Reading in the news - Mon 18 Oct

COVID-19: expert comment on the pandemic

• Dr Alexander Edwards (Pharmacy) was quoted by The Independent, The Telegraph, Yahoo News, Business Insider, HuffPost, Express Informer, The Sun Chronicle, Mint, Newsweek, and more than a hundred other news outlets on the continued reliability and importance of Covid-19 testing, despite recent concerns over incorrect results. 
• Dr Simon Clarke (Biological Sciences) spoke on the Jeremy Vine show on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio Berkshire about the false negative PCR test results in Berkshire. Dr Clarke was quoted by The Sun on the rise of infection rates, and Wonderful Engineering on how the first pill for treating Covid works.

#WeAreTogether: Reading’s work to help during the COVID-19 crisis. 

• The University's on-campus Covid-19 test site has changed location, as reported by Greatest Hits Radio, Berkshire Live, Opera News, and Wokingham Today.
• Discussion about the PCR test issue on BBC Radio Berkshire mentioned that tests carried out at the Great Hall at the University were among those affected.

#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment 

• Dr Laura Wilcox (Meteorology) was quoted by The Independent, Knowledia, The Washington Time, Yahoo News, MSN, and News Break on Coldplay's eco-conscious world tour approach.
• Professor Mathew Owens (Meteorology) was quoted by the Express, Big World Tale, Brinkwire, and Business Mayor on ways to minimise damage caused by solar storms.
• The University was mentioned by Farm Week on its part in researching the use of willow as an environmentally friendly alternative to other farm feed.
• Professor Ed Hawkins (Meteorology) and his climate stripes were mentioned by Bean Scene Magazine for their appearance made on Happy Sock Boy's packaging.
• Professor Ted Shepherd (Meteorology) was quoted by E&T on the link between extreme weather events and climate change.

#UniForReading: reaffirming our role as a civic university 

• The University was mentioned by The Reading Chronicle, Bracknell News, and Knowledia on the approval of plans to develop new film studios and a creative media hub in Shinfield.

Aid worker abuse: Professor Rosa Freedman (Law) was interviewed on ABC Australia about claims of abuse by aid workers during the Ebola outbreak in Congo.

Sir David Amess:

• BBC Radio Berkshire interviewed Dr Mark Shanahan (Politics & International Relations) about his memories of Sir David Amess MP, who was killed on Friday.
• Sputnik and Arab News report on Sir David’s death and the government’s Prevent programme for monitoring radicalisation, mentioning an essay that was flagged under Prevent guidelines at Reading in 2017.

Other Coverage:

• Henley Business School was mentioned by the Financial Times as offering funded programmes.
• Henley Business School research that found four-day working weeks to be beneficial is reported by Forbes and Business Mayor.
• Dr Mark Shanahan (Politics and International Relations) was quoted by Newsweek on why Trump may be optimistic about another US presidential campaign; by Newsweek, Knews and Head Topics on why he might be pessimistic; and by Prospect on an analysis of Boris Johnson's aspirations.
• Professor Michelle O'Callaghan (English Literature) was quoted by Cheshire Live on the importance of Isabella Whitney: the first ever published female poet. 
• Professor Vimal Karani (Food and Nutritional Sciences) was quoted by News Medical on a paper he led which looked at food insecurity among young families in Peru. 
• The University was mentioned by India Education Diary for winning a Green Flag Award for its Whiteknights campus for the 11^th year in a row. Read our news story.
• Reading Today and Wokingham Today report on the knowledge transfer prizes won by two Reading firms thanks to their partnership with University, quoting Professor Rachel McCrindle (Biological Sciences).
• BBC Radio Berkshire spoke to Adam Lines (Special Collections) about the latest item to be highlighted in the Museum of English Rural Life’s 51 Voices project, which marks its 70th year. Read our news story.
• Mail & Guardian mentions courses offered by Henley Business School in an article on the future of postgraduate studies.