Reading in the news - Mon 20 Dec

COVID-19: expert comment on the pandemic

• Dr Simon Clarke (Biological Sciences) wrote a piece for The Spectator on the dangers of underestimating Omicron. He spoke to ITV News about the risks of attending outdoor sports events; to Sky News about tougher restrictions, and he answered BBC South, LBC Radio News, and Talk Radio's Omicron questions. He was quoted by Mail Online on false-negative test results; Yahoo! on the importance of readily available Covid tests; ABC News on the progression of the Omicron variant; The Bulletin on the invalidity of conspiracies that 5g transmits Covid, and by Brinkwire on the government's ability to administer Covid vaccines. 
• Dr Al Edwards (Pharmacy) was quoted by Mail Online on lateral flow test accuracy; New Scientist on lateral flow test accuracy; and by News Week on the safety of vaccines.
• Professor Ian Jones (Biological Sciences) was quoted by The National News on the future redundancy of coronavirus tests. 
• Dr Jane Parker (Food) spoke to BBC Radio Berkshire about the challenges that those with continued loss of taste and smell will face at Christmas.

#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment 

• Dr Liz Stephens (Meteorology) spoke to Sky News about the deadly typhoon that has hit the Philippines.
• A segment written by Professor Hannah Cloke (Geography and Meteorology) on extreme weather events was published by The Guardian and The Observer (in print).
• Professor Paul Williams (Meteorology) was quoted by The Telegraph (and in print) and National Wind Watch on reliance on the wind as an energy source.

Other Coverage:

• Insider and Business Insider report on a project co-run by Dr Ruvi Ziegler (Law) that is looking at the numbers of British people of Jewish ancestry seeking EU citizenship due to Brexit.
• Dr Charlotte Mills (Food) and PhD researcher Ashley Hookings's article on The Conversation on the health benefits of coffee was reposted by UK Time News, Australian Times, and The New Daily. 
• Henley was mentioned by The Daily Telegraph (in print) on an article on the importance of apprenticeship programmes. 
• BBC Wildlife (in print) mentioned Reading research estimating how much bird food is put out by Brits in the winter. 
• Dr Mark Shanahan (Politics) was quoted by Heart Radio Berkshire on the resignation of the Brexit Minister. 
• Dr Ollie Douglas (The MERL) spoke to BBC Radio Berkshire about the final item in the 51 Voices initiative, which has marked the museum’s 70th anniversary. Read our news story. 
• Dr Alastair Culham's (Biological Sciences) column on expensive and unique houseplants was published by The Garden (in print). 
• A Guardian column comments on Strictly Come Dancing winner Rose Ayling-Ellis, and the journalist, who is also deaf, describes her own university experience, including gaining a first in Education Studies at Reading.
• The publication of a paper in collaboration with Dr Netta Weinstein (Psychology) on the psychology of listening was reported by Psychology Today. 
• Jon Foster-Pedley (Dean and Director of Henley Business School Africa) was quoted by Biz Community on the school's decision to declare the 17th of December as a day of remembrance for the victims of Covid. 
• Professor Annalisa Marzano (Classics) was mentioned by El Periodic and Actualitat as a participant in an online seminar on the Maritime Villas.
• Get Reading reported on the University's archaeological excavations in Roman Silchester. 
• Nutraceutical reported on an EIT Food-funded project sustainable packaging including academics from the University of Reading. Read our news story.
• Startups Magazine reported on Henley Business School's analysis of side-hustles and the gig economy.
• Henley Business School's offering of strategic workforce planning masterclasses was reported by Property Wheel and Asset News Hub.
• Assessments conducted by Henley Business School on company adaption to the pandemic was reported by La Tercera.
• Potential development on University land in Shinfield was reported in the latest Earley Environmental Group newsletter. 
• An obituary for Reading Physics PhD graduate and ornithologist James Summers-Smith from the 1950s was published in the International Journal of Avian Science.
• A Frontiers article on women in science focuses on a Reading graduate.
• Henley Business School's appointment of Muhammad Sani Abdullahi Dattijo as an associate and founding member of its Dunning Africa Center was reported by Legit.