Reading in the news - Fri 10 Dec

COVID-19: expert comment on the pandemic

• Dr Simon Clarke (Biological Sciences) was interviewed on Sky News and BBC Radio Berkshire, and answered listeners’ questions on BBC Radio Berkshire on Friday morning, on the UK Government’s Plan B restrictions. He is quoted by and on the UK’s booster programme,
• Professor Ian Jones (Biological Sciences) spoke to BBC Radio Wales about the higher than normal number of cases of avian flu in the UK this year.
• Research carried out by Reading (Economics) into how Covid infection affects the performance of professional footballers is mentioned in a article on an unvaccinated German footballer who is now unable to play due to the consequences of catching the virus.

#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment 

• Dr Caroline Wainwright (Meteorology) is quoted by on flooding in Sudan, following a drought there.
• reports on the University’s best ever ranking in the People and Planet University League this week. Read our news story.
• , , , , , and report on the climate stripes created by Professor Ed Hawkins (Meteorology) being projected onto the chimney of Scotland’s last coal-fired power station, before it was demolished this week in a ‘milestone moment for the UK’s journey to net-zero emissions’.
• reports on a £1.7m project Reading is involved in, which aims to develop new ways of recovering metals used for technologies from mine waste in the Philippines in a more environmentally friendly way.

ECMWF HQ: The and reports on the European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) decision to build a new headquarters on the University’s Whiteknights campus. Read our news story.

Other coverage:

• The and reports on the latest survey in an EIT Food-funded project led by Professor Richard Bennett (Agriculture), which showed that public trust in caterers and restaurants has increased since the pandemic started.
• Professor Ben Laker (Henley Business School) writes for on why business culture trumps strategy.
• reports on research led by Dr Cathy Manning (Psychology/Centre for Autism) that suggested children with dyslexia may be slower at processing visual information. Read our news story.
• Biotech company Quercis, which has conducted studies in collaboration with Reading and others into drugs to prevent thrombosis, has signed a deal with investment group GEM, reports , , , , and 50+ .
• The reports research led by Professor Uma Kambhampati (Economics), which showed consuming more fruits and vegetables improves people’s happiness and wellbeing, in an article on beating the winter blues.
• BBC Radio Berkshire mentioned research at Reading (Geography) into the economic benefits of city status, after Reading submitted a bid this week, backed by the University. Read our news story.
• A Reading Chemistry graduate is interviewed by about handing over his father’s business, Diamond Bank in Nigeria, to new owners so he could pursue a different career path.