Reading in the news - Tue 11 Jan

COVID-19: expert comment on the pandemic

• Dr Simon Clarke (Biological Sciences) is quoted by BBC News Online, Telegraph, Daily Mail (and in print), Mail+, The Times (and in print), The Evening Standard, and Zoomer on reports that the common cold might offer some Covid protection; the Express on the infection rates and severity of 'flurona' cases; the Express on the likelihood of the emergence of a 'deltacron' variant; and he spoke to BBC Radio Berkshire about changes in isolation periods.
• Dr Alexander Edwards (Pharmacy) is quoted by The Sun and Unherd on ending the requirement for a PCR test to confirm positive results.

#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment 

• Professor Rowan Sutton (Meteorology) is quoted by The Guardian, Yahoo!, The Times (and in print), Digital Journal, RTL Today, IFL Science, France 24, Capital News and others on record-breaking extreme weather events.
• Professor Simon Potts (Agriculture) was quoted by The Guardian (and in print) on how climate change is breaking the balance of the insect world. 
• Dr Natalie Masento (Psychology) spoke to BBC Radio 5  and BBC Radio Berkshire about use-by dates and milk waste. 

Vegan diets: Professor Ian Givens (Agriculture) is quoted by The Times (and in print), The Telegraph, Daily Mail (in print), Mail+, I News (and in print), Times Radio and BBC Radio Solent on the higher levels of mineral deficiencies in young girls’ caused by vegetarian and vegan diets, and by ICRISAT, Seed Quest, and Telangana Today and others on a study he co-authored that found eating millet could combat anemia and encourage better growth in children.

Ichthyosaur Unearthed: Visiting Research Fellow Nigel Larkin (Biological Sciences) is quoted by BBC News Online, Yahoo!, Mirage and BAS on co-leading the unearthing of Britain's largest Ichthyosaur, and spoke to BBC Radio Berkshire, BBC Radio Wiltshire, BBC Radio WM, BBC Three Counties, BBC Radio Cumbria, BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio York, BBC Radio Nottingham about the findings.

Other Coverage:

• Reading won the first of their University Challenge quarter-final clashes on BBC One on Monday evening, as reported by the Express, The Birmingham Tab, and Brinkwire. 
• A repeat of a Food Unwrapped episode on Channel 4 features Professor Lisa Methven (Food and Nutritional Sciences) explaining salt cravings.
• Jon Foster-Pedley (Dean and Director of Henley Business School Africa) spoke to BBC Radio Berkshire about the latest news at Henley Business School Africa and its links with Reading. 
• Reading research on ways to improve herd fertility is reported by Farmers Weekly.
• Collaborative University research on the secret lives of desert hyacinths is reported by OX Magazine. 
• Statistics from Henley Business School on the economic worth of 'side-hustles’ is mentioned by The Fabulous Times.
• Findings from the University that correlated improved production levels with the four-day working week are quoted by Channel News.
• Scholarship Postitions reports on the University's Meteorology scholarships.