Reading in the news - Tue 21 Dec

COVID-19: expert comment on the pandemic

• Dr Simon Clarke (Biological Sciences) was quoted by the on the societal problems that Omicron could cause; by  (and in print) on the protection that boosters provide against Omicron, and by on false-negative test results. He answered BBC Radio Surrey's Covid questions and spoke to BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio West Midlands about restrictions based on models.
• Dr Jane Parker (Food) spoke to BBC Radio Berkshire about the challenges that those with continued loss of taste and smell will face at Christmas; and was quoted by BBC Radio Norfolk and BBC Radio Oxford on smell training. 

#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment 

• , , , , and  report on the SysRisk project, involving Reading researchers, that assessed environmental risk management in collaboration with the government. Read our news story.
• Professor Paul Williams (Meteorology) was quoted by  on reliance on the wind as an energy source.
• Professor Ed Hawkins (Meteorology) was quoted by on extreme weather events. 
• The University's research working with the United Arab Emirates to investigate the possibility of using electric charge to influence rainfall was mentioned by .

Other Coverage:

•  (and in print) mentions Reading research showing that regular consumption of dates benefitted gut health. 
• Professor Rosa Freedman (Law) was quoted by on self-declaration of gender complicating laws around single-sex spaces.
• Professor Anne Lawrence-Mathers (History) was quoted by on the Christmas traditions of medieval England. 
• , , and  reported on an EIT Food-funded project on sustainable packaging including academics from the 色狗导航. Read our news story. 
• The Reverend Mark Laynesmith (University Anglican Chaplain) spoke to BBC Radio Berkshire about his journey and faith.
•  reported on lost artefacts that were donated to the University's Museum of English Rural Life.
•  reported on Jon Foster-Pedley's (Dean and Director of Henley Business School Africa) webinar that discussed battling lockdown fatigue. 
•  report on Henley Business School Africa as the first business school in the country to achieve Level 1 BBBEE. 
• Henley Business School's appointment of Muhammad Sani Abdullahi Dattijo as an associate and founding member of its Dunning Africa Center was reported by , , , , and .
•  and  quote a business leader and writer on his education history, including studying at Reading, as he defended his economic credibility.