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COVID-19: expert comment on the coronavirus pandemic      

• Dr Simon Clarke (Biological Sciences) writes for on the new UK variant; is quoted by , , , , (China), (New Zealand), and on the South African variant; on the new lockdown; and , and about the possibility of mixing and matching vaccine doses. He spoke to Russia Today, Schweizer Radio and Fernsehen Radio about halting infection rises; Heart Radio about hospitals becoming overwhelmed; and BBC Radio Berkshire and BBC Radio Manchester about the new lockdown restrictions; while used excerpts of his interview on Monday night on the new UK lockdowns throughout Tuesday.
• Professor Ian Jones (Biological Sciences) is quoted by media around the world, including , (New Zealand), (Malaysia) and (South Africa) on vaccine strategies.
• Dr Al Edwards (Pharmacy) is quoted in a article on how soon life will return to normal after the various Covid-19 vaccines are rolled out.

UoRWay: how the university’s staff and students are continuing to do inspirational things despite the present challenges

• Professor Dominik Zaum, Pro Vice Chancellor, spoke to BBC Radio Berkshire about how the University is coping with the challenges around the latest national lockdown.

Other coverage: 

• A column mentions a Reading EIT study showing greater public recognition of the importance of farmers and farm shops during the pandemic. .
• Dr Mark Shanahan (Politics) spoke to BBC Radio Berkshire to explain the significance of the Georgia Senate elections on the Biden presidency.
• lists the discovery of evidence by Professor Ken Dark (Economics) for a likely location of Jesus’ childhood home as one of the top 13 discoveries made in 2020. Translated version attached.
• quotes Professor Ken Dark (Economics) on another project looking at the history of the Hagia Sophia cathedral in Istanbul.
• (China) reports on the study led by Dr Manuela Gonzalez-Suarez (Biological Sciences) showing mammals with bigger brains are less abundant in local environments. Read our news story.
• An article on the Easthampton Rotarians mentions Dr Sally Lloyd-Evans (GES) giving a talk on social exclusion.
• The includes the discovery of a horn of an Auroch – an animal that went extinct around 3,000 years ago – which is now being analysed with support from the University, in a list of positive stories from 2020.
• The interviews celebrity chef Rachel Khoo about her new TV series Rachel Khoo’s Chocolate, in which she explained she first saw a cocoa pod at the University’s International Cocoa Quarantine Centre.
• BBC Radio Berkshire replayed an interview with Dr Marjorie Gehrhardt (Languages & Cultures) about her research into facial injuries suffered by soldiers during the First World War.