Reading in the news - Mon 18 Jan

COVID-19: expert comment on the coronavirus pandemic

• Dr Simon Clarke (Biological Sciences) spoke to Sky News, BBC World Service, Mail Online and BBC Radio Berkshire about the new variants and vaccines; MSN News Sweden, The Nation (Pakistan), and various US TV stations on immunity; LBC Radio about travel restrictions introduced by the UK and LBC Radio again about vaccines; and LBC Radio, BBC Three Counties, BBC Kent, BBC Cornwall about the latest infection numbers.
• Professor Ian Jones (Biological Sciences) is quoted by Mail Online on a new Chinese vaccine; and The Nation, Tech2 and US Posts on the new variants.
• Professor Patricia Riddell (Psychology) is quoted by Huffington Post Italy following her interview with the Guardian on Covid-19 rule-breaking.
• Professor Helen Dodd (Psychology) co-signs a letter to the Guardian on the impact the pandemic is having on children.
• Reading research into how Covid-19 affects smell and taste is reported by Food Navigator.
• Reading PhD graduate Dr Daniel Olukoya (Biological Sciences) is quoted in The Nation (Nigeria) about taking the pandemic restrictions seriously.

UoRWay: how the university’s staff and students are continuing to do inspirational things despite the present challenges

• Cyprus Mail spoke to an Art and English Literature student about how the pandemic has affected the prospects of young people.
• Councillor Tony Page of Reading Borough Council gave BBC South his thoughts on whether university students should be given a fees refund due to the pandemic disruption.
• The Tab reports on a Reading student’s timetable and how she feels it has been affected by the pandemic.

Other coverage

• Cheddar publishes a video featuring Professor Paul Williams (Meteorology) on aeroplane flight paths.
• BBC Radio Berkshire spoke to Anna Jones (The MERL) about the 51 Voices project celebrating the museum’s 70^th birthday. Read our story.
• A study by Reading’s Centre for Integrative Neuroscience and Neurodynamics into anxiety, mood and depression is mentioned in a BBC Cambridgeshire interview.
• A HEPI blog written by Professor David Carter (ISLI) on the new UK’s newly-announced Turing scheme, is referenced in another HEPI article on how Brexit could affect regional equality.
• Julia Waters (Languages and Cultures) told Times Higher Education about the effect of Brexit on students travelling between Spain and the UK.
• World Economic Forum republishes an article written for The Conversation by Professor James Walker and Dr Rita Fontinha (Henley Business School) on the benefits of a four-day working week.
• Catholic Universe republishes an article written for The Conversation by senior postdoctoral research fellow Dr Jayne Morris (Psychology) on uncertainty during the pandemic.
• Aleteia quotes Professor Ken Dark (Economics) on his research showing Christian pilgrimages started earlier than previously thought.
• Dr Caroline Rook (Henley Business School) co-writes a piece for Business AM on technostress.
• Professor Bryan Cheyette (English Literature) writes a book review for Times Higher Education.
• Dr Janice Lee Yim Mei (Henley Business School, University of Reading Malaysia) told Investor.com in Malaysia that auction should be considered as a method of selling repossessed properties.
• The Plymouth Chronicle reports on a new project (Food & Nutritional Sciences) giving disadvantaged communities a bigger say in how food is produced and distributed. Read our news story.
• Yahoo News quotes Dr Sandrine Claus (formerly Food and Nutritional Sciences) on supplements for a healthy gut.
• Reading’s participation in the EIT Food Innovation competition was noted by international media, including Minority Reporter and the Florida Post.
• The Sunday Times interviews a Henley Business School graduate who is now leading work to overcome Brexit challenges at a software company.
• Dutch websites indebuurt and tell the story of a Master’s student (Biological Sciences) and personal challenges he has overcome through his studies and work.
• Legit.ng reports on the wedding of Reading graduate and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Honourable Dimeji Bankole, to the step-daughter of a Kebbi state governor.