Reading in the news - Wed 6 Jan

COVID-19: expert comment on the coronavirus pandemic      

• Dr Simon Clarke (Biological Sciences) writes for The Spectator on the new UK variant; is quoted by The Sun, Mirror, Express, Fiji Times, NDTV (China), RNZ (New Zealand), Yahoo News and MSN News on the South African variant; The Sun on the new lockdown; and Pharmaceutical Technology, US News and Metro US about the possibility of mixing and matching vaccine doses. He spoke to Russia Today, Schweizer Radio and Fernsehen Radio about halting infection rises; Heart Radio about hospitals becoming overwhelmed; and BBC Radio Berkshire and BBC Radio Manchester about the new lockdown restrictions; while Russia Today used excerpts of his interview on Monday night on the new UK lockdowns throughout Tuesday.
• Professor Ian Jones (Biological Sciences) is quoted by media around the world, including Mail Online, IOL (New Zealand), The Star (Malaysia) and 24/7 News (South Africa) on vaccine strategies.
• Dr Al Edwards (Pharmacy) is quoted in a New Scientist article on how soon life will return to normal after the various Covid-19 vaccines are rolled out.

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

• Professor Dominik Zaum, Pro Vice Chancellor, spoke to BBC Radio Berkshire about how the University is coping with the challenges around the latest national lockdown.

Other coverage: 

• A Farm Week column mentions a Reading EIT study showing greater public recognition of the importance of farmers and farm shops during the pandemic. Read our news story.
• Dr Mark Shanahan (Politics) spoke to BBC Radio Berkshire to explain the significance of the Georgia Senate elections on the Biden presidency.
• Ouest France lists the discovery of evidence by Professor Ken Dark (Economics) for a likely location of Jesus’ childhood home as one of the top 13 discoveries made in 2020. Translated version attached.
• MSN News quotes Professor Ken Dark (Economics) on another project looking at the history of the Hagia Sophia cathedral in Istanbul.
• Sina (China) reports on the study led by Dr Manuela Gonzalez-Suarez (Biological Sciences) showing mammals with bigger brains are less abundant in local environments. Read our news story.
• An In Your Area article on the Easthampton Rotarians mentions Dr Sally Lloyd-Evans (GES) giving a talk on social exclusion.
• The South Wales Argus includes the discovery of a horn of an Auroch – an animal that went extinct around 3,000 years ago – which is now being analysed with support from the University, in a list of positive stories from 2020.
• The Irish World interviews celebrity chef Rachel Khoo about her new TV series Rachel Khoo’s Chocolate, in which she explained she first saw a cocoa pod at the University’s International Cocoa Quarantine Centre.
• BBC Radio Berkshire replayed an interview with Dr Marjorie Gehrhardt (Languages & Cultures) about her research into facial injuries suffered by soldiers during the First World War.