Reading in the news - Fri 21 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 SDG13: Climate Action, covering the University’s work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the impact of human-caused global temperature rise, including improving our collective understanding and communication of climate change. Please share your own examples using the hashtags #PlanetPartners and #sdgoals. Read more about the campaign here.

• The Express and SYNC NI mention UoR research on pollinating insects’ contribution to the economy. 
• Xa Luan quotes comments by Professor Paul Williams (Meteorology) about new research on greenhouse gas emissions thinning Earth’s stratosphere.

COVID-19: expert comment on the pandemic

• Dr Simon Clarke (Biological Sciences) is quoted in The Daily Mail (twice), The Express Digest and The Today Headline about the COVID-19 vaccines working against new variants.
• Dr Al Edwards (Pharmacy) spoke to The IB Times about solvents in COVID-19 vaccines. 

#WeAreTogether: Reading’s work to tackle the coronavirus crisis

• Reading Chronicle report on how more UoR students have been welcomed back to campus following the easing of restrictions.

Solar storms: Researsh led by Professor Mathew Owens (Meteorology) on how increased solar storm activity could delay moon missions is picked up by multiple news sites including Phys.org, Forbes, The Daily Mail, The New Scientist, Nature World News, The IB Times, The Technology Review, United Press International, and USA Science News. The research is also covered on the Los Angeles television channel KTLA. Read our news story.

Other Coverage:

• Dr David Rose (Agriculture) was featured on the Farming Today on BBC Radio 4, about the ethics of using robots in farming, following a comment piece published in Nature Food.
• Professor Chris Hilson (Law) wrote an opinion piece for the proposed tariff-free Australian trade deal on importing meat in The Times (also in print).
• Dr Thomas Grisaffi (Geography) is quoted in a Vice article on legalising cocaine’s base ingredient to reduce harm to the indigenous populations, the article mentions Dr Grisaffi and Professor Linda Farthing’s research on falling coffee prices in Peru leading to pressure to cultivate Coca, originally published by The Conversation.
• Professors Andrew and Nada Kakabadse (Henley Business School) co-wrote an article on the potential risks of AI, published by The Board Agenda.
• Inside Higher Education further cover an apology to Professor Rosa Freedman (Law) after being disinvited from a speaking opportunity in 2020.
• A profile piece on Dr Shaheena Janjuha-Jivraf in Qatar mentions that she was an Associate-Professor of Entrepreneurial Leadership at Henley Business School.