis, statistics, or quantitative research methods and/or supervise students conducting research involving analysis of statistical data.
Other staff who support instructors and/or provide support to students doing statistical analyses.
Staff with responsibilities for oversight of departmental or program curriculum.

Option 1 (virtual): Thursday 25 and Friday 26 September 2025
Option 2 (in person, KCL Waterloo Campus): Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 October 2025
Option 3 (virtual): Thursday 11 and Friday 12 December 2025

Implementation of the FAIR Principles
Appropriate management and curation of data is of increasing relevance to the current research landscape and planning for FAIR data from the beginning of a project is crucial, yet the FAIR principles are often conflated with open data and similar practices. Open Research practices and the FAIR principles are interlinked, therefore this training will support you to indicate to others how these two areas are complementary. It would be beneficial for anyone who has an interest in data curation and management at all stages throughout the data life cycle and has a role in supporting others to make their outputs FAIR. You will be shown a representative training session which links OR practices to FAIR outputs and gives an overview as to why the FAIR principles are relevant.

Tuesday 14 October 2025, 09.00-15.00, Online

Byte-sized RSE
This course is for Research Software Engineers (RSEs), researchers and postgraduates involved in computational research who already possess foundational computational skills and who are now:

looking for quick refreshers, tips, or wanting to improve the sustainability or quality of their research code and are keen on continuous learning without heavy time investment.
interested in advancing their skills and learning best practices for software in research.
seeking digestible content to bridge the gap between research and software and benefiting from short-form RSE tips/tools to improve their research workflows.

Lesson 1: Code Development & Debugging with IDEs, 11 November, 10:00 -12:00 (time TBC), online
Lesson 2: Code Style, Quality & Linting, 12 November, 10:00 -12:00 (time TBC), online
Lesson 3: Intermediate Git, 13 November, 10:00 -12:00 (time TBC), online
Lesson 4: Code Review, 18 November, 10:00 -12:00 (time TBC), online
Lesson 5: Unit Testing Code, 19 November, 10:00 -12:00 (time TBC), online
Lesson 6: Continuous Integration, 20 November, 10:00 -12:00 (time TBC), online

Experimental Design for Open and Reproducible Research: NC3Rs Experimental Design Assistant (EDA)
This course is for researchers, technicians, and all others involved in designing animal experiments and/or reviewing experimental design in colleagues’ or students’ work.

Thursday 13 November 2025, 10:00 – 16:00, online.

Responsible Research Metrics
This course is for librarians, professional services staff and researchers with an interest in research metrics. Attendees should have a knowledge of the metrics systems used by institutions to measure research outputs, as well as an understanding of the research workflow. Ideally, attendees will have a background in bibliometrics. Attendees will need to create a GitHub account, or have access to an institutional account, therefore it is preferable that attendees are already familiar with the GitHub web GUI.

Tuesday 18 November 2025, online (time TBC)

Electronic Lab Notebooks: best practice for data/metadata retention
This course is suitable for researchers, technicians, and research managers who want to promote best practice. It requires an in-depth knowledge of the research workflow and required documentation. Experience of supporting others and managing projects would be useful.

Wednesday 3 December 2025, 09.00-15.00, online

Bilingualism in the Hispanic and Lusophone World - 5th International Conference
2026-01-12 08:00 - 2026-01-19 17:00 | Berkshire
We are delighted to welcome you to the fifth international conference on Bilingualism in the Hispanic and Lusophone world (BHL), jointly organized by University of Reading and King’s College London.
This year’s conference will be hosted at the University of Reading, located in the vibrant city of Reading, UK, from the 12th to the 14th of January 2026.
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Meet our Keynote speakers:
* Nicola Bermingham (University of Liverpool, UK) ​
* Laura Dominguez (University of Southampton, UK)
* Tim Laméris (Leiden University, NL)
* Cristóbal Lozano (Universidad de Granada, España)
* Patrick Rebuschat (Lancaster University, UK)
* Sílvia Perpiñán (Universitat Pompeu Fabra, España )

Bilingualism in the Hispanic and Lusophone world (BHL)
The BHL is a biennial international conference (Leiden 2015, 2019; Florida 2017; Puebla 2024) that brings together researchers working on different aspects of bilingualism in the Hispanic and Lusophone world to share new insights regarding methodology and extend and strengthen the dialogue on furthering our understanding of bilingualism. This biennial international conference has promoted Hispanic and Lusophone linguistics in the Netherlands, Florida, Mexico, and now in Reading. It serves a broad community of international scholars researching and teaching Hispanic and Portuguese linguistics.

The Conversation – training for researchers
2026-01-27 08:00 - 2026-02-05 17:00 | Online via Zoom
Would you like to build a media profile and take your research to a global public audience by writing for The Conversation? Register now for one of our upcoming training sessions.

What is The Conversation?
The Conversation is an independent, open-access news platform where academics work with professional journalists to produce research-based articles. Supported by over 80 UK and European universities, it helps bring academic insights into public debate.

The Conversation’s global network generates 23 million monthly page views, with a total monthly audience of at least 40.7 million reads including through republication.
Why attend this session?

