Reading in the news - Fri 12 May

#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment

• Professor Hannah Cloke (Geography/Meteorology) is quoted by The Guardian (and in print), Inkl, Yahoo!, VN Explorer, and MSN on the cause of last year's record-breaking number of wildfires, and the changes that must be made to adapt.
• A grant secured by the University which will fund the decarbonisation of Whiteknights campus's heating system is reported by BBC News, Yahoo!, Inside Housing, Energy Manager Magazine, Opera news, Head Topics, and Mirage News. Read our news story.
• Clips from Dr Jess Neumann's (Geography and Environmental Science) interview with BBC Radio Somerset re-aired, during which she explained what causes flash floods.
• Wokingham Today (in print) reports the University invited students from a local school to explore ways to tackle Earth's climate issues in a Climate Change Action Planning Workshop.

Food and farming:

• Professor Gunter Kuhnle (Food and Nutritional Sciences) is quoted by the Daily Mail and VN Explorer on the healthiness of varied diets as adventurer and TV presenter, Bear Grylls, "shuns" vegetarian and vegan diets in favour of a heavily meat-based one.
• Professor Julie Lovegrove (Food and Nutritional Sciences) was interviewed by BBC Radio Berkshire on her publicly funded project titled 'Raising The Pulse', which encourages British consumers to switch to bread containing faba beans for their positive effect on diet and the environment.
• Funding that Professor Chris Reynolds (SAPD) has received for a project to address heat stress in indoor-housed cattle is reported by Reading Today (in print). Read our news story.
• The Reading Chronicle (in print) and Reading Today (in print) report that a baby llama born on the University's farm has been named ‘Chaz’ by public vote, in honour of HM King Charles III.
• Farmers Guardian (in print) mentions previous University research on how to minimise phosphorous fed to cows.

Health and wellbeing:

• A baby has recently been born with three people's DNA. Clips from Dr Darius Widera's (Pharmacy) interview with BBC Radio Berkshire, re-aired, in which he explained how this treatment was used to prevent the risk of children being born with mitochondrial diseases.
• The Reading Chronicle (in print) reports on the University's research, conducted in January 2000, developing a plant-based paste which could help those who have suffered from severe burns.

#UniForReading: our role as a civic university

• Vice Chancellor, Professor Robert Van de Noort is quoted by the Reading Chronicle (in print) on the University's volunteer awards, and by Reading Today (in print) on the University's upcoming community festival taking place this Saturday 13 May on the Whiteknights Campus. Read our news story.
• The Reading Chronicle (in print) reports on the University's upcoming drinks festival, on 26-27 May. Read our news story.

COVID-19: expert comment on the pandemic

• The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared Covid as no longer a global emergency. Dr Simon Clarke (Biological Sciences) is quoted by Swiss Info on the importance of continuing to avoid putting others at risk.

Other Coverage:

• Student, Jess Ashley was interviewed by BBC Radio Berkshire and discussed Netflix's new show, Queen Charlotte.
• Daily Nous, E-thessalia, Skaipatras, and Omega Live report that some academics at University of Reading have signed a statement of non-cooperation with the Journal of Political Philosophy.
• Protothema reports on the role of Reading graduate and UK MP, Penny Mordaunt, bearing the "Sword of State" at the King's Coronation.
• The Reading Chronicle (in print) reports on local upset about the disruption caused by CityFibre roadworks, and mention that the University's entrance and exits are among affected areas.

Alumni:

• The Daily Mail (in print), What's New 2 Day, Express Informer, and Express Digest report on the personal life of Reading alumnus and developer, Nick Candy.
• Reading Is My Superpower and Fundinmental write about a novel written by Reading alumnus and author, Samantha Larsen.