Reading in the news - Mon 8 Nov

Climate Education Action Plan: The University and partners including the Department for Education are today launching a Climate Education Action Plan, putting into practice the conclusions from the Climate Education Summit held in September. Read our news story.

• Dr Ella Gilbert spoke to BBC Radio Berkshire about the importance of climate education and the DfE’s draft Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy, announced on Friday. for the DfE’s strategy.
• Heart Radio Berkshire reported the launch of the Action Plan.

#PlanetPartners: Reading will be presenting its environmental work at COP26 in Glasgow from 31 Oct – 12 Nov. Find out how we’re Partnering for the Planet at reading.ac.uk/planet

• Dr Ella Gilbert (Meteorology) was quoted by on the cost of net-zero plans, and she spoke to  about deforestation and methane emissions in relation to the COP26 debates. 
• Professor Ed Hawkins (Meteorology) and Dr Praveen Teleti (Meteorology) were mentioned by  on their new citizen science project rescuing climate data from 1860s ship logbooks. BBC Radio Berkshire repeated an interview with Praveen Teleti (Meteorology) about the project. Read our news story.
• Professor Ed Hawkins (Meteorology) was mentioned by  (and in print) ,  and on his climate stripes which are being worn at COP26. 
• Professor Martin Lukac (Agriculture, Policy, and Development) was quoted by the and  on the success rates of tree planting schemes. 
• ​The University was mentioned by Eastern Daily Press (in ) on its collaboration with other institutions to commercialise innovative agricultural technology based on university research.
• Professor Nigel Arnell's (Meteorology) article on what the world would be like at 3°C warmer was published by  and . 
• Professor Richard Allan (Meteorology) spoke at a COP26 conference held by Reading Friends of the Earth on Saturday, as reported by BBC Radio Berkshire (),  and . 
• The University’s net zero strategy’s nomination in the 2021 Energy Management Awards was reported by BBC Radio Berkshire and . Read our news story.
• Dr Patrick McGuire (Meteorology) was quoted by on the return of pre-Covid carbon emission levels.
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COVID-19: expert comment on the pandemic

• Dr Simon Clarke (Biological Sciences) was interviewed on Sky News about Covid infection and death rates; BBC Radio 5 Live about the importance of vaccinating care home workers; and and about vaccine booster jabs. He was quoted by , , , , , , , , and 42 other regional titles on his cautionary analysis of the recent plummet in the UK's 'R Rate' and recent infection statistics;  (and in ) on his thoughts on the new Pfizer Covid pill; by  and on his thoughts on Merck's 'magic pill';  on Covid transmission rates among vaccinated people; , , , , ,, , , and on his comments on the death of the NHS Covid app; and by , , , , ,  and on why the Delta virus is so infectious.  
• Research involving Fifi the llama from the É«¹·µ¼º½ was mentioned by .
• Dr Netta Weinstein's (Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences) study on solitude during the pandemic was mentioned by , , ,, , , and . 
• Professor Ian Jones (Biological Sciences) was quoted by on how the Covid pill works, and his article on the likelihood of the Nipah Virus becoming the cause of another pandemic was published by .
• Dr Al Edwards (Pharmacy) spoke to BBC Radio Berkshire about the rise in hospital admissions locally due to Covid illness; and was quoted in the news headlines about the Covid anti-viral pill.

Other Coverage:

• Reading was listed by the  and  as one of the 37 institutions where staff can take strike action over pensions.
• Professor Peter Robinson (English Literature) spoke to BBC Radio Berkshire about a new book on his work.
• BBC Radio Berkshire spoke to a guest from Corinium Museum in Cirencester about the latest item to be highlighted in the Museum of English Rural Life’s 51 Voices project, which marks its 70th year. .
• Professor Claire Williams (Psychology) was mentioned by on her research that found blueberries can reduce the symptoms of depression. 
• Professor Roger Flanagan (Construction Management and Engineering) was quoted by  on the need for South Africa to be a part of the global construction industry. 
• An obituary of Stanley Amis, the architect behind URS – the ‘Lego Building’ – was published by .  
• Professor Rajneesh Narula (Henley Business School) was mentioned by , , , , , , and  on being appointed as the Kaduna State's Government Consultant and Policy Adviser to its Planning and Budget Commission.
• Dr Richard Blakemore's (History) article on why France and England have historically fought for access to the sea was published by  and. 
• Research from the University that found winners of city status outperformed their neighbours was mentioned by . 
• The University was mentioned by  as being part of a newly-approved overseas network.