Reading in the news - Wed 8 Dec

COVID-19: expert comment on the pandemic

• Dr Simon Clarke (Biological Sciences) was quoted by Daily Mail and five other regional outlets on the unknown infectiousness, vaccine evasiveness, and lethality of Omicron; by Greatest Hits Radio on the prevalence of Omicron in the UK; by India Times Post, Today UK News, News Cabal, and Express Digest on hospital overwhelming due to Covid, and by China Daily on Omicron's possible ability evade Covid Immunity. He answered Talk Radio's Omicron questions; spoke to BBC Radio London about the rollout of boosters and the vaccine, and was interviewed by BBC South Today and CGTN Europe about the Omicron variant. 
• Dr Al Edwards (Pharmacy) was quoted by Heute on vaccines that increase T-cell immunity. 

#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment 

• Dr Caroline Wainwright (Meteorology) was quoted by CNN, CTV News, Pachado, Express Informer and The Limited Times on how South Sudan is experiencing droughts and flooding. 
• The headquarters of the European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) will move to the University of Reading, as reported by RDG Today and Wokingham Today. Professor Dominik Zaum (Politics) spoke to BBC Radio Berkshire about these plans and the University's meteorology expertise. 
• Professor Ed Hawkins (Meteorology) was mentioned by Energy Central for his climate stripes which were lit up by Scottish Power on the Longannet Chimney: the remains of Scotland's largest coal-fired power station due to be demolished.
• Research conducted by the University on alternative cattle feed derived from Oregano essential oil was mentioned by Feed Navigator for being awarded a patent in the UK. 

UoRWay:how University life continues through the pandemic

• Professor Parveen Yaqoob was quoted by BBC Radio Berkshire on a surge in Covid testing at Reading University, and again by BBC Radio Berkshire on an expected rise in case numbers on campus after the holiday break. 

Other Coverage

• An interview with Professor Martin Bell (Archaeology), shortlisted for their Archaeologist of the year award for 2022, was published by Current Archaeology (in print). Professor Hella Eckhart and Dr Gabor Thomas are also shortlisted for Project of the year.
• Henley Business School was mentioned by Yahoo!, The Street, and seven other regional sites for using Hivebrite's technology when growing alumni communities. 
• The University's diversity was mentioned by Greatest Hits Radio in an article on reasons why Reading should be awarded city status. Research from the University on the benefits of being awarded city status was reported by Western Morning News (in print) and BBC Radio Cornwall. 
• Dr Rita Fontinha (Henley Business School) was quoted by Body And Soul on the possible pressure of a four-day workweek. 
• NewsWeek quoted Dr Mark Shanahan (Politics) about legal action against former US President Trump. 
• Professor James Knight, a guest speaker at the University, had his article on the Battersea Dogs & Cats home published on Influence. 
• A survey led by Professor Richard Bennett (Agriculture) on consumer trust in the catering industry was reported on by Newsletter (in print) and Alpha Galileo. 
• Panels brought together during the Academy of International Business MENA's 7th annual conference by Professor Benjamin Laker (Henley Business School) were reported by Zawya.  
• Reading's Winter Graduation ceremony was mentioned by Heart Radio Berkshire.
• Comedian Jack Dee mentioned the University during jokes made at a recording of Radio 4’s Sorry I haven’t a clue Programme at the Hexagon, The Reading Chronicle reports.
• A study in collaboration with the University on the remains of a Medieval man in Scotland was reported by Press & Journal (in print) and The Herald (in print). 
• An exhibition by an artist and Reading graduate from the 1950s was reported by Today's Farmer.  
• The international Demo Day of Student Startups, an event partnered with Henley Business School, was reported on byBusiness Week. 
• A Henley Graduate was mentioned byWVBandKLSE Screenerfor being appointed as Chief Operating Officer of Ta Win.