Reading in the news - Tue 18 May

#PlanetPartners: Reading’s global work for a sustainable future

The #PlanetPartners campaign is running 4-27 May, showcasing the University’s support of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

Read today’s news story on SDG10: Reduced Inequalities, highlighting ways in which The MERL has used sensory experiences to make its collections accessible to all, how the University is working to support BAME colleagues and students, and more.

Please share your own examples using the hashtags #PlanetPartners and #sdgoals. Read more about the campaign here.

• Sputnik News, The Inhabitat and Mother Jones quote comments by Professor Paul Williams (Meteorology) about new research on greenhouse gas emissions thinning Earth’s stratosphere.
• PhD student Akshay Deoras (Meteorology) is quoted by The Economic Times on Cyclone Tauktae and spoke on a panel for Republic News to discuss the cyclone.
• PhD student Chloe Brimicombe (GES) is quoted on the dangers of extreme heat by Inside Climate News. 

#UoRWay: how University life continues through the pandemic

• Sky News reported live from Whiteknights campus all day on Monday to mark the day lockdown eased to allow some indoor face-to-face teaching and indoor catering outlets to reopen. This included interviews with students, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Parveen Yaqoob, and tutor Yutong Li.
• First year student Chloe Baker spoke to the Press Association about in-person teaching resuming, with her comments featured on hundreds of new sites across the UK, including The Evening Standard and The Daily Mail, and regional newspapers The Reading Chronicle and Bracknell News.
• Pro-Vice Chancellor Dominik Zaum spoke to BBC Radio Berkshire about changes on campus in light of the change in restrictions.
• BBC Radio Berkshire interviewed Isabel Hughes (Director of Public Engagement at The Museum of English Rural Life) ahead of the University museum reopening today (Tuesday).
• Student Carl Newell spoke to Heart Berkshire about the benefits of face-to-face classes.
• Art student Gareth Cooper spoke to BBC Radio Berkshire about the pandemic’s effect on the arts, and an upcoming programme of events on self care.

COVID-19: expert comment on the pandemic

• Dr Simon Clarke spoke to The Times on low vaccination rates in Bolton and Blackburn; BBC News on the transmissibility of the Indian COVID-19 variant; The Amed Post on speeding up vaccination doses for over-50s to tackle the Indian COVID-19 variant; BBC Radio      Berkshire about how to effectively social distance indoors; BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio Kent about people refusing vaccines; and BBC Radio London on how the Indian COVID-19 variant is spreading.
• Professor Ian Jones (Biological Sciences) is quoted in The Times on travel restrictions easing. 
• The Decanter mentions new research by Dr Jane Parker (Food) on parosmia as a result of COVID-19.

Other Coverage:

• She Knows shares a tweet from Professor Kate Williams (History) about the potential removal of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s titles. 
• The Shenzhen quotes Dr David Rose (Agriculture) about increasing pressure on farmers and a new electric self-driving tractor.
• Further coverage of research led by Professor Helen Dodd (Psychology) surveying UK families about children’s play is covered by The Landscape and Amenity Product. Read our news story. 
• Professor Ian Givens (Food) is quoted with views on improving the promotion of nutritional benefits of dairy products, covered in The British Dairying.