Connected

Grand Theft Hamlet

Grand Theft Auto and Shakespeare are not two things you would normally put together. But Reading alumnus, Mark Oosterveen, did exactly that when he staged a production of Hamlet within the Grand Theft Auto video game world. Mark, who graduated in...

Rowing to romance

From training on the Thames to competing at the Olympics – Sam and Natasha Townsend share their story of going from teammates to soulmates.  Natasha and Sam’s love story began at the University of Reading, where they met through a shared...

Journalists Are Never The Story

“Well, except just this once,” said Reading alumnus Phil Creighton, as he wrote in his final column in June 2024, after nine years in the editor’s chair of Wokingham Today and Reading Today. Phil, who studied typography &...

Headline Stories

Reaching More Students

As the demand for mental health services in society continues to rise, CONNECTED finds out how the University of Reading’s Life Tools Programme has adapted during the pandemic to reach more students than ever before...

Supporting The Vulnerable

COVID-19 has had a devastating effect on the charity sector’s ability to operate. However, at the same time, charities have experienced an increase in demand due to the impact of the pandemic on the vulnerable...

A Lasting Impact

Thanks to the generosity of University donors, the Empowering Change Scholarship helps international students overcome financial barriers and reach their full potential through their studies. This scholarship supports...

Ongoing Student Hardship

A record-breaking number of students have sought financial assistance from the University’s Student Support Fund during the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the repeated and prolonged closures of pubs, restaurants, retail and...

Fighting For Equality

In 2006, Professor Celia Kitzinger campaigned for her lawful Canadian marriage, to wife Sue Wilkinson, to be legally recognised in England. As part of LGBT+ History Month, CONNECTED speaks to the Reading graduate about...

Equal Love

Compared to the 1980’s, when HIV emerged and homosexuality was considered a criminal offence, today’s world is shifting, providing hope of creating a safer and more accepting society for all.  As part of LGBT+ History...

We’re Not There Yet

As part of LGBT+ History Month, CONNECTED talks to Professor Alina Tryfonidou and Dr Ruvi Ziegler – co-chairs of the University of Reading’s LGBT+ network – to find out more about the support offered at Reading and the...

COVID-19: Improving Instructions

Thank you for supporting research into the effectiveness of self-administered COVID-19 antibody testing. Your generosity is enabling us to determine the safest and most accurate format for self-administered diagnostic...

Update: Reading Meets Hollywood

Last year, CONNECTED shared the news that the University of Reading was in talks to lease space at its Thames Valley Science Park to develop a major film studio and creative media campus. Now, we’re excited to announce...

Update: Student Hardship Appeal

This year has been extraordinary, in so many ways. Our students have been faced with some of the most challenging circumstances in our University history, and it’s because of our community of alumni and supporters that...