Reading in the news - Wed 7 Apr

COVID-19: expert comment on the pandemic

• Dr Simon Clarke (Biological Sciences) is quoted in the (with his quotes mentioned on BBC Radio 4) and about an AstraZeneca vaccine trial that’s been postponed over blood clot fears; (and ) and about potential ban of AZ jabs for under 30s; about SAGE modelling about lifting lockdown restrictions; about hairdressers and barbers reopening; and and about women having the AZ vaccine. Dr Clarke spoke to (twice), BBC Radio 5 Live, Times Radio, LBC Radio (three times), Talk Radio (twice), Virgin Radio, BBC Berkshire (three times), BBC London (twice) and BBC Hereford and Worcester (twice).
• Dr Al Edwards (Pharmacy) is quoted in about what happens when you get vaccinated when you have Covid-19; and in a number of US outlets including and via an AP comment debunking a myth about Covid vaccines and cancer.
• Professor Ian Jones (Biological Sciences) is quoted by on virus mutations.
• Professor James Reade (Economics) spoke to Times Radio about his research into how home advantage in sport has been diminished by playing matches behind closed doors.
• Dr Lily Fitzgibbon (Psychology) spoke to BBC Radio Berkshire about the importance of allowing children to enjoy the Easter holidays after a difficult time during the last lockdown.

#UniForReading: fulfilling our role as a civic university

• Reading Chronicle (in print) reports on the planning approval of the first temporary stages in the Shinfield Studios scheme at Thames Valley Science Park. .

#UoRWay:

• mention the University’s increased popularity in Pharmacy and Maths and Statistics in an article exploring young people’s increased interest in STEM subjects due to the pandemic.
• BBC Radio Berkshire spoke to three Reading students about their university experiences during the pandemic.

Forecasting:

• Professor Hannah Cloke (GES and Met) writes for about how technology is helping to improve weather forecasts.
• A feature on forecasting in the quotes Prof Andrew Charlton-Perez (Met) about the issues with long-term forecasting.
• republish a article by former Reading researcher Dr Jon Shonk (Met) about why forecasting always includes some error.

Other coverage

• runs a feature on Professor Anne Lawrence-Mathers’ (History) research into medieval weather forecasting.
• New Scientist () and regional press, including the , report on research into wildfires in the UK. Prof Nigel Arnell (Met) is quoted.
• BBC Radio Berkshire interviewed Sue Wallace (Student Services) Dr Allan Laville (Dean for Diversity and Inclusion and Co-chair of the University’s #NeverOK campaign group about experiences of women on campus.
• Professor Ben Laker (Henley Business School) writes for about developing talent virtually.
• reports on the benefits of a four-day working week, citing the Henley Business School report on it.
• A commentator in writes about trade unions and mentions Professor Rosa Freedman (Law).
• Professor Rosa Freedman is mentioned in an article in about legal changes to the gender recognition act.
• Prof Glenn Gibson and Dr Gemma Walton (Food) are mentioned in a article about probiotics potentially being helpful for reducing the symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections.
• quotes Professor Jorge Guira (Law) on airline bailouts by some countries.
• republishes a article by Dr Jorge Guira (Law) about oil prices and renewable energy.
• Food Unwrapped on Channel 4 visited the University’s International Cocoa Quarantine Centre, and spoke to Professor Jeremy Spencer (Food and Nutritional Sciences) about flavanols contained in dark chocolate.
• covers research co-authored by Professor Carien van Reekum (CINN) about the role of the amygdala on holding onto negative thoughts.
• New research co-authored by Dr Katie Gray (Psychology) finds that masks only have a limited effect on making people to harder to recognise, in and .
• covers a UN Development Programme support scheme for female farmers in Dominica, and mentions UoR as a project partner.

• BBC Radio Berkshire spoke to Anna Jones (The MERL) about the latest item in the museum’s 51 Voices project, celebrating the museum’s 70^th anniversary. .

• Reading graduate and CEO of bus company Go-Ahead is quoted in about the importance of local buses for lowering emissions to combat climate change.
• University Fine Art graduate Sheila Casebourne was interviewed on BBC Radio Berkshire about her appearance on Sky Arts’ Landscape Artist of the Year.
• reports on the new owner of Wigan Athletic, who has hired Henley Business School graduate Tom Markham as a non-executive director.
• reports on research carried out by Professor Bhismadev Chakrabarti (Psychology) into autism in children in India.
• reports on a new entrepreneurship module on offer to Henley Business School students.
• BBC Radio London replayed an interview from 1999 with Professor Emeritus Kevin Warwick (Cybernetics) after he had a computer chip implanted into his body.
• BBC weather presenter and Reading graduate Simon King explained the Saharan dust cloud that hit the UK last week to BBC Radio Berkshire.
• An obituary in looks at the life of Sue Pritchard, a Reading graduate who founded a Dorset arts centre.
• covers the company that provided screens for the new Health and Life Sciences Building.
• UoR’s award winning catering team is covered in an article for .
• BBC Radio Berkshire reported that a Reading graduate Vickii Cornborough was set to start for the England Women’s Rugby team in the Women’s Six Nations opening game at the weekend.