Reading in the news - Wed 10 Feb

COVID-19: expert comment on the pandemic 

• Dr Simon Clarke (Biological Sciences) is quoted by the New York Times, ACQ and BD News 24 on how the South African variant is affecting vaccinations; the Mirror on transmission and immunity; India Today and India TV on a study of virus mutation in a patient; and spoke to SRF News about Britain’s vaccination programme
• Dr Al Edwards (Pharmacy) is quoted by Mail Online, Yahoo News, This Is Money and more than 100 regional news titles on the likelihood of further virus mutations if lockdown is ended too early.

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

• University of Warwick student newspaper The Boar reports on the letter signed by a number of university vice-chancellors, including Reading’s, calling for student loan interest to be scrapped for the period of the pandemic. Read the letter here.

Planet Partners: working with global partners to protect the environment 

• Reading research into seasonal monsoon forecasts is reported by ANI News, Yahoo News, Phys.org, Hindustan Times, Bioengineer, One News Page and Daily Hunt. Read our news story.
• Wunderweib quotes Dr Marlene Kretschmer (Meteorology) on the influence of the polar vortex on winter weather in Germany.

Air turbulence: The Independent, Yahoo News, MSN News and Travel Base Online quote Professor Paul Williams (Meteorology) on severe clear air turbulence increasing under climate change, in an article about a new website providing warning of air turbulence for flights. Read our news story.

Other coverage

• India Education Diary reports the announcement by air traffic controller NATS of a trial of more flexible flight paths to take better advantage of jet stream winds, just days after Reading research highlighted the potential benefits. Read our news story.
• ACQ and News Amed quote Dr Cathy Hughes (Henley Business School) on the shift in the balance of power between landlords and tenants in London during the pandemic.
• Institutional Investor reports on research co-authored by Dr Dan Zhou (Henley Business School) showing private equity firms are more likely to manipulate performance numbers when they are under pressure to raise money.
• Planet Radio quotes Reading East MP Matt Rodda on the University’s interest in supporting a community plan to purchase Reading Prison.
• The Guardian publishes an obituary for Gareth Young, who studied teacher training at Reading before teaching History at a Reading school for nine years and recently becoming deputy general secretary of the NASUWT teaching union.