In the news: 13-19 June 2025

A round up of media coverage from throughout the past week about the University, our graduates, staff and students.

Journalism student Ben Grundy was back on BBC 5 Live discussing today’s main headlines with presenter Dotun Adebayo. Ben focused on stories about Baroness Casey’s report into child sexual exploitation grooming gangs and the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel. Listen again (starts at 3hrs and 40mins).

Talking to BBC Radio Manchester about superstitions and why are some of us in thrall to them was Associate Professor and parapsychology expert Dr Cal Cooper. Listen again (starts at 30mins)

At the recent Cordwainer Footwear Awards, Fashion student China Blackstock-Brown won the Sneaker/Athleisure Award was presented to for her ‘Dystopian Dreams’ collection., as reported by several international Fashion United websites and Love Business East Midlands.

The University held its annual STEAM Northants event last week, welcoming around 3,000 school children who explored possible futures in science, technology, engineering, arts, maths and other areas. The event was reported by MSN UK, Northants Telegraph and Chronicle & Echo.

Associate Professor Dr Declan Ryan was among this year’s recipients of a Rose of Northamptonshire in recognition of his work to transform local sport in his role as Chairman of Old Cricket Club in West Northants. The news was reported by the Northants Telegraph and Chronicle & Echo.

Colin Foster is Chief Executive of Northamptonshire Children’s Trust, but is also a UON PhD student looking at creating better outcomes for children across the country. His ‘matrix’ is reported by the Northants Telegraph.

Final year Hair, Make-up and Prosthetics for the Stage and Screen student Amy Spencer has creating a ‘monstrous bust’ as the crowning achievement to her degree studies, as reported by the Northampton Chronicle & Echo.

Northampton artist and UON graduate Sophie Slade talks about her exhibition at an iconic building she grew up visiting while making her dream a reality, as reported by the Northampton Chronicle & Echo.

For this week’s Open4Business NLive Radio show, Professor of Sociology Federico Farini talked about his journey from his home in northern Italy to research in Northampton and UK citizenship. Dr Chijioke Uba and Dr Seyi Omoloso co-Chairs of the University’s Sustainability Summit which kicks off 30 June, and Professor Paul Jackson outlined his research on radicalism and extremism. Listen again.