Hear directly from an editor at The Conversation about what they look for in articles and how the editorial process works
Learn what makes a compelling story and how to pitch your ideas successfully
Explore article types and approaches with practical examples
Get tips on writing in an accessible, engaging style
Discuss your research with the editor and receive feedback on potential pitches

Training Dates & Registration

Tue 27 Jan, 14:00–16:00 – Agriculture, Food & Health – Register here
Thu 29 Jan, 14:00–16:00 – Environment – Register here
Tue 3 Feb, 14:00–16:00 – Heritage & Creativity – Register here
Thu 5 Feb, 14:00–16:00 – Prosperity & Resilience – Register here

Please note that there are a limited number of places so the session is open to academic staff only. If you sign up and then are no longer able to attend, please cancel your registration so that your place can be re-allocated to a colleague on the waiting list.

Deep Thinking on Systems and Complexity: What Are the Practical Insights for Transforming Food Systems?
2026-02-05 15:00 - 17:00 | Berkshire
Please join us for an inaugural external-facing event of the University of Reading’s Systems and Futures Hub on Thursday 5th February 2026.
The event brings together leading thinkers and practitioners to explore how deeper conceptual thinking about systems and complexity can inform real-world action, examining how complexity science, systems practice, and ecological insights can be applied to one of the world’s most pressing challenges: transforming food systems in adaptive, inclusive, and sustainable ways.
To confirm attendance, please register using the following link: Deep Thinking on Systems and Complexity Event Registration

About the Event:
Deep Thinking on Systems and Complexity: What Are the Practical Insights for Transforming Food Systems?
Thursday, 5 February 2026 | 15:00–17:00 (GMT)
University of Reading – Henley Business School, Room G10
Drinks reception to follow
This professional dialogue will explore how deeper conceptual thinking about systems and complexity can inform real-world action to transform food systems. This session will bring together leading thinkers and practitioners to discuss how complexity science, systems practice, and ecological insights can be applied to one of the world’s most pressing challenges.
Speakers

Dr. Jean Boulton – a complexity scientist, strategic advisor and visiting academic at the University of Bath and Cranfield School of Management. With a background in theoretical physics, she has spent over three decades helping organizations and policymakers apply complexity thinking to strategy, sustainability and systemic change. She is lead author of Embracing Complexity and The Dao of Complexity, and is widely recognized for translating complex systems theory into practical, real-world insights.
Dr. Corinna Hawkes – is Director of the Division of Agrifood Systems and Food Safety at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), where she leads global initiatives to transform food systems for better nutrition, health and sustainability. She previously directed the Centre for Food Policy at City, University of London, and is widely recognized for her work on food systems, healthy diets and evidence-informed policy. Her leadership focuses on bringing systems thinking into practice to drive coherent and equitable food system change.
Dr. Tom Oliver – Professor of Applied Ecology at the University of Reading, works at the interface of biodiversity, environmental risk and complex systems. He has advised the UK government, the European Commission and other expert bodies on environmental policy and resilience. Tom is also the author of the forthcoming book The Self Delusion, which explores the science of interconnectedness and its implications for society and sustainability.

Programme:
15:00 | Official Welcome – Professor Lisa Methven
15:05 | Introduction – Dr. Jim Woodhill, Director, Agrifood Systems and Futures Hub
15:10 | Presentation – Dr. Jean Boulton: What Does Complexity Science and Systems Thinking Offer to Change Makers in Difficult Times
15:25 | Presentation – Dr. Corinna Hawkes: Putting Systems Approaches into Practice for Transforming the Food System – Challenges and Opportunities
15:40 | Response – Professor Tom Oliver: Implications for Our Work at Reading
15:45 | Panel Discussion and Open Q&A
14:45 | Final Reflections – Professor Carol Wagstaff
17:00 | Close, followed by drinks reception and networking – Blandford Room (Park House)

To confirm attendance, please register using the following link: Deep Thinking on Systems and Complexity Event Registration
We hope you can join us for an engaging and forward-looking conversation.

Centenary Community Festival 2026 – apply now!
2026-05-16 - 2026-05-17 | Whiteknights campus, University of Reading, Whiteknights Campus, Reading, RG6 6AH, United Kingdom
The University of Reading’s annual Community Festival is a free, family-friendly event celebrating the amazing research, creativity and community spirit that make Reading special. As part of the University’s centenary year, this year’s event has been renamed the Centenary Community Festival, marking 100 years of the University’s connection with the town and community. The festival brings together staff, students, alumni, local residents, community groups, businesses and partners for a day packed with live performances, interactive activities, food, music and fun for all ages.
The research programme includes a research ‘exhibition’ featuring c.20 stands with hands-on activities, a programme of children’s talks and research talks, and some workshops or panel discussions. As well as showcasing our research in an accessible way, this is also an opportunity for researchers to gain experience of public engagement with research in a festival setting. The research activities are popular and have been well received by both visitors and participants. 👉 Participate in the Centenary Community Festival

Applications are now open for research activities and talks for the 2026 Community Festival. Researchers are invited to read the guidelines​ carefully and complete the application form by 23:59 on Friday 30 January 2026 to be considered.

Researchers from all disciplines are encouraged to apply, regardless of previous public engagement experience. If you have any questions about the event, please contact the Research Communications and Engagement team at research@reading.ac.uk.
