Reading in the news - Mon 1 Feb

COVID-19: expert comment on the pandemic 

• Dr Al Edwards (Pharmacy) was interviewed on ABC 24, Talk Radio and is quoted by and by more than 100 UK regional news sites and on some US TV station websites about the Oxford/Astrazeneca vaccine being refused for use on older people in Germany.
• Dr Simon Clarke (Biological Sciences) spoke to LBC Radio and BBC Radio Berkshire about a new form of rapid testing. He is quoted in the Times on social distancing; and about how effective the Oxford/Astrazeneca vaccine is for over-65s.
• Professor James Reade and Dr Carl Singleton (Economics) co-write a column for on whether sports events contribute to the spread of Covid-19.
• Professor Christopher Newdick (Law) is quoted by , and on the legal considerations around vaccine supply contracts.
• The mentions that the EU鈥檚 Cypriot health commissioner, Stella Kyriakides, is a Reading graduate when quoting him on vaccine delivery to EU countries.

Archaeology film review: Professor Roberta Gilchrist (Archaeology) was a guest on BBC Radio 4 Front Row to review the film, The Dig about the discovery of the Sutton Hoo.

Severn Estuary discovery: Professor Martin Bell (Archaeology) spoke to BBC Radio 4 Open Country about the rare discovery of a flint tool during a visit to South Wales and our links to the past.

Greener flights: The and cover Reading research on how flights could use the jet stream to save fuel and emissions. Read our news story.

Other coverage

• A new project involving Reading scientists, assessing the health of the UK鈥檚 insect populations in order to propose policies to protect them post-Brexit, is reported by .
• BBC Radio Berkshire and report on the announcement that a planning application has been submitted by the University to build TV studios at Thames Valley Science Park.
• Dr Ollie Douglas (Museums and Special Collections) was interviewed on BBC Radio Berkshire about The MERL鈥檚 51 Voices exhibition to celebrate its 70^th anniversary. Newbury Weekly News also covers the project. Read our news story.
• BBC Radio Somerset (18 mins 40 secs) spoke to Dr Alanna Skuse (English Literature) about her research into body modification and self wounding in history and literature.
• and CNA re-publish a piece co-written for by Professor James Walker and Dr Rita Fontinha (Henley Business School) on the benefits of a four-day working week.
• , and cover a study showing farmers are the most trusted group within the food sector.
• reports on the University joining the Menus for Change Universities Research Collaborative, aimed at encouraging people to choose more environmentally-friendly meal options. .
• references Professor Steve Mithen鈥檚 book The Singing Neanderthals in an article about how music originated.
• Professor Mike Fulford (Archaeology) writes a letter to The Times on a theory recently proposed about the fate of the lost Roman ninth legion.
• report on a Reading-led social value architecture project that recently won a RIBA award. Read our news story.
• Cambridge News refers to Reading research into the contribution of bees to the economy in a piece on pollinator policies.
• Professor Emeritus Kevin Warwick (Cybernetics) spoke to Talk Radio about artificial brains for robots.