WEEKLY MEDIA REPORT: 22 March 2015
Please see a summary of media coverage for this week which lists 307 pieces of coverage comprising
of:

76 pieces of newspaper coverage of which 12 pieces are from National newspapers and 36
pieces are from Devon & Cornwall publications.
 94 pieces of broadcast coverage of which 9 are from National broadcasts and 23 are from
Devon & Cornwall broadcasts.
 137 pieces of on-line coverage of which 37 are National and 64 are from Devon & Cornwall.
INTERNATIONAL
BBC World Service and CBC (Toronto Radio) interviewed Jonathan Githens-Mazer (Strategy &
Security) about the current situation in Tunisia with the recent bomb attack.
The New York Times quoted Omar Ashour (IAIS) in a report about how Islamic scholars and
researchers meeting in Mecca last month urged Muslim governments to tackle poverty, overhaul
school curriculums - and get back to religion - in order to combat extremist ideologies.
A new card game devised by students Hannah Wakeford (Physics and Astronomy) and Simon Clark
(Mathematics) to promote women in science was featured on Buzzfeed.
Israelnationalnews.com and The Electronic Intifada (Blog) published articles regarding the upcoming
International Law and the State of Israel conference at the University of Southampton, which both
profiled and quoted Ilan Pappé (IAIS).
Prevention (US) quoted Craig Knight (Psychology) in a report about the benefits of having plants in
offices.
Scientific American published an interview with José Iriarte (Archaeology) about human activity in
and influence on the Amazon region for the last 13 millennia.
We issued a press release regarding research by Jonathan Bennie (ESI/Biosciences), Kevin Gaston
(ESI/Biosciences) and colleagues which found that light from street lamps affects the growth and
flowering of plants and influences the number of insects that depend on those plants for food. This
prompted coverage in the Himalayan Times, Business Standard, Daijiworld.com, Yahoo! India News,
Red Orbit, Spiegel Online, Science Daily ScienceNewsline, Science 2.0, Optics, PhysOrg.com, Photonics
News and twelve other news outlets.
The Irish Sun, Pressetext Austria, www.dr.dk , dieren.blog.nl, irishexaminer.com, donegaldemocrat.ie,
offalyexpress.ie , Bignewsnetwork.com , nationalist.ie, Tipperarystar.ie, ZeeNews.com, redorbit.com,
Extrem Newsm, science.orf.at and esciencenews.com reported our press release about research by
Fiona Mathews (Biosciences) and colleagues which found that the activity of bats was generally
lower in street-lit areas than in dark locations with similar habitat.
NATIONAL
We arranged for Nathan Mayne (Physics and Astronomy) to appear as a guest throughout a BBC1
Breakfast programme link regarding the solar eclipse. Nathan appeared throughout the morning,
live, from their outside broadcast in Cornwall.
BBC Radio 4 World at One, Radio 5Live and BBC Radio Wales interviewed Jonathan Githens-Mazer
(IAIS & Strategy & Security) about the attacks in Tunisia and the hostages in Bardo museum. Sections
from the interviews were widely used on BBC regional radio news bulletins.
BBC online news covered the press release we issued about the new revelation about the Queen
Anne coronation coins, which were found to be designed by Sir Isaac Newton – the research is part
of the Stuarts Succession project led by Andrew McRae (English).
BBC Radio 4’s In Our Time programme about the Muslim theologian, jurist, philosopher, and mystic
Al-Ghazali involved Rob Gleave (IAIS) with a couple of other academics and Melvyn Bragg.
An article in The Sunday Times examining responses to the upcoming International Law and the
State of Israel conference at the University of Southampton included mention of Ghada Karmi (IAIS)
who was to speak at the event.
The Huffington Post quoted Ian Alcock (Medical School / ECEHH) in a report about the benefits to
people of city trees.
The Daily Mail, Uk.yahoo.com, PA News Wire, capitalbay.com, sciencedaily.com, Scottish Daily
Express, and 14 other publications reported our press release about research by Fiona Mathews
(Biosciences) and colleagues which found that the activity of bats was generally lower in street-lit
areas than in dark locations with similar habitat.
BBC news and Wired UK quoted Richard Brazier (Geography) in a report about how a scheme to 'rewet' thousands of acres of peat bog on Exmoor has been completed.
The Daily Mail published an article examining a report from The Centre for Policy Studies critical of
the focus on wind and solar power; the article included quotes from Catherine Mitchell (Energy
Policy). The article was reprinted by capitalbay.com. The report also featured in the Telegraph.
We issued a press release regarding research by Jonathan Bennie (ESI/Biosciences), Kevin Gaston
(ESI/Biosciences) and colleagues which found that light from street lamps affects the growth and
flowering of plants and influences the number of insects that depend on those plants for food. This
prompted coverage in the Independent Online.
REGIONAL
BBC Radio Devon carried out a series of live broadcasts from the Streatham Campus relating to the
eclipse and the astrophysics party organised for the event. Alistair Hibbins (Physics and Astronomy),
Beth Wingate (Mathematics) and Hannah Wakeford (Physics and Astronomy) were all interviewed as
part of the event. ITV Westcountry also covered the event, including an interview with Hannah
Wakeford. The Exeter Express and Echo also covered the event.
Hannah Wakeford (Physics and Astronomy) also wrote an opinion piece centred on the solar eclipse
for the Western Morning News and Western Daily Press.
Our press release relating to Stephen Eichhorn (Engineering) and his research into the uses of
cellulose to mimic irradiance as seen in insect wings appeared on BBC Spotlight.
Nathan Main (Astrophysics) was interviewed by BBC Radio Cornwall about the solar eclipse, and
excerpts of this were broadcast on a number of BBC local radio stations across the day.
As part of an ongoing series ahead of the election, Debra Myhill (Education) submitted an opinion
piece on education policy for the Western Morning News.
BBC Radio Cornwall interviewed Tom Fidler, History (Cornish Studies) student at the Penryn Campus
about the annual Celtic conference for students from across the UK being held on the campus, this
was also covered in the Western Morning News and The Packet.
We issued a press release about a new novel by Rob Magnuson Smith (English) titled ‘Scorper’, this
was covered in the Mid Sussex Times, Sussex Today and the Sussex Express.
Our press release about Stephen Eichhorn (Engineering) becoming divisional chair of American
Chemical Society featured in the Express and Echo.
Chief Executive Officer Geoff Pringle and James Hutchinson were quoted in the West Briton and
Express and Echo reports concerning how professional services and academic staff members at the
University were invited to take ‘voluntary severance’ or early retirement.
Angela Shore (Medical School) was quoted in the Western Morning News report into medical
breakthroughs made in the West Country.
Todd Gray (History) was quoted on an obituary or Ivan Roots published in the Western Morning
News.
Simon Court (Penryn Campus Fitness Centre) was quoted in a Falmouth Packet report regarding the
£4 million sports centre planned for the university campus in Penryn.
The granting of a Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit award to Sian Ellard (Medical School) was
reported in the Express and Echo and the Exeter Daily.
Provost Janice Kay was quoted in a Newton Abbot & Mid-Devon Advertiser article concerning the
South Devon University Technical College.
BBC Radio Devon interviewed Patrick Devine-Wright (Geography) about his plans to run the South
West coast path.
Catherine Mitchell (Energy Policy) was interviewed on BBC Radio Cornwall about the movement
away from large energy supplies to local generation.
Tanimola Martins (Medical School) was interviewed on BBC Radio Gloucestershire about his research
on attitudes to prostate cancer in black men.
We issued a press release regarding research by Jonathan Bennie (ESI/Biosciences), Kevin Gaston
(ESI/Biosciences) and colleagues which found that light from street lamps affects the growth and
flowering of plants and influences the number of insects that depend on those plants for food. This
prompted coverage in the Western Morning News.
BBC Spotlight, BBC Radio Devon, Express and Echo, Plymouth Herald and The Exeter Daily reported
our press release about research by Fiona Mathews (Biosciences) and colleagues which found that
the activity of bats was generally lower in street-lit areas than in dark locations with similar habitat.
OTHER
An article in New Scientist regarding the impact of an aging population on the NHS included quotes
from David Melzer (Medical School).
The Conversation included a piece written by Danny Steed (Strategy & Security) about how life of a
British spy is about to change dramatically.
The Conversation also included a piece written by Florian Stadtler (English) about "Remembering
Mahatma Gandhi: the first statue of an Indian unveiled in Parliament Square"
Medicaldaily.com quoted Adrian Taylor (Sport and Health Science) in a report concerning research
that found a 15-minute walk when food cravings hit can help curb hunger pangs.
BBC Wildlife published a profile of Josh Madden (Biosciences).
An article concerning flag states and class societies in Seatrade included quotes from Andrew
Tettenborn (Law).
Worldwide Independent Power quoted Chris Smith (Engineering) in a report a new low carbon
heating project to be developed in Cranbrook.
Wired quoted Tom Tregenza (Biosciences) in an article about the blanket octopus.
Electronic Intifada published an article by Ilan Pappé (IAIS) concerning the results of the Israeli
elections.
Sciencemediacentre.co.nz quoted Richard Betts (Geography) in a survey of expert opinion in the
wake of the destruction tropical cyclone Pam caused in Vanuatu.