Reading in the news - Wed 26 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 SDG16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, including work by Law experts to guide the UN on tackling sexual abuse and keep children safe in warzones, and training diplomats in how to fight cybercrime. Please share your own examples using the hashtags #PlanetPartners and #sdgoals. Read more about the campaign here.

• The Eurasia Review, The Science Daily and The Science Times cover research involving Professor Frank Mayle (GES) that revealed indigenous Amazon populations may have been in decline due to climate change before European settlers arrived after 1492. Read our news story.
• Dr Roger Brugge (Meteorology) is quoted in The Maidenhead Advertiser on the high rainfall figures for this month.
• Get Reading quotes Dr Peter Inness (Meteorology) on the jet stream which determines the UK’s weather, and why this has caused colder weather in the past two years. 
• The India Education Diary covers news that UoR wildlife conservationists will use weather forecasts to predict possible threat to elephants, quoting Dr Vicky Boult (Atmospheric Sciences) on the research. 

Cow’s Milk and Cholesterol: New research suggests that drinking cow’s milk has no association to increased cholesterol levels. Professor Vimal Karani (Food) is quoted in multiple news sites including The Daily Mail, MSN, Press From, Yahoo, BBC Essex and The Sun (in print). Read our news story.

Arundel Castle theft: Professor Kate Williams (History) spoke to ITV News about the theft of Mary Queen of Scot’s rosary beads from Arundel Castle and is quoted in The Guardian (in print), BBC News, The Daily Mail, ITV, The Week, and The Smithsonian Magazine.

COVID-19: expert comment on the pandemic

• Dr Simon Clarke (Biological Sciences) is quoted in Yahoo on COVID-19 jabs working against new variants; spoke to talkRADIO and BBC Radio 5 about the second dose of the vaccine; BBC WM about transmission risks after having the COVID-19 jab; and BBC Berkshire about the Indian COVID-19 variant.
• Toy World Mag quotes Professor Helen Dodd (Psychology) on the importance of child’s play during childhood, and how this has been limited during the pandemic. Read our news story.

Other Coverage:

• The University has identified 20 recommendations to tackle racism and inequality in a report covered by multiple news sites including The Reading Chronicle and Knowledia. Read our news story.
• Professor Mark Pagel (Ecology) is quoted in The Mail Plus and The Daily Mail (in print) on why mammals have fur in articles about humans growing hair on our heads.