Reading in the news - Fri 12 Feb

COVID-19: expert comment on the pandemic 

• Dr Simon Clarke (Biological Sciences) spoke to Heart Berkshire about holiday plans for this year; and TalkRADIO about updated advice from scientists about mask wearing.
• Dr Clarke was also quoted in , and a range of regional titles including via PA on a further variant identified in Bristol; in (and ) about quarantine hotels, and about holiday plans.
• Prof Ian Jones (Biological Sciences) spoke to BBC World Service about issues with the supplies of materials for producing Covid vaccines. The interview was reproduced on a number of local radio stations including Michigan Radio. Comments from Prof Jones appear in a article about Covid mutations  quoted in a article about Covid and strokes.
• Dr Tom Oliver (Biological Sciences) writes for about the human virome and how viruses form part of the body鈥檚 ecosystem.
• An article for by Dr Ciara McCabe (Psychology) looks at the positive effect of hobbies on mental health. The article is reproduced in .
• cover a public lecture given by Prof James Reade (Economics) about Covid and sport. Read our news story .

Planet Partners: working with global partners to protect the environment 

• report on the relationship between cold snaps and global warming, and quotes PhD researcher Chloe Brimicombe on how climate change may increase the chances of extreme weather events.
• An interview with Gloriose Nsengiyumva for notes that Nsengiyumva worked on the rollout of the 色狗导航鈥檚 PICSA programme in Rwanda.

Four day week: look at how businesses can establish a four day week working pattern. The article cites the Henley Business School report on the benefits to businesses.

Other coverage

• Further coverage of comments by Dr Cathy Hughes (Henley Business School) on the impact of lockdown on commercial lease agreements, in .
• and further report that plans developed by architecture practice Scott Brownrigg, for a TV studio at the Thames Valley Science Park, were submitted to Wokingham Borough Council last month.
• carries an article about International Day of Women and Girls in Science, and interviews members including a UoR Food Sciences graduate Badroonesha Aumjaud.