Reading in the news - Thu 18 Mar

COVID-19: expert comment on the pandemic

• Dr Simon Clarke (Biological Sciences) spoke to talkRadio and Russia Today about vaccine supplies and Al Jazeera (Inside Story) on concerns around the AstraZeneca vaccine.
• Dr Clarke also is quoted in MailOnline, The Express and The National on suspension of the AstraZeneca vaccine in many European countries; MailOnline on Pfizer vaccine supply; ITV News Online, MailOnline (and again), The Evening Standard, The Independent, Metro.co.uk, The Mirror, Yahoo News and local outlets on the potential impact of vaccine delays to lockdown easing.
• Prof Ian Jones (Biological Sciences) is quoted in a Reuters article on the political backdrop of a number of countries suspending use of the AstraZeneca vaccine. The article is picked up by multiple international outlets, including Mail Online and Yahoo.
• Prof Jon Gibbins (Biological Sciences) is quoted in CNN as part of a follow-on story covering safety concerns of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
• The Reading Chronicle (print) covers Reading research into Covid patients with blood clots. Read our news story.

Cloud seeding: New tests in the United Arab Emirates to explore how effective delivering electrical charge into clouds using drones is to induce rainfall - the latest step in a project led by the University of Reading - is reported by BBC News Online, BBC Arabic, Qatar Day and MSN. 

Bee diversity: Dr Deepa Senapathi (Agriculture) wrote a blog for The Conversation on why boosting bee diversity can help stabilise crop production. The blog is reproduced on Seed Today, SeedQuest, Beijing Bulletin and other international outlets. Read our news story. 

Community voices: Wokingham Today and Greatest Hits Radio report that the University is hosting an open online discussion today about race - open to staff, students and the local community. Read our news story. 

History of the census: Prof Kate Williams (History) has written an article for i News (print also) on the history behind the census. 

Other coverage

• Dr Ciara McCabe (Psychology) is quoted in this Friday Magazine article on ways to naturally boost your mood.
• An article in The Telegraph, written by Reading graduate Kirsty Lavender-Newns, explains her journey towards a diagnosis of autism.
• A science feature picked up by US state radio stations talks about research by Dr Manuela González-Suárez (Biological Sciences) on how mammals with big brains tend to be less abundant in local areas than those with smaller brains. Read our news story.
• Pure NPD features a profile of food science student Priscila Tomaselli, who is doing an internship with chocolate makers Russell & Atwell during lockdown.
• Luton News and Dunstable Gazette (print) reports on the news that artwork by Fine Art student Eli Finn Taryn is to feature in an online exhibition hosted by the Seoul Institute of the Arts in South Korea.
• Several financial outlets, including Business Insider, report that Reading graduate David Rogers has joined outsourced trading firm, Outset Global, as managing director of the company's Hong Kong office.
• An article in Cow Management (print) on cost saving measures in the dairy industry mentions Reading research on using molasses in cow feed.
• A Communications Arts article features five type designers, including Reading Masters graduate Joana Correia.