Reading in the news - Fri 24 Sep

COVID-19: expert comment on the pandemic

• Dr Simon Clarke (Biological Sciences) is quoted in an article in The Times, looking at the theory Covid-19 could become similar to the common cold in future.

#WeAreTogether: Reading’s work to help during the COVID-19 crisis. See our round-up here

• Research involving Fifi the llama from the University of Reading, which has shown that the specialist antibodies taken from llamas can help treat Covid-19, is reported by Mirror On​line, Yahoo! News, Medicine.net, NewsBreak, STV, UPI, and other local media outlets, including the Liverpool Echo. Read our news story.

UoRWay: how University life continues through the pandemic

• Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Parveen Yaqoob spoke to Greatest Hits Radio about the University's plans to prevent Covid infections on campus and in the wider community.

#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment 

• Dr Ella Gilbert (Meteorology) spoke to Talk Radio about Boris Johnson’s speech, explaining the need for global climate action, ahead of COP26.
• Dr Alex Arnall (Agriculture, Policy and Development) is quoted on UK sea level rise in further titles, including Big World Tale, Express Digest and Express Informer.
• Farming UK reports on the University of Reading taking part in a UK initiative to share environmentally friendly beef farming practices, quoting Dr Laurence Smith (Agriculture).

#UniForReading: reaffirming our role as a civic university

• Money Control and Dailyhunt list the University of Reading as one of the 15 UK universities where awardees of a new scholarship for tribal students offered by the Indian state of Jharkhand can study.
• First-year students at Reading are being offered free food in collaboration with Vegan Charity Viva, reports Opera News.

Other Coverage

• Professor Steve Mithen (Archaeology), who has studied the origins of human musicality, is among the researchers, scientists, and philosophers taking part in an online series of lectures on the human brain. International coverage includes Yahoo News, Insider, PR Newswire, MarketScreener, Retail Insider, Benzinga, Finanzen.net, WFMZ-TV, AsiaOne and Central Asia General Newswire.
• Professor Steven Mithen (Archaeology) was also quoted by Edinburgh Evening News on a recently discovered camp used by Ice Age Explorers.
• Further coverage of research on the use of Japanese Knotweed extracts to cut the cancer risk of processed meats by Medindia, Natural News and BBC Radio Berkshire. Professor Gunter Kuhnle (Food) was interviewed on BBC Radio Berkshire.
• Matt Williams, Reading Museum manager, was interviewed on BBC Radio Berkshire about the forthcoming public event, in collaboration with the University, exploring the history of Reading Abbey. Read our news story. Listen out for Professor Roberta Gilchrist previewing the event on BBC Radio Berkshire at 3pm on Monday 27 September.
• Research showing that eating millets can reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes is reported by Newsbreak. Read our news story. 
• Rahul Kala, who has a PhD from the University of Reading, was included as one of the top experts and pioneers in robotics by Analytics Insight.
• IOD previews an online event featuring Lord Waldegrave, Chancellor of the University of Reading.
• A Woman & Home (in print) interview with Dr Rebecca Cairns-Wicks, coordinator of the St Helena Research Institute, mentions that she studied at the University of Reading.