Reading in the news - Thu 20 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 SDG12: Responsible Consumption and Production, covering the University's work to encourage healthier and more environmentally friendly eating habits and reduce waste on campus, and research to help farmers and land managers make progress on sustainability.

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

• Professor Mark Fellowes (Biological Sciences) is quoted on biodiverse urban ecosystems and pollution in The Guardian and Yahoo.
• The Independent and Yahoo mention UoR research on pollinating insects' contribution to the economy. 
• Professor Paul Williams (Atmospheric Sciences) was interviewed on WPXI News about climate change leading to air turbulence. 

COVID-19: expert comment on the pandemic

• Dr Simon Clarke (Biological Sciences) spoke to BBC Berkshire about the COVID-19 vaccines working against new variants; BBC Radio Surrey about the Indian COVID-19 variant; BBC Radio Oxford about the second dose of the vaccine for over-50s; and BBC Radio London about vaccine uptake.
• Dr Al Edwards (Pharmacy) spoke to BBC Berkshire about low vaccination rates.

Solar storms: UoR research led by Professor Mathew Owens (Meteorology) on how increased solar storm activity could delay moon missions is picked up by The Times (print also), MailOnline, New Scientist, MIT Technology Review, Phys.org, CNET and SciTechDaily. Read our news story.

Species decline: Professor Tom Oliver (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology) is quoted in Sky News , Yahoo and other regional news outlets about a UN report on protected lands and biodiversity loss.

Other Coverage:

• BBC News, The Spectator, The Times (print also) and local news outlets mention Professor Rosa Freedman (Law) in articles about a review at Essex University which found that Professor Freedman and another academic were wrongly blacklisted from speaking at events at the university.
• A Times (print also) article on the unusual amount of rainfall in May features a tweet from Professor Ed Hawkins (Meteorology).
• Dr Stuart Black (Archaeology) is quoted in The Independent on humans feeding animals. 
• The Daily Mail publishes a league table of UK universities and their employment rates after graduation, 70.7% of Reading graduates are in full-time work six months after graduating.
• Professor Uma Kambhampati (Politics) wrote an opinion piece for the Fabian Review (the Labour Party's thought journal) on tackling inequality. 
• Yahoo and other financial markets sites cover news of a licensing agreement for Zafirlukast, a medication that Professor Jon Gibbons (Biomedical Sciences) was involved in researching.
• Professor Glenn Gibson (Food) was interviewed by Woman's Way about the effects of probiotics in the diet.
• A profile piece on MP Penny Morduant in National World mentions that she studied at UoR.