Reading in the news - Mon 10 May

Skills funding letter to Government

• The Times ( and quoted ) publishes an article written by Vice-Chancellor Robert Van de Noort outlining the plea to the Government by him and vice-chancellors at nine other UK universities to release unspent apprenticeship funds to tackle skills gaps. Read our news story.

#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.
  on SDG4: Quality Education, highlighting the student volunteers and resources the University offers to local schools, and the range of free online courses provided for people of all ages.
  Please share your own examples using the hashtags #PlanetPartners and #sdgoals. Read more about the campaign .

• republished an article by PhD student Bennet Francis (Philosophy) on climate change activism, originally published by .
• Dr Ella Gilbert (Meteorology) commented on recent research that has found microplastic in glacier ice on BBC Radio 5.

#UniForReading: reaffirming our role as a civic university

• covers the new Community Fund to support projects the benefit the local area, quoting Dr Sally Lloyd-Evans (Geography). Read our news story.
• also wrote about the relaunch of the Sanctuary Scholarship Scheme which offers financial support to sanctuary seekers who want to study in the UK. Read our news story.

COVID-19: expert comment on the pandemic

• Dr Simon Clarke (Biological Sciences) is quoted by and The about higher COVID-19 rates in student areas; about COVID-19 in care homes; spoke to BBC Radio Berkshire about blood clots; and BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester on risks of close contact.
• Dr Al Edwards (Pharmacy) is quoted in The about lateral flow testing.

Other Coverage:

• Further coverage of research led by Professor Helen Dodd (Psychology) surveying UK families about children’s play is covered by . Read our news story. 
• Professor Richard Bradley (Archaeology) is quoted in in an article about Stonehenge.
• Research on rain enhancement, conducted by Dr Keri Nicoll and colleagues in Meteorology, is mentioned in.
• Dr Mark Shanahan (Politics) spoke to BBC Radio Berkshire about the local and county elections.
• Professor Glenn Gibson (Food) is quoted in The Romford Recorder about the benefits of probiotics for immunity.
• The published an article by Dr Yasmine Shamma (English Lit) about her five-year-old son Nadim Shamma-Sourgen who has had a poetry book published.
• BBC Radio Berkshire mentioned the 51 Voices project by the Museum of English Rural Life to mark its 70th year. Read our news story.
• The Basingstoke Observer covers the news that UoR supported a festival through Kala the Arts, a Basingstoke dance company.
• UoR is mentioned in as a reason to visit Reading.