Reading in the news - Tue 16 Feb

#WeAreTogether: Reading’s work to tackle the coronavirus crisis

• Research led by Reading, showing the mental health of farmers has been hit during the pandemic, was featured on Farming Today on BBC Radio 4, in a piece on Mind Your Head Week, a mental health campaign running this week by the Farm Safety Foundation. The story is covered by , and regional titles including the Yorkshire Post, Dundee Courier and Aberdeen Press and Journal. Read our news story.
• The interviews a student on Reading’s physician associate MSc course about her motivations for wanting to work on the front line of healthcare during the pandemic.

COVID-19: expert comment on the pandemic 

• Dr Simon Clarke (Biological Sciences) is quoted by the , , , , and on the new Covid-19 variant found in the UK; about side effects of the vaccines; and the on treatments for Covid-19. He spoke to about the Prime Minister’s press conference announcing that a pathway out of lockdown was being planned; and Talk Radio about the UK’s vaccine programme.
• The AbScent team spoke to BBC Radio Gloucester about research at Reading into parosmia – a disrupted sense of smell that is recognised as an effect of Covid-19.

Stamp duty holiday: Professor Michael Ball (Henley Business School) spoke to You and Yours on BBC Radio 4 about the effects of the government’s stamp duty holiday on the housing market.

Hobbies and mental health: An article written for by Dr Ciara McCabe (Psychology), on how completing tasks and hobbies can improve our mental health, is republished by the . She was also interviewed by Sputnik Radio and quoted by .

Other coverage

• in South Africa reports on Henley Business School Africa leading work to formulate a strategy to progress women’s sport.
• and reports on the new £10m green finance research centre involving Reading climate scientists. Read our news story.
• reports on Reading research showing China may see dramatic temperature rises by 2050 due to climate change. Read our news story.
• BBC Radio Berkshire spoke to Professor Uma Kambhampati (Economics) about her research, including male and female leadership during the pandemic.
• republishes an article written for by Thomas Grisaffi (GES) on how farmers in Peru have turned to the coca leaf to make money.
• uses data from the University’s weather observatory in a story about how temperatures are rising locally after the recent sold spell.
• mentions Reading’s ranking in the People and Planet University League, in a piece on sustainability programmes.
• and report on Henley Business School MBA graduate Phillipine Mtikitiki being appointed as Coca-Cola Africa’s vice president for the South Africa franchise.