Reading in the news - Wed 17 Feb

#UoRWay: how University life continues through the pandemic

• Vice-Chancellor Professor Robert Van de Noort spoke to BBC Breakfast (55 mins in) and BBC Radio 4's Today programme about the impact of the pandemic on students and universities. His comments were also featured in a BBC News Online article, and the education editor who spoke to him, Branwen Jeffreys, also spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live following the interview. 

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

• Professor Helen Dodd (Psychology) was interviewed on BBC News about an open letter to the Government about the importance of letting children play to support their mental health following school closures. Read our news story.
• A feature in the Guardian looks at the rise in applications to healthcare courses since the start of the pandemic, including at Reading. The article features a current physician associate student at Reading and contains comment from Dr Katrina Bicknell (Pharmacy). The article also appears on Yahoo Finance.
• A Vice article looking at universities offering halls fees waivers during the lockdown mentions that Reading is waivering halls fees for thew whole of the spring term.
• Research led by Reading, showing how the mental health of farmers has been hit during the pandemic, was featured on ITV News Online,  BBC Radio Somerset and Yahoo Finance.

COVID-19: expert comment on the pandemic 

• Dr Simon Clarke (Biological Sciences) spoke to Channel 5 News (1 min 23 secs in) about the lifting of lockdown restrictions; LBC News about on death rates and infection numbers (the interview was played on news bulletins throughout the night), ITV News Online about the benefits of double-masking, LBC Radio this morning on schools and test and trace; BBC Radio London and RTE News Online on shielding; and BBC Radio Berkshire on how the virus is spreading during the lockdown.
• Dr Clarke is also quoted in The Telegraph, The Times, ITV News Online, Sky News Online, The Mirror, The Evening Standard, The Daily Mail, The Sun, Metro, Huffington Post UK and local, regional and international outlets on the new Nigerian variant; in The Independent on when life will get back to normal; The Daily Mail on advice from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control on wearing masks in the home; The Daily Mail again on antibody rates in the UK - comment also picked up by New Scientist and local outlets across the UK; and The Independent and The Daily Mail on vaccine passports and rollout.

Other coverage

• Prof Dominik Zaum (Pro VC for Research and Innovation) spoke to BBC Radio Berkshire about the Government's announcement that it is to appoint a free speech champion to ensure English university campuses are protecting free speech.
• Prof Rajneesh Narula (Henley Business School) spoke to China.org about how the full impact of Brexit will not be felt until after the pandemic.
• Dr Ciara McCabe (Psychology) spoke to Radio Sputnik about the science behind why hobbies can improve our mental health.
• Dr Tara Pirie (Biological Sciences) was a guest on BBC Radio Berkshire's Coffee Club, discussing topical stories of the day.
• Prof Roberta Gilchrist (Archaeology) was on BBC Radio Berkshire talking about the events that inspired the film, The Dig about the discovery of the Sutton Hoo.
• Wired Gov, Science Business and Markets Media report on the new £10m green finance research centre involving Reading climate scientists. Read our news story.
• An article on the global horticultural lighting market which features on several financial sites, including Yahoo Finance, mentions the University of Reading.
• A University Business article (print) on the new Turing scheme quotes from a blog by Prof David Carter (International Study & Language Institute).
• An article Yahoo looking at how much the self-employed contribute to the UK economy cites research by Henley Business School.