Reading in the news - Tue 31 Aug

COVID-19: expert comment on the pandemic 

• Dr Simon Clarke (Biological Sciences) is quoted by the , and more than 100 regional press titles, including the , around the UK via the Press Association on rising infection levels in the UK ahead of the bank holiday weekend; writes a feature for The Sun on the UK鈥檚 vaccination programme; and on UK infection rates being higher currently than last summer; the Sunday Times and on vaccinating younger children; on booster jabs; , , and on the rising death rate in the UK and globally; and on waning immunity from vaccines; and on the lab leak theory on the origins of the coronavirus. Dr Clarke spoke to BBC Radio 2 and LBC Radio about vaccinations for younger children; BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio Wiltshire about the impact festivals could have on infection rates; and quoted on ITV Meridian on the likelihood of new restrictions.

#PlanetPartners: Reading鈥檚 global work for a sustainable future

• Dr Claire Ryder (Meteorology) is quoted, along with satellite image analysis by Professor Helen Dacre (Meteorology), in , and on the Leamington Spa industrial fire being visible from space.
• Professor Hannah Cloke (Geography/Meteorology) was interviewed on Weather World on BBC World/BBC News Channel/BBC One on preparing for flooding events as a result of climate change, and looking ahead to the COP26 climate change summit.
• Professor Martin Lukac (Agriculture) is quoted by on the impact of more extreme weather due to climate change on farming.
• mentions that the University had a number of lead and contributing authors in the latest IPCC report on climate change, published earlier this month. Read our news story.
• quotes Professor Ed Hawkins (Meteorology) on the IPCC report鈥檚 findings.
• The and quote PhD student Akshay Deoras (Meteorology) on rain forecasts for Mumbai.
• Dr Tom Breeze (Agriculture) is quoted by on his recent study assessing likely causes and effects of pollinator decline worldwide. Read our news story.

Other Coverage:

• report on the discovery of a monastery ruled over by Queen Cynethryth in the 8^th century, during an excavation led by Dr Gabor Thomas (Archaeology). A local journalist told BBC Radio Berkshire about their coverage of the discovery in a Berkshire news round-up. Read our news story.
• report on Reading research showing that looking at pictures of vegetables in books can make children more likely to eat them. .
• republishes an article written for by Professor Helen Parish (History) on bizarre weather forecasting methods used through history.
• reports that two security and armed conflict law experts have joined the University鈥檚 School of Law as Visiting Professors. Read our news story.
• An interview in with two authors on reinventing yourself mentions that one of them runs Leading Change workshops at Henley Business School.
• A photograph from the Museum of English Rural Life collections is used in a Contractor & Large Scale Farmer feature on early tractors.
• BBC Radio Berkshire interviews Emeritus Professor Andy Kemp (Drama) on a new series of events to mark the 40^th anniversary of the Greenham Common Women鈥檚 Peace camp demonstrations against nuclear weapons.
• interviews a Reading graduate on getting a job in PR during the pandemic.
• A Guardian obituary for art teacher John Spencer mentions that he took his art teacher diploma at the 色狗导航.