Reading in the news - Thu 29 Jul

Climate Summit:  in an open letter, Professor Robert Van de Noort, Vice-Chancellor and other heads of leading climate and education institutions, call for action to boost the UK's education on climate change, as the University launches plans for a Climate Education Summit on September 15. Prevention Web reports about the summit.

Read the full text of the letter, and read our news story about calls for improved climate education.

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

• Professors Bill Collins and Richard Allan (Meteorology) are quoted in The Guardian (also in print) in response to the publication of the Met Office State of the UK Climate report. Dr Ella Gilbert (Meteorology) is quoted in the Independent and Yahoo! News in other coverage about the report. Dr Gilbert, Profs Allan and Collins and Professor Chris Hilson (Law) also provided expert comment in response to the report via the Science Media Centre.
• Professor Rowan Sutton (Meteorology) is quoted in Counter Currents and Times Live on future climate change records.  
• Dr Liz Stephens (Geography) is quoted in Inhabit about infrastructures at risk during the floods. 
• PhD researcher Chloe Brimicombe (Meteorology) is quoted in LADBible on future heat wave warnings. 
• Yahoo republishes an article written by PhD researcher Oliver Wilson (Environmental Science) on Brazil’s Atlantic Forest, originally published by The Conversation. 
• PhD researcher Jeff Da Costa (Environmental Science) spoke to The Round Table and L’Essentiel (France) about the European floods. 
• BBC South Today reports on a relay from Cornwall and Glasgow to draw government awareness to climate change, speaking to Mark Laynesmith (Anglican Chaplain) and Chloe Brimicombe about the Reading section. Read more about the march for the climate.

COVID-19: expert comment on the pandemic 

• Dr Simon Clarke (Biological Sciences) is quoted in Life Site News commenting on an open letter written to the UK government about lockdown measures being lifted; and spoke to talkRADIO, BBC London and BBC Berkshire about current UK infection rates. 

• New research on blood clots found that they can be caused by abnormal COVID-19 antibody responses. Professor Jon Gibbins (Biological Sciences) comments on the study in multiple news sites including The Economic Times, DevDiscourse, News 18, msn, The Open Access Government, Money Control and Science Daily. BBC Radio Berkshire spoke to Prof Gibbins about the research. Read our news story about the research.

Other Coverage:

• Dr Lebene Soga (Henley Business School) is quoted in Forbes on the importance of neuroscience research to better understand leadership.  
• SciTechDaily spoke to Professor Tom Oliver (Ecology) on new research on the migration patterns of the Painted Lady butterfly, and climate conditions that may affect this. 
• Dr Alastair Culham (Biological Sciences) is quoted in BrinkWire on watering household plants. 
• The Wealth Advisor reports that Henley Business School has launched the Henley Family Office Program.
• The Insider, BBC Radio Oxford and BBC Radio Humberside further cover Reading research (Meteorology) into the use of drones to deliver electrical charge into clouds to encourage rainfall in the Middle East. Read our news story on a recent visit to the University by the United Arab Emirate Ambassador to the UK to see the research.