Tony Blair found reverse gear for a referendum on the European constitution and European studies professor Juliet Lodge commented on the impact of a 'No' vote. She spoke to BBC radio stations across the country including Cumbria, Leicester, Stoke and Belfast. Professor Lodge said: "The referendum would be consultative and would have an impact for Blair personally but it is unlikely that Britain would leave the EU as a result of it." She was also interviewed by Germany's Handelsblatt.

A trial of planting trees amongst barley and winter wheat has proved successful in increasing crop yields, reported the Guardian and Environment Times. Speaking to the Guardian, biologist Dr David Pilbeam said: "For years, forestry and agriculture have been separate disciplines, but by combining them we can bring more trees back into the landscape, which is great for wildlife as well as timber and agriculture."

"£100m scheme set to create country's first....student village" led the Yorkshire Evening Post as the University's housing strategy was published. The strategy included plans for a new student village in south Leeds and was 'drawn up with the help of local people and the city council,' reported the Yorkshire Post. The THES described the strategy as 'higher education's first comprehensive housing strategy'.

BBC Look North and the BBC Politics Show featured Dr Joe Holden's work on the threat to York's archaeological treasures by the city's flood alleviation schemes (Reporter 496). The schemes threaten to dry out the ground causing problems for other structures including sewage pipes and roads.

Security services uncovered a plot to use osmium tetroxide in a 'dirty bomb' but professor of environmental toxicology Alastair Hay described the chemical as 'only a minor irritant' in the Times. Speaking to the Independent he explained the substance was a 'rare catalyst' : "I don't think it would be a major hazard and clean-up would not be a major problem." He also briefed the Guardian and Channel 4 News on the chemical.

A new treatment for acne developed by Leeds microbiologist Professor Keith Holland was reported by national and regional media. BBC TV news, BBC Radio news, and BBC online reported how the gel would kill the bacteria associated with acne without causing the side-effects of many other treatments. The Yorkshire Evening Post described how the gel used a 'friendly virus' to attack the acne-causing bacteria. Speaking to the Daily Mail, Professor Holland said: "We have shown it works extremely efficiently to kill P.acnes. It is easy for us to isolate and the first studies could be done this summer – but we need the funding."

Calendar news, BBC Radio Leeds, the Yorkshire Post, the Yorkshire Evening Post covered the start of the University's Centenary celebrations and previews of the Beyond Gold exhibitions. Asked about his role as Chancellor, Lord Bragg said: "It's a very small part but a very small part I'm glad to play. The University started 100 years ago and its achievements have been colossal, as this exhibition shows."