Reading in the news - Tue 19 Jan

COVID-19: expert comment on the coronavirus pandemic 

• Dr Simon Clarke (Biological Sciences) spoke to Times Radio (approx 6 mins in), BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio London; and his comments about new strains of the coronavirus appear in the New York Magazine. 
• Professor Helen Dodd (Psychology) is quoted in an article for the Guardian (also in print) about how early years education being affected by the pandemic is impacting young children’s ‘school readiness’. The article also appears in Yahoo! News.
  

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

• BBC Radio Berkshire interviewed Pro Vice-Chancellor Prof Dominik Zaum about a halls fee waiver for students unable to move back to their term-time halls accommodation due to the national lockdown. 

UniForReading: reaffirming our role as a civic university 

• BBC Radio Berkshire spoke to Reading alum Gerry Brown about his new book for would-be charity board members. Read our news story here. 

Fried food: Prof Gunter Kuhnle (Food) is quoted in an iNews (and in print) article looking at new research about the effect of fried food on heart health. Also appears in MSN News. 

Other coverage 

• Dr Mark Shanahan (Politics and IR) spoke to TalkRADIO ahead of the US Presidential Inauguration. 
• Canada’s National Observer quotes Prof Tom Oliver (Biological Sciences) about a warning over future mass extinction events due to global inaction over human actions including habitat destruction and climate change. 
• Environment Journal has republished a Conversation article by Dr Hannah Bloomfield (Met) about green electricity. 
• The Vegan Society reviews a new book co-written by visiting Professor Amir Kassam (Agriculture) about rethinking food production. 
• A book written by visiting fellow of Henley Business School Dr Peter McManners calling for immediate action on climate change is covered in Henley Standard. 
• Al Khaleej Today report on UAE’s climate aspirations, in an article written by UoR graduate Omar El-Huni. 
• A new UoR-partnered PhD position to research kale is covered in Seed Quest, as part of the Food BioSystems DTP. 
• GetReading report on an RBC meeting in which new traffic calming policies were discussed, which would enforce 20mph limits near the University of Reading. 
• The Arran Banner (in print) report on a UoR graduate and former Arran resident who trained to become a vicar